It seems everyone has some mixed feelings about 2016. The year definitely had its challenges but I’m now choosing to look back on all the good. I’ve recently been reminded how lucky I am to have such a wonderful and supportive family. L brings me constant joy (and headache as only a two-year old can), we renovated and moved into a house that’s now starting to feel like a home, and we have friends, new and old, that we can truly count on. Beyond that, it’s really just all the “stuff”. So on that note, I’m looking back on all the good that happened this year, including some of my favorite sweets, to share them with you. Some of the reader favorites have been constant year-to-year, but there are a couple of new ones. And for me, well, you know that I love ice cream. It’ can’t come as a surprise that I included multiple frozen sweet treats in my top ten list.

I hope this new year brings you and your families health and happiness.

The ten most visited recipe posts from 2016:

10. Drumstick Ice Cream Cake – I loved making AND eating this cake!

9. Lemon Truffles (gf)– These are one of the prettiest treats you can make!

8. Mini M&M Cookies – These disappeared at L’s first birthday party.

7. One Bowl Pumpkin Blondies – I make these every year!

6. No Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream – Currently Craving!

5. Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies – Perfect for a quick cookie-craving fix!

4. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies – A breastfeeding mom’s best friend!

3. Pink Champagne Cake Pops– I adore these so I’m glad you to too!

2. Fluffernutter Cookies – One of the best peanut butter cookie recipes!

1. Mixed Berry Sauce (gf) – So simple but this is always a reader favorite!

My ten favorite recipes from 2016:

10. S’mores Layer Cake – The frostings for this cake are everything!

9. Double Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream – It might sound simple, but this no-churn recipe tastes anything but!

8. Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Cups – These are creamy, refreshing and oh so cute!

7. Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies – These bakery-style cookies are my secret to making friends!

6. The Fudgiest Fleur de Sel Brownies – An instant crowd and chocolate craving pleaser!

5. Graham and Milk Chocolate Ice Cream – My second favorite ice cream of the year, I can’t wait to make this again!

4. Peanut Butter Cup Football Cake – Hands down, the best cookie cake I’ve ever eaten!

3. Banana Pudding with Peanut Butter Cream – Inspired by a favorite vacation dessert, this was a huge hit at a dinner party we hosted!

2. Brownie Krispie Treats – One of the most fun recipes I made all year and such a showstopper!

1. Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Pretzel Ice Cream – I made and ate this ice cream on repeat, a serious favorite!

You might also like:

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2015

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2014

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2013

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2012

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2011

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

2015 was a big year for me. It started out slow on the blog as I was consumed with a newborn baby. But as L grew, I became more comfortable as a mom and found my blogging groove again. It felt good to put hard work into something I was passionate about and as I look back through the year of posts, I’m actually pretty proud of myself for all that I did. Take a look at reader favorites and mine as well. Let me know what yours was, too!

The ten most visited recipe posts from 2015:

10. Fresh Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Brown Butter Cookies – Many readers have made and loved them.

9. How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer (gf)– I make this recipe ALL the time.

8. Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake– Super easy and only a few ingredients needed!

7. No Churn Lemon Ice Cream (gf) – So refreshing!

6. Peanut Butter Caramel Candy Cups (gf) – Not surprising at all, look at those babies.

5. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls – Easy, healthy and no-bake!

4. Pink Champagne Cake Pops– One of my very favorite party treats!

3. The 30 Best Ice Cream Recipes to Make Without an Ice Cream Maker – Great round-up from KISD and others.

2. Mixed Berry Sauce (gf) – Year after year, this is always a reader favorite!

1. No Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream – I clearly need to make this again soon!

My ten favorite recipes from 2015:

10. Lemon Truffles (gf) – I know, lemon AND white chocolate in my top ten. That speaks volumes for this recipe!

9. Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – I’ve gotten great feedback from friends and readers on this cookie.

8. Oreo Pound Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing – This cake was such a hit that it was requested for multiple birthdays this year.

7. Drumstick Ice cream Cake – This was so much fun to make and eat. 

6. Milk Chocolate Tart with Peanut Butter Pretzel Crust – Only four ingredients and no-bake but decadent and fancy at the same time!

