It’s been a good year filled with great memories, new challenges and successes, a few failures, and of course plenty of amazing food.

Since January 1, 2012, I have posted 70+ original recipes to this site. And I love each and every one!

I also wrote two new books in 2012…

• A cookie book with 50 super healthy cookie recipes (that single-handedly made 2012 pretty delicious!)
• An e-book (with 75 more recipes) coauthored with Alisa Fleming, a friend that I also look up to as a role model

With so much cooking happening in my kitchen, it’s sometimes hard to remember all of the recipes I develop from month to month. Looking back through a year’s worth of posts gives me a bird’s eye view of my year in food, since what you see here from day to day is a true reflection of how I eat.

I thought it would be fun to share this year’s top 12 recipes according to you, the readers! The recipes below are ranked in decreasing order all the way down to number one based on popularity and pageviews. Are you ready?

Here we go…

12. Grain-Free Granola Balls

No surprise here. These Grain-Free Granola Balls are consistently one of my most popular recipes. And for good reason. They are fantastic! I still make them regularly and find myself craving them from time to time.

11. Almond Chai Breakfast Clusters

Originally I wasn’t even going to post this recipe. I thought to myself, do people really want one more breakfast treat recipe? But apparently, they do! I love the flavors of chai in just about everything, but it’s especially welcome in these chewy treats.

10. Frozen Banana Split Bites

The #10 spot belongs to one of my favorite summertime recipes, although they’re good year round. Who knew a banana split could be so healthy, huh?

9. Fudgy Brownie Bites

Leave it to chocolate to claim a spot in the top ten! These Fudgy Brownie Bites are really the perfect little sweet treat to kick a chocolate craving. Try them topped with a little whipped coconut cream and some raspberries for a fun bite-sized dessert.

8. Soft Banana Energy Cookies

I hadn’t begun writing my cookie book yet when I posted this recipe, but thoughts about it were swirling in my head around this time. I like to think of this one as a “warm up” to what would ensue later in the spring: cookie baking madness!

7. Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie

Honestly, I wish this one had made the top five. It is SO good! If you haven’t tried this delectable smoothie yet, you must. Any fruit is great in place of the strawberries, too.

6. Garlic Herb Crackers

I still get rave reviews about these crackers whenever I serve them. High in protein and grain-free, they make a nutritious anytime snack and pack well in backpacks for on-the-go kiddos (or adults!).

5. Crunchy Chili Chickpea Chips

The crunch obsession continues into spot #5 with these chickpea flour-based chips. Everyone loves a chip made healthy, so it’s no surprise that these perfect snackers made it into the top five.

4. Almond Butter Health Balls

Gooey, buttery, sweet…what could be better? Not much, according to readers in 2012! Looks like you love these Almond Butter Health Balls as much as I do.

3. Coconut Lime Chicken Bites

Again, this recipe was one that I almost didn’t post. Who needs another chicken recipe, I thought? Turns out, a lot of us! These little bites are quick to make, easy to eat, and pretty family friendly, making them a great go-to chicken recipe for busy nights.

2. Quinoa Crunch

We’re almost down to the top spot, but leave it to quinoa to slide into #2. A superfood that’s taken the world by storm, quinoa is the new rice. My Quinoa Crunch recipe garnered a lot of attention. It’s indeed very crunchy, making it a great topper for morning fruit bowls.

And now for number one….drum roll….

1. 52 Ways to Eat Kale!

It may not be one actual recipe, but my 52 Ways to Eat Kale post swept through the blogosphere at breakneck speed the minute I published it! If you haven’t read it yet, take a look. You’re sure to find some cruciferous inspiration from dozens of bloggers!

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While all of these popular posts and recipes are fine and dandy, my favorite recipe of 2012 didn’t make the popularity list. It doesn’t look very fancy at first glance, and the ingredient list is actually pretty short, but it won my heart the minute I tasted it.

My favorite recipe of the year is…

Orange Creamsicle “Shooters!” The name says it all. Creamy, fruity, and utterly delicious. I can’t wait to treat myself to a shooter or two in the new year to celebrate.

That’s all for 2012, folks. Here’s to a fabulous 2013 filled with food, family, friendships, and good health.

May your New Year be filled to the brim with blessings big and small. Warm wishes,

~Hallie

P.S. Come on back tomorrow on New Year’s Day for a fun surprise that I’m excited to share with you!