The Top 10 Recipes Trending on Google in 2020
Updated: Nov. 17, 2023
I can't even tell you how many times I made banana bread!
It’s no surprise we’ve all spent a lot of time at home this year. The unexpected advantage of staying in the house for so many months was the fact that we had a lot more time to experiment in the kitchen. Even once-in-a-blue-moon cooks learned how to make tortillas from scratch!
Just one look at Google’s trending recipes will show you that we learned how to cook and bake all kinds of new things this year. Some of them are as you’d expect while the rest are…interesting. But then again, what part of 2020 wasn’t interesting, am I right?
10 Trending Recipes We All Searched for in 2020
Google has a small disclaimer: these recipes aren’t necessarily the most popular recipes searched for in 2020, but rather recipes that were more consistently searched for in 2020 when compared to 2019. You’ll see what I mean.
Here are the recipes in order:
- Sourdough bread
- Whipped coffee
- Disney churro
- Dole whip
- DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie
- IKEA meatballs
- Chaffles
- Hamburger buns
- Egg salad sandwich
- Healthy banana bread
Of course sourdough bread is up on top—bread was the star of the show this year! From frog bread to focaccia, baking was the only thing keeping us sane during the first part of quarantine. But whipped coffee was fun, too. How can you go a day without caffeine?
You can tell everyone was really missing their annual trips by looking at the searches for Dole whip, Disney churros and DoubleTree cookies. Plus, a bit of magic at home never hurt anyone.
The recipe that really jolted me the most was the…chaffle? Yes, the chaffle! It’s a cheese waffle if this is your first time hearing about it. It’s a low carb keto-friendly breakfast food, that I had to Google.
Did You Cook More This Year?
Whether you’re a beginner cook still trying build up your collection of kitchen tools, or a seasoned professional who attempted all kinds of new recipes, we salute you. Cooking almost every meal can be tough, but it’s definitely rewarding. And we need a little reward after a year like this, don’t we? Celebrate yourself this holiday season…you’ve earned it!
Our Absolute Best Desserts of 2020
Cream Puff Dessert
I took this rich dessert to a fellowship meeting at our church. Everyone loved it! In fact, so many people asked for the recipe that the church secretary printed it in our monthly newsletter. —Lisa Nash, Blaine, Minnesota
Homemade Vanilla Ice CreamWe don't want to brag, but as far as vanilla ice cream recipes go, this one is the best. And with only four ingredients, it just might be the easiest, too. No ice cream maker? No problem. Just follow the directions below to learn how to make homemade ice cream by hand. It's the perfect base for our best ice cream sundae ideas, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Frozen Key Lime DelightIn the middle of summer, nothing hits the spot quite like this sublime Key lime dessert. Cold, creamy and tart, it tastes like sunshine. —Melissa Millwood, Lyman, South Carolina
Pumpkin BarsPumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate fall treat. But my family likes them so much, they ask me to make them all year long! —Brenda Keller, Andalusia, Alabama
Pecan Pie BarsThese pecan pie bars are rich and delicious - just like pecan pie! They're perfect for taking to potlucks and other gatherings...I always come home with an empty pan. These Kentucky Derby pecan pie bars are the perfect snack while watching the races. —Carolyn Custer, Clifton Park, New York
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter CookiesMy mother insisted that my grandmother write down one recipe for her when Mom got married in 1942: the how to make peanut butter cookies from scratch recipe. That was a real effort because Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used a little of this or that until it felt right. This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin
Grandma's Rice PuddingMy sisters and I always loved the recipe for rice pudding our grandma made. After she passed away, I took it upon myself to try and find the secret to her rice pudding. It took quite a bit of experimentation, but I finally got it right! And I'm glad to share this easy recipe here. —Margaret DeChant, Newberry, Michigan
Italian Cream Cheese CakeButtermilk makes every bite of this awesome Italian cream cheese cake recipe moist and flavorful. I rely on this recipe year-round. —Joyce Lutz, Centerview, Missouri
Peach PieI acquired this delicious peach pie filling recipe some 40 years ago, when my husband and I first moved to southern Iowa and had peach trees growing in our backyard. It's been a family favorite since then and always brings back memories of both summer and those happy early years. — June Mueller, Sioux City, Iowa
Shortcut Tres Leches CakeMy mom's favorite cake is tres leches, a butter cake soaked in three kinds of milk. I developed a no-fuss version that’s rich and tender. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Cherry BarsWhip up a pan of these festive bars in just 20 minutes with staple ingredients and cherry pie filling. Between the easy preparation and the pretty colors, they're destined to become a holiday classic. —Jane Kamp, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Frosted Banana BarsThese bars are always a hit at potlucks in the small rural farming community where my husband and I live. I also like to provide them for coffee hour after church. They're so moist and delicious that wherever I take them, they don't last long. —Karen Dryak, Niobrara, Nebraska
Cookie Crust Deep-Dish Apple PieOne of my favorite make-and-take desserts, this deep-dish pie is based on an old Hungarian recipe that's popular in this part of Ohio. The easy cookie crust is the best part. —Diane Shipley, Mentor, Ohio
Peach Cobbler Dump CakeThis is one of the best peach dump cake recipes in the world. It's sweet, tender cake with a beautifully crisp cobbler topping. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, and dessert's golden. —Keri Sparks, Little Elm, Texas
Flourless Peanut Butter CookiesWhen my mother (who's now a great-grandmother) gave me this no-flour , gluten-free peanut butter cookie recipe about 15 years ago, I was skeptical, because it calls for only three ingredients (and no flour?!). But since then I've never had a failure. For these gluten-free peanut butter cookies—3 ingredients are all you need! —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
CokeCola CakeWe live in Coca-Cola country, where everyone loves a chocolaty, moist sheet cake made with the iconic soft drink. Our rich version does the tradition proud. —Heidi Jobe, Carrollton, Georgia
Originally Published: December 14, 2020
