Readers' choice: Favorite recipes of 2015

From old-fashioned chocolate buttermilk cake, to fruit salad, to cookies, cakes, and favorite holiday dishes in between, Stir It Up! readers loved these recipes from 2015 the best.

Sometimes you simply need chocolate. This simple chocolate cake is sure to hit the spot.

The Runaway Spoon

December 31, 2015

At the end of each year, reflecting on the ending year's events is a common practice in newsrooms – and that includes recipes, too. It's also a chance to revisit some things you may have missed. This list includes the Top 10 recipes that Stir It Up! bloggers posted in 2015 that proved to be especially popular. Are we surprised that chocolate cake made the No. 1 spot? Chocolate is a sure winner. Same goes for the easy comfort foods and sweet desserts. See if your favorite recipe from 2015 made the cut, or discover a recipe you may have missed.

Happy New Year!

No. 10: Christmas fruit salad

A bowl of bright fruit salad will add a refreshing taste to your Christmas buffet.

They took up arms to fight Russia. They’ve taken up pens to express themselves.

No. 9: Cookie butter chocolate chip cookies

Crisp at the edges and chewy in the middle, if you love cookie butter and chocolate chip cookies this is the perfect recipe to try.

No. 8: Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

Carrot cake is the perfect dessert for Easter, springtime – or anytime, really.

No. 7: Easter ham with a brown sugar glaze

For Easter, try a brown sugar glazed ham – a perfect marriage of savory and sweet.

No. 6: Hummingbird Bundt cake

This decadent Hummingbird Bundt cake with cream cheese filling and pineapple cream cheese glaze is a Southern classic.

No. 5: Potato rösti

Rösti is a perfectly browned, buttery potato pancake of epic proportions made with sweet, waxy Yukon Golds.

Ukraine’s Pokrovsk was about to fall to Russia 2 months ago. It’s hanging on.

No. 4: Black-eyed peas: Hoppin' John for New Year's Day

Hoppin’ John is a Southern dish of black-eyed peas and rice traditionally served on New Year’s Day.

No. 3: Sweet potato breakfast cups

Make an easy and fun breakfast to grab on the go with these egg cups. Use frozen sweet potato tator tots as the "crust" for your egg cups.

No. 2: General Tso’s chicken

This history and mystery of General Tso's chicken has sparked much curiosity. Recreate the ubiquitous Chinese-American dish at home and serve with rice and your favorite steamed veggie for a better-than-takeout dinner.

No. 1: Old fashioned chocolate buttermilk cake

Show someone you care with this classic chocolate cake. Simple, with no gimmicks or difficult frosting, this cake is just plain, old fashioned good.