let’s keep 2009 going the right way – by looking back at the best of 2008! here are the top 10 most popular recipes on pete bakes from last year.

10. real apple pie vs mock apple pie

around the fourth of july, i was feeling very patriotic – so patriotic that i made TWO apple pies – one with real apples and one from an ancient nabisco recipe that uses zero apples. would we be able to tell the difference between them? find out!

9. english muffins

gotta love those nooks and crannies! the only thing better than a warm toasted english muffin with butter and jelly is one that you made from scratch. you’ll never go back to the bread aisle again.

8. jewish apple cake

this cake isn’t just for rosh hashanah anymore. it’s perfect anytime of the year (and anytime of day). just make sure you let it cool completely before trying to get it out of the pan, or else you’ll be apologizing to your guests.

7. ginger cheesecake

who doesn’t love rich, decadent cheesecake with the kick of ginger? and here’s the secret: the crust is the best part. and don’t worry about cracks, it doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to taste great.

6. cheese danishes

we used to reserve danishes for special occasions, but now you don’t have to. your friends will think you went to a real fancy bakery, but it can just be our little secret. unless you’re baking them for me, in which case, i’ll get over it.

5. how to make braided challah

half the fun of baking is wowwing your friends and family before they even take a bite. challah is a beautiful, flavorful and light eggy bread that works great as french toast. it was the first yeast bread i ever tackled and it’s become one of my favorites.

4. chocolate chip coffee cake

this will become your go-to sour cream coffee cake. make it for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or dessert and get ready for requests from all of your friends for the recipe. a great starter cake for beginning bakers.

3. brownies! with coffee!

the original brownie recipe came courtesy of my mom, but the idea of adding coffee came from ina garton. and now i don’t think i can eat brownies that don’t have coffee in them. get a giant glass of milk ready and start baking!

2. spinach artichoke dip

spinach and artichoke and cheese – sounds fancy, no? why limit yourself to eating this dip only when you go out to eat when it’s so easy to make at home? try it with tortilla chips or homemade wheat thins!

1. onion bacon and cheese buns

let’s see…bacon, onions and cheese…in a roll…for breakfast? how could life get any better?