The most popular food choices of 2022 involved comfort food, snackable bites, and sweet treats with a twist!

Comfort food with a twist took over social media in 2022, and the most double-tapped, commented on, and shared recipes of the year involved desserts! Lots of family favourite staples like mashed potatoes, egg salad sandwiches, and apple pie received some kind of culinary facelift, turning family style dishes into gourmet presentations that garnered lots of attention on social media.

Although several of these “enhancements” do require some form of advanced culinary knowledge or special techniques, most of recipes are quite straightforward and manageable for those who love experimenting at home.

Here are the top 20 recipes from Martha Stewart that received the most attention and likes in 2022:

20. NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

One important thing about New York cheesecake is that it always tastes better the next day after having at least 24 hours to set. Not very ideal for people who struggle with patience, but the results prove to be mesmerising every time.

19. SPINACH MANICOTTI IN CREAMY TOMATO SAUCE

Coming in at number 19 is this clever recipe that features a fuss-free method for stuffing pasta shells—and turns this classic Italian dish into a regular weeknight option. A large zip-top plastic bag is the only equipment you need to fill the pasta shells. Then, bake until bubbling and browned.

18. VANILLA HEART-SHAPED CAKE WITH RASPBERRY-AND-CUSTARD FILLING

This beautiful Valentine’s Day layer cake got so much love on Instagram making it number 18 on the list. To make, sandwich homemade vanilla pastry cream and fresh raspberries between the layers, then artfully decorate the creation with more of both—along with tasty shredded coconut, of course.

17. ATLANTIC-BEACH-TART BARS

Lemons bars meet key lime pie in this luscious hybrid. The creamy filling includes sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice for the creamy filling, and the press-in saltine crust couldn’t be easier to put together.

16. BIG MARTHA’S MASHED POTATOES WITH CREAM CHEESE

This rich and indulgent mashed potato recipe is from someone Martha learned a lot from — her mother, Mrs. Kostyra. It combines cream cheese, milk, and heavy cream to produce a rich and velvety version of mashed potatoes that any potato lover will absolutely adore!

15. STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM STACK CAKE

This stunner of a dessert is actually quite easy to make: Just whisk mascarpone and heavy cream into glossy peaks, soak store-bought ladyfingers in a quick caramel, and layer both with sliced fresh strawberries. Let the flavors meld in the refrigerator, and they’ll end up with  the texture of a traditional sponge cake without any baking.

14. APPLE DUMPLINGS

Martha’s take on this traditional Pennsylvania Dutch apple pastry is spiced with cinnamon and studded with raisins.

13. EGG SANDWICHES FOR A CROWD

This clever recipe is a quick, no-fuss frittata that serves as a genius solution to making breakfast for a crowd. It’s made in a baking dish, then sliced and placed on toast slathered with Dijonnaise. And although the recipe calls for leftover turkey, you can use cooked chicken or sausage—or just skip the meat completely.

12. DOUBLE-CRUSTED JAM TART

Though it looks fancy and advanced, this giant toaster pastry is really just jam spooned between two layers of rolled-out crust. You can use any fruit or flavor, but it is especially scrumptious with homemade peach jam.

11. SMOKY SERRANO-MINT MARGARITA

The only cocktail on this list is a margarita, but an unexpected one. It starts with a charred serrano chile that’s muddled with sugar and fresh mint, then mixed with the margarita trifecta: tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Delicious and refreshing!

10. FRIED MACARONI-AND-CHEESE BITES

This crowd-pleaser is truly next level and a hit at every party that served them. To make these divine deep-fried morsels, prepare the stovetop mac and cheese a few days ahead and let it firm up in the refrigerator for easier cutting into bite-sized squares. Then, bread and fry them to crispy perfection. 

9. EMBELLISHED WREATH COOKIES

Elevating a classic is so Martha, and this recipe, coming in at number nine, is a wonderful example. Buttery sugar cookies are the ideal backdrop for brilliantly decorated treats made using a fanciful combination of candied flowers, crystallized ginger, and chopped pistachios.

8. MEYER-LEMON AND COCONUT CAKE

This is a truly memorable and totally delightful dessert that combines moist coconut cake and rich coconut-lemon curd, but the pièce de résistance is the coconut buttercream frosting!

7. APPLE PIE CAKE

Yes, more dessert, and another clever hybrid recipe. If baking a pie seems like too much, try this cross between apple pie and a fruit crisp. It’s made with just six ingredients using a springform pan that beautifully accommodates the tall layers.

6. CHERRY-CHEESE STRUDEL PIE

There are so many things to love about this strudel-inspired confection that boasts a gorgeous twisted crust, marbleized cream-and-fruit filling, and a next-level flavor combination of creamy ricotta melded with tart cherries.

5. CHICKEN POT PIES

Chicken pot pie is a cozy favorite—and this recipe takes the comfort food classic up a notch, making individual pies rather than a single big one. However, this isn’t any old chicken pot pie as it has a secret ingredient that deepens its delicious savoury flavour: cognac.

4. BANANA CREAM PUDDING

Martha’s take on this Southern American dessert is a delightful layered concoction of chopped bananas, homemade vanilla pudding, whipped cream, sliced bananas, and wafer cookies. Perfect for the whole family.

3. APPLE CIDER DONUT CAKE

This beautiful fall dessert combines the taste of the traditional treats with the slice-ability of a Bundt cake. Whole-wheat flour adds heartiness, and a blend of olive oil and applesauce keeps the cake beautifully moist.

2. BEST APPLE PIE

Number two is a classic and sentimental favorite, as well as the third apple dessert on this list in case you’re counting. So, what’s the secret to this apple pie? Martha uses a combination of different apple varieties, each with its own flavour and texture, resulting in a bold and aromatic pie everyone will love.

1. PIGS IN BLANKETS

In a top 20 packed with desserts, you might be surprised to find an appetizer at number one, and this top spot goes to a true Martha-level recipe—a classic with clever tweaks. It swaps in andouille or chicken sausages for the usual hot dogs and calls for brushing the puff pastry with honey mustard before baking. Both twists add a savory-sweet element that’s unexpected and wholly delicious!