5. Gingersnap Peach Crumble Ice Cream – Don’t forget the brown butter and bourbon in there.

4. Blueberry Crisp Ice Cream (gf) – Let’s just say that the calories I burned breastfeeding were well-used.

3. Peanut Butter Caramel Bars – Peanut butter, caramel and chocolate. Need I say more?

2. Brown Butter Banana Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Icing – One of the best cakes I’ve ever made, no question.

1. Fudgy Mocha Chip Brownies with Espresso Sea Salt – My new go-to brownie recipe and one I’ve now made many times.

You might also like:

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2014

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2013

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2012

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2011

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Every December, I like to see what blog posts you enjoyed the most and compare them to my favorites. There are usually a few surprises but definitely some that I agree with. Scroll down to see the most popular recipe posts of 2014 and take a look at which I loved the most.

The ten most visited recipe posts from 2014:

10.  (Fresh) Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Brown Butter Cookies—Definitely one of my favorite cookies, too

9.  Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins (gf)—A good excuse to eat pumpkin year round!

8.  Chocolate Truffles, Three Ways (gf)—Who doesn’t like truffles?

7.  No Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream – My friends, Matt and I all loved this

6.  Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Dough Balls – Who doesn’t love a healthy-ish no-bake treat?

5.  How to Make Salted Caramel Without a Candy Thermometer (gf)– Definitely one of the most useful (and important???) posts on the blog!

4.  Salted Caramel Oreo Bars – I’m not surprised, these are so easy and I’ve made them a few times!

3.  Mixed Berry Sauce (gf) – An all around great recipe

2.  Pink Champagne Cake Pops– It doesn’t get more festive than this

1.  Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake– Just a few ingredients and voila!

My ten favorite recipes from 2014:

10.  Skillet Apple Crisp with Brown Butter Sauce (gf)—Brown butter sauce, need I repeat myself?

9.  Double Dip Mints (gf)—I may or may not have eaten the whole batch myself

8.  Cinnamon Roll Blondie Bites—One word: addicting.

7.  Oreo Overload Cookie Sandwiches—Definitely one of Matt’s favorite cookies, who can blame him?

6.  Fudgy Black and White Devil’s Food Cake—I made this for my mom’s birthday in March and she hasn’t stopped mentioning it since!

5.  Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream (gf)— I got on a huge ice cream kick over the summer and this was one of my favorites!

4.  Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes—The cake, the filling, the frosting… all perfection!

3.  Roasted Butternut Squash Pie with Brown Sugar Marshmallow Topping—My sister, the pie lover, dubbed this the BEST pie she had ever eaten

2.  New York Crumb Cake Ice Cream— Not only was this ice cream unbelievable, but it was SO easy to make. No-churn recipes are the best!

1.  Giant Caramel Apple Cinnamon Bun with Cream Cheese Glaze—This was worth all the extra clean up because it was one of the best things I’ve ever made

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! Cheers to a 2015 full of many, many delicious sweets!

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2013

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2012

The Top Keep It Sweet Desserts of 2011

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

Around this time every year, I like to see what blog posts you enjoyed the most and compare them to my favorites.  There are always a few surprises but definitely some that I agree with (I’m glad you like cookies as much as I do!).  Scroll down to see the most popular posts of 2013 and take a look at which recipes I loved the most.

The ten most visited blog posts from 2013:

10. Cookie Butter and Salted Caramel Cookie Sandwiches -I ate these out of the freezer, they were that good, can’t say I’m surprised they made the list!

9.  Red Velvet Cupcakes with Blueberry Cream Cheese Icing –I loved how pretty these cupcakes were.  Plus the cupcake itself had the best texture!

8.  Big Chewy Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Cookies – You can also see the video for making these cookies here!

7.  (Fresh) Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Brown Butter Cookies – These were a huge hit in real life as well.  

6.  Sweet and Salty Candy Bar Blondies -You can personalize these blondies based on the candy you have on hand.

5.  Peanut Butter Cup Heath Bar Brown Butter Cookies – You love candy and brown butter, and I love you for it.

4.  Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars – I first posted this recipe three years ago!  The photos are not good but the recipe is a winner.  I made them for Thanksgiving this year.

3.  Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake – Sometimes a box mix is the way to go.  Easiest cake ever.

2.  Mixed Berry Sauce – This sauce was good but I’m always surprised at how popular it is.  Go and figure!

1.  22 Easy Dessert Recipes that Make You Seem Like a Pro  –  These were super popular in 2012 as well.

My ten favorite posts from 2013:

10.  Blackberry, Peach and Pistachio Crisp (Gluten-free) –  This was a really easy weeknight dessert and perfect for a summer get together.  Swap the fruits based on the season.

9.  Sweet & Salty Party Cookies (with caramel corn!) –  I just loved this cookie.

8.  Pistachio Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream – I made these cupcakes for my dad’s birthday and he definitely approved.  When I brought some for a girl’s night they were an enormous hit.  

7.  Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Whipped Chocolate Ganache – This cake is definitely a splurge but it is so good for a special occasion.

6.  Fluffernutter Chocolate Cake – Another cake mix special.  The frosting makes it.

6.  Lollie’s Blueberry Pie –  The sentiment behind this pie is half of why I love it.  Plus it tastes amazing.

4.  Pink Champagne Cake Pops – I was so excited about these photos and the magazine feature.  The thing is, the cake pops also tasted amazing.

3.  Vanilla Bean Apple Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce – Matt has not stopped talking about this cake since I made it.  

2.  Graham Cracker Cookies With Toasted Pumpkin Marshmallow Filling – These cookies did not get the attention they deserved.  The filling was unreal and the graham cracker cookies were chewy and delicious.

1.  Caramelized White Chocolate Truffle Pumpkin Cupcakes – My love affair with caramelized white chocolate started here.  These cupcakes are one of the best things I ate in 2013.

Happy New Year, everyone! Cheers to a 2014 full of many, many delicious sweets!

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.

This weekend has been amazing.  It started with a late afternoon pedicure Friday (with one of my favorites), and after finishing up some computer work, went into full-force relaxation with Matt.  Wine, movies, TV and healthified nachos for dinner were all included.  Today we are heading to see my family for a quick visit before I return to put together some late holiday and New Year’s orders. 

It might sound crazy after so many hours in the kitchen, but I really miss baking for fun.  I miss creating new recipes to share with you and just messing around for new product ideas or Cookie of the Month flavors.  My head is already spinning with all sorts of concoctions to put together during these quieter days.  There bags of candy sitting in my pantry are just dying to be baked with.

In the meantime, in case you are looking for some last minute end of the year baking inspiration, I thought I’d share with you some of the 2012 favorites.

And the 10 most popular blog posts of 2012 are…

10.  Flourless Chocolate Cookies

9.  Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Icing & Chocolate Ganache

8.  Oreo Crusted Brownie Pie with Cream Cheese Icing

7.  Mixed Berry Sauce

6.  Sweet and Salty Candy Bar Blondies

5.  Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

4.  Easy Lemon Shortbread Cookies

3.  Simple Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

2.  22 Easy Dessert Recipes that Make You Seem Like a Pro

1.  Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies

Of course while I do adore some of the reader favorites (ahem Oreo Crusted Brownie Pie with Cream Cheese Icing), I wanted to put in my two sense on the best recipes I’ve posted this year (although limiting that to 10 is so hard)…

10.  Apple Cinnamon Blondies

9.  Mini Halloween Confetti Cookie Sandwiches

8.  Margarita Frosting Shots

7.  Fudgy Double Crème de Menthe Brownies

6.  Blueberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Yogurt

5.  Chocolate Stout Celebration Cake

4.  Banana Brownie Chunk Greek Frozen Yogurt

3.  Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

2.  Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Cinnamon Ginger Buttercream and Ginger Cookie Pecan Brittle

1.  Salted Caramel & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bars

And finally, this post was for sure the most meaningful blog post (to me) that I’ve shared with you to date.

I hope that all of you celebrating have a wonderful Christmas.  In light of recent events in Newtown, this week I’ll be counting my blessings a few extra times and telling my loved ones what they mean to me.

Make something from the blog? Be sure to share it on Instagram with the tag #KeepItSweetDesserts.