The 16 best recipes to bake in January (2024)

At the start of each year, I make a baking resolution: I set out to perfect one kind of baked good in the coming 12 months. In the past, I’ve focused on bagels, tortillas, and sourdough bread. This year, it’s chocolate chip cookies, which we just crowned our Recipe of the Year. Whether you’re trying to perfect something or just want a varied list of great things to bake this month, here are 16 of the best recipes to bake in January.

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

1) Brownie Brittle

Do you head straight for the corner piece when you see a pan of brownies? If you’re a fan of crunchy, crispy brownies, brownie brittle is going to be your go-to recipe when you need a chocolate fix. A simple brownie batter is mixed, spread into a thin layer on a half-sheet pan, and baked until perfectly crisp. It’s ideal for snacking or crumbling onto ice cream for a satisfying dessert.

Get the recipe: Brownie Brittle

Shop the recipe: Triple Cocoa Blend and Espresso Powder

Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

2) Climate Blend Whole Wheat Scones

Perhaps you’re trying to make more environmentally conscious decisions in 2024. (We sure are thinking about our impact here at King Arthur.) Our regeneratively-grown Climate Blend Flour is milled from a combination of wheat varieties that promote soil health and conserve resources. It has a slightly nutty flavor similar to whole wheat and adds heartiness and whole grains to tender scones. Make these scones your own by adding up to 1 cup of mix-ins: dried fruit, chocolate chips, or nuts are all good options.

Get the recipe: Climate Blend Whole Wheat Scones

Shop the recipe: Regeneratively-Grown Climate Blend Flour

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

3) Gnocchi alla Romana (Semolina Gnocchi Gratin)

January is a time to cozy up with warm, comforting foods, like this creamy Gnocchi alla Romana. It’s made from semolina flour that’s cooked to a polenta-like consistency, chilled, and then cut into rounds. The slices are layered in a 9" x 13" pan and covered with cheese, gratin-style. The whole thing bakes until it’s melty and golden brown.

Get the recipe: Gnocchi alla Romana (Semolina Gnocchi Gratin)

Shop the recipe: Semolina Flour

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

4) Spiced Baked Doughnuts

You can still make doughnuts even if you don’t have a doughnut pan (yet!) or you don’t feel like frying — all you need is this recipe for Spiced Baked Doughnuts. The yeasted dough is easy to work with; it gets rolled out like biscuit dough and then stamped out using round cutters. The risen doughnuts are baked on a sheet pan, then brushed with butter and dipped in a combination of sugar and spice for a sweet exterior.

Get the recipe: Spiced Baked Doughnuts

Shop the recipe: Whole Wheat Flour and Nutmeg

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

5) Dutch Crunch Rolls

If you want to up your sandwich game in 2024, Dutch Crunch Rolls are the bread to make. They originated in California, where they are still hugely popular, and get a flavor and texture boost from a sweet flour paste that’s spooned onto the exterior of each roll before it bakes. The result is a tender roll with a crunchy crown — ideal for sandwiches or eating on its own.

Get the recipe: Dutch Crunch Rolls

Shop the recipe: Unbleached Bread Flour

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

6) Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes)

Eating more vegetables in the year ahead is easy when they come in the form of savory pancakes. Thin, crêpe-like Korean Pajeon are packed with scallions, held together by a small amount of batter. The batter cooks quickly in a skillet on the stovetop, so you can have fresh, hot savory pancakes for dinner or breakfast. Make them with scallions, and then get creative and try other vegetables like grated cabbage, carrot, or sweet potatoes.

Get the recipe: Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes)

Shop the recipe: Scone and Muffin Scoop

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

7) Small-Batch Cinnamon Rolls

This small-batch recipe is ideal for bakers who want to make fluffy, homemade cinnamon rolls without lots of leftovers. It’s perfectly scaled to yield two tall, frosting-covered buns: one for you, and one for a sweetheart or lucky friend. (Or maybe another one for you later.)

