Whether you've made a New Year's resolution to cook more, want to challenge yourself with a project bake, or are looking to add something different to your weekly dinner rotation, we've got a dozen ideas for you to kick off 2025. From comforting Cheesy Gratins to ultra-chocolatey desserts, there's something for everyone to get excited about this month.
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
1) Roman gnocchi
January is a time to unwind with warm, comforting foods like this creamy Gnocchi alla Romana. It is made from semolina flour that has been cooked to a polenta-like consistency, cooled and then cut into rounds. Slices are layered in one 9″ x 13″ pan. and topped with cheese, gratin style. The whole thing is baked until melted and golden brown.
Get the recipe: Gnocchi alla Romana (Semolina Gnocchi Gratin)
Buy the recipe: Oatmeal flour AND 9″ x 13″ pan.
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Oatmeal pasta, Sweet potato gnocchi
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
2) Chicken Biscuits Pot Pie
You don't need to own pie crust (although you can and should!) to make homemade pot pie, thanks to this version that uses a light cookie filling. The creamy and delicious base has all the key elements of the best pot pie: cream sauce, chicken and vegetables. Put it all together in a beautiful dutch oven that can go straight from the oven to the table.
Get the recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
Buy the recipe: Sublime Dutch oven
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Pretzel cookies AND Classic Chicken Pot Pie
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
3) Large and bubbly focaccia
This is the focus of the moment: it's high but light, extremely long and the perfect size to finish off at dinner. Many focaccia recipes require an overnight rise, but we've fine-tuned this recipe so that it's very tasty, but can be made in the afternoon and at the dinner table TONIGHT. With its bubbly, bronze top, crisp edges, and soft, airy interior, this focaccia deserves a spot in your weekly baking rotation.
Get the recipe: Big and bubbly focaccia
Buy the recipe: Amazing Focaccia Bread AND Cyprus Flaked Sea Salt
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Sour Dough Focaccia, Crystal bread
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
4) Jamaican Beef Patties
For the ultimate on-the-go snack, check out these delicious Caribbean Meatballs. Each component is super aromatic: the bright yellow batter is enhanced with turmeric, ginger and curry powder, and a dash of garlic and onion enhances the beef filling. Make a double batch to stock your fridge; you'll thank yourself later.
Get the recipe: Jamaican Beef Patties
Buy the recipe: Ginger AND Pastry blender
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Cornish pasty, Middle Eastern Meatloaf (Lahm Bi Ajeen)
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
5) Super Fudgy Sourdough Brownies
You don't even need flour for these cookie brownies—they're made entirely with sourdough toss, which cuts down on the ingredient list and ensures a dense, ultra-soft texture. Plus, these come together in a single pot to minimize cleanup and maximize convenience.
Get the recipe: Super Fudgy Sourdough Brownies
Buy the recipe: Chiptastic Chocolate Mix AND Triple Cocoa Blend
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Sour Dough Cookies, Chocolate Sour Dough Cake
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
6) Giant Lady Cupcakes
This fun twist on the classic Hostess cake has the flavors of marshmallow cream and chocolate ganache in a more fun, oversized format. Nostalgic and charming, this cake elevates the store-bought version and is perfect for celebrations of any age.
Get the recipe: Mrs. Giant Cupcake Cupcakes
Buy the recipe: Guittard Semi-Sweet Chocolate Wafers
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Flourless chocolate cake, Ombre Chocolate Candy Bars
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
7) Snacking pizza
These mini pizzas are the perfect after school snack. Everyone can choose their own toppings on these personal pizzas and all you need is a baking tray – no need to grab your stone or pizza steel. Want more than a snack? Serve these with a side salad to make a meal.
Get the recipe: Snack pizza
Buy the recipe: Pizza wheel AND Half sheet pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Pulled Pizza Bread, Garlic bread pizza
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
8) Earl Gray Cookies
Give the plain sugar cookie a little sparkle with Earl Gray tea. Those tea leaves are incorporated into the buttery batter AND a brilliant coating of sugar so that the subtle floral, bittersweet aroma fills every bite.
Get the recipe: Earl Gray Biscuits
Buy the recipe: Tablespoon for cookies
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Orange-olive oil cookies, Sugar cookies
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
9) Tiramisu for two
What happens when you want tiramisu but not a lot of leftovers? Enter the Tiramisu for two. Packaged in Mason jars, this small-batch bake is a match made in heaven for mini-dessert enthusiasts.
Get the recipe: Tiramisu for two
Buy the recipe: Espresso powder
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Tiramisu Cupcakes, Berry Tiramisu
Photo by Ed Anderson
10) Bread with chocolate dough
While this bread is advanced with chocolate, it has more bitter notes like coffee than sweet. It's still a great contender for your morning toast – with orange marmalade, whipped ricotta or just a little butter.
Get the recipe: Bread with chocolate dough
Buy the recipe: Double Dark Cocoa Blend
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate milk bread, Double Chocolate Focaccia
Photography by Patrick Marinello; Food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
11) Simple Stovetop Vanilla Pudding
A bowl of delicious pudding is the definition of simple indulgence. Plus, we've simplified this recipe in a few ways. There are no problems with tempering eggs, and using sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar (no lumps!) gives it the smoothest texture. It's worth breaking out your best vanilla for this recipe too.
Get the recipe: Plain Vanilla Custard Pudding
Buy the recipe: Vanilla bean paste
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Light Chocolate Pudding, Chocolate and vanilla pudding cups
12) Grandma's Chocolate Bread
While no dough is involved, these delicious rolls are reminiscent of babka with their chocolate-filled interior and butter-enriched dough. An orange-tipped glaze ties the flavors together and gives the buns in hand a stunning glossy finish.
Get the recipe: Grandma's lip with chocolate
Buy the recipe: Vietnamese cinnamon AND Callebaut Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Babkallah, Babka buns with lemon-cranberry
Cover photo (Super Fudgy Sourdough Brownies) by Patrick Marinello; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova.
