See also: Best of 2012 / Best of 2013 / Best of 2014
In the “Best of 2014,” I said that it had been “definitely the most difficult year of my life.” That’s because I hadn’t met 2015 yet. Happily, I escaped the soul-sucking nightmare that is teaching and have spent the last several months focusing on my mental health and progressing my professional career in grad school. One of my favorite parts of this major life change is that I’ve been able to return to blogging with purpose and enthusiasm after struggling to keep the blog afloat during my teaching years. With that dedication, my blog has flourished and progressed in ways I never imagined. First and foremost, 2015 was absolutely the year of zucchini!
Without further ado, here are some of the top recipes from the year!
1. Fan Favorite Recipe
Spiced Pumpkin Oatmeal with Java PB2! I wasn’t sure how you would receive this new spin on my Pumpkin Spice Latte Oatmeal, but it turns out, you loved it! The only page you visited more than this recipe in 2015 was the Recipe List. ?
2. Pinterest Queen
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Oatmeal: This recipe was the most popular pin on my board “The Oatmeal Artist.” This isn’t an exact science, considering it all depends on what day and what time of day I pin the recipe, but regardless, this was the one that gathered up the most repins! Additionally, I neglected to pin my recipes starting in September or so… Oops.
3. Best Steel-Cut Oatmeal & 4. Best Savory Oatmeal
Lemon Asparagus Steel-Cut Ris-OAT-to: As it turns out, I only published a couple steel-cut recipes this year. They’re just too much work. ? Don’t let the fact that this is a savory recipe scare you off; I swear it’s one of my absolute favorites!
5. Best Baked Oatmeal
Yellow Cake Baked Oatmeal with Chocolate PB2 Frosting: I finally figured out how to recreate my favorite cake flavor in vegan, oatmeal form, and you loved it, too! This was the most-viewed baked recipe in 2015, and the third most-viewed recipe overall.
6. Best Non-Porridge Recipe
Chai Oatcakes: I think half the appeal of these are simply the pictures. I mean, look how perfect those oatcakes turned out for the photoshoot! My oatcake recipes are consistently plagued with ugliness, but these beauties broke the curse. These were especially popular on Pinterest!
7. Chocolate Oatmeal of the Year
Mocha Baked Oatmeal with an Almond Butter Center: Honestly, I has not at all surprised that my readers liked this recipe. It has all the required elements of a hit: chocolate, nut butter, a surprise filling, and the word “mocha” in the title. You guys lose your mind anytime I drop a recipe that includes the word “mocha.” ☕️
8. Non-Chocolate Oatmeal of theYear
Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Oatmeal: This is the second most-viewed non-chocolate recipe of the year (after the already mentioned Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Oatmeal). Methinks you all like cookie dough . . .
9. Best Topping
Faux-reo Cookie PB2: Truthfully, this recipe is actually the FOURTH most-viewed post in all of 2015. Topping, oatmeal, or otherwise.
10. Best Muesli
Fig & Toasted Hazelnut Muesli: Default winner. It was the only muesli recipe I posted this year. ?
11. Best Zucchini Recipe
Strawberry Shortcake Baked Oatmeal: Admittedly, this is not the most-viewed recipe using zucchini (that already went to #5–Yellow Cake Baked Oatmeal). However, I overruled all of that and chose this one because it’s my personal favorite. It tastes EXACTLY like strawberry shortcake, you guys. Forget my previous version. This one takes the (short)cake.
12. Most Popular Guest Post
The Breakfast Drama Queen’s Chocolate Banana Muffins with Peanut Butter: In February, Claudia and I swapped blogs for a day and made recipes inspired by each other’s recipes. Using my Fudgy Banana and Peanut Butter Oatmeal as inspiration, she made these gorgeous muffins. Runner Up: Helen’s Lentil PB Fudge Oatmeal!
13. Most Viewed Oatmeal Enthusiast
Meet Christina!: Christina’s post in May was the most-viewed of all the Oatmeal Enthusiasts in 2015. Probably because she tops her oatmeal with whipped cream and marshmallows and other wonderful things. ? Runner up: Meet Abby!
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