Get the recipe: Small-Batch Cinnamon Rolls

Shop the recipe: Vietnamese Cinnamon

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

8) London Fog Cake

Fans of the milky, black tea-based London Fog will fall in love with this pound cake version of the classic hot drink. The cake is beautifully speckled with ground black tea leaves and scented with citrus thanks to a dash of orange oil in the batter. A thick, luscious glaze that uses dried whole milk for extra-creamy flavor is poured over the top of the cake for an elegant finish. Serving it with a hot London Fog is optional but extra delicious.

Get the recipe: London Fog Cake

Shop the recipe: Dried Whole Milk and Tea Loaf Pan

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

9) Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits

You don’t need to master pie crust (though you can and should!) to make homemade pot pie, thanks to this version that uses an easy biscuit topping. The creamy, savory base has all the staples of the best pot pies: cream sauce, chicken, and vegetables. Assemble it all in a beautiful Dutch oven that can go straight from the oven to the table.

Get the recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits

Shop the recipe: Sublime Dutch Oven

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

10) Citrus Surprise Grapefruit Cake

January is a time to embrace the brightness of citrus. Make sure to stock up on beautifully colored grapefruits; eat them on their own (or with a drizzle of maple syrup) and make sure to save some for this stunning cake. The earthy flavor of white whole wheat flour complements the citrus and balances out the frosting. (We like Cream Cheese Frosting on this cake.)

Get the recipe: Citrus Surprise Grapefruit Cake

Shop the recipe: White Whole Wheat Flour

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

11) Spicy Kimchi Cheddar Bread

Trying to lean into making more dinners at home this year? Put cozy comfort food on the menu with this cheesy quick bread. It comes together in no time because there’s no yeast —just baking powder and baking soda. It’s also packed with flavor and texture: The kimchi liquid is used in the batter to ensure the tangy taste comes through in every bite, and the bread itself is encrusted in a layer of sesame seeds for extra crunch.

Get the recipe: Spicy Kimchi Cheddar Bread

Shop the recipe: 8" Square Pan

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

12) Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Cake

This snickerdoodle-inspired cake is quick, easy, and ideal for snacking on all day long. The simple cake batter is mixed in one bowl and then chocolate chips are folded in. The pan and top of the batter are dusted with cinnamon sugar for an unfussy but tasty garnish that makes this cake reminiscent of a spiced snickerdoodle cookie.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Cake

Shop the recipe: Callebaut Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

13) Garlic Bread Pizza

Garlic Bread Pizza combines two of the most universally loved foods into one ultimate dish: garlic bread and pizza. Make your own ciabatta bread (or use store-bought for a shortcut) and then make a buttery, salty, cheesy, garlicky topping to slather over the top. Add slices of pepperoni if you like, or simply embrace the combination of tomatoes, garlic, and cheese on top of crispy, crunchy bread.

Get the recipe: Garlic Bread Pizza

Shop the recipe: Boyajian Garlic Oil

14) Cinnamon-Sugar Crunch Bagels

We’ve got Recipe of the Year on our minds since our 2024 recipe, Supersized, Super-Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, just made its debut. This sweet bagel recipe is a twist on our 2022 Recipe of the Year — Ultimate Sandwich Bagels — and the well-loved Cinnamon Crunch Bagel from Panera. It’s distinguished by its spectacularly crunchy crust, made from a streusel topping that shatters with every bite and includes coarse sparkling sugar for a sprinkle-like crunch.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon-Sugar Crunch Bagels

Shop the recipe: Cinnamon Sweet Bits and Coarse Sparkling Sugar

Joseph De Leo

15) Classic Kouign-Amann (Breton Butter Cake)

If you’re snowed in and want a baking project, give this traditional French cake a whirl. Kouign-amann translates to “butter cake,” and for good reason. Like a croissant, it’s made by layering dough with sheets of butter, creating delicate layers that melt in your mouth — but with the pleasