Your Top Ten Recipes of 2016

A brand new year is the perfect time to reflect on the year just passed and to compile a round-up of the most popular recipes published on LittleSugarSnaps in 2016. These Top Ten Recipes are the ones that my readers (you) loved the most. I'm hoping your favourites made the grade.

Happy New Year everybody. I've been trying hard to drag myself out of my Christmas-New Year slumber this week, which has been tough going. But finally, the decorations are packed away, the house is tidy(ish) and my girls went back to school 2 hours ago. I'm out of excuses, it's time to get back to normal.

I'm kicking off 2017 with a quick look back on the most popular recipes from LittleSugarSnaps last year. The results are telling: you - my trusty readers - seem to favour my sweet treats and cocktail recipes just as much as I do. What can I say? You have excellent taste. I was planning to start the New Year off by giving you some virtuous & delicious healthy recipes, but I may just have to revise my schedule in light of my Top Ten findings.

If you’re following me on social media, then you’ll probably have spotted several of these recipes already. If you’re new here, you can follow along on Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Flipboard |or simply sign up to get my new recipes via email. That way you'll never miss out.

New recipes are on their way very soon, but for now sit back and enjoy the top ten recipes from 2016.

1 Triple Chocolate Layer Cake

It seems readers couldn't get enough of this dark, milk and white chocolate celebration cake. I can't decide whether it was the cake itself that wowed you all or my chocolate explosion confession mid-post that sparked off so much interest. Regardless, it's been so popular that I've recently added instructions to enable bakers to make this cake in regular 8 inch pans as well as the 6 inch pans originally listed.

2. Salted Caramel Pecan Krispie Treats

Here's proof that Rice Krispie Treats are not just for kids. A glug of salted caramel and a generous helping of pecan nuts transforms the humble square into something altogether more tempting.

3. Cinnamon Bourbon Cherries

I'm a self-confessed cherry-a-holic and will do anything to extend my cherry munching season. Stashing away a jar of bourbon laden fruit in my fridge was a dangerously good way to do this. At #3 it seems I'm not alone in my thinking.

4. Orange Caramel Spread

This spreadable orange caramel was really a spin off from my almost Valentine's Linzer Cookies. It proved more popular than the cookies themselves, but since it can be slathered on toast, muffins, pancakes, brioche, meringues and ice cream, should we really be that surprised?

5. Whisky Ginger Julep

Last Spring I hopped on my hardcore spirit scooter to create this sparkling blend of whisky, ginger liqueur and Processo. It came with warnings not to operate machinery, use sharp knives or go rollerskating (you know you want to) but you loved it all the same. I thank you.

6. Gingerbread Cream Liqueur

This is a recipe I developed last Christmas and had to sit on for a full year before it became seasonal again since I ran out of time to post it in 2015. I'm so thrilled you all loved it. Just goes to show it was worth the wait.

7. Blackcurrant Mojito

And the alcohol frenzy continues with this very British Mojito spin-off. I tempered sharp blackcurrants into a tart yet sweet fruit cordial and used it to create this summertime delight.

8. Healthy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

The one and only 'healthy' recipe to make it into our top ten tastes delectably unhealthy. So I suppose it fits in nicely with the rest of the list after all.

9. Pistachio Cupcakes

I had so much fun photographing these little gems. They combine my favourite colour, my favourite fruit and my favourite nut. That topping is decadent and creamy with just a hint of sweetness about it. Heaven.

10. Amaretto Pears

And just creeping in at #10 are my boozy pears. Perfect dinner party fodder and again, a joy to put in front of my lens.

New recipes coming soon. Healthy or unhealthy to be decided... but to keep you going, see what topped the reader charts in 2015, 2017 and 2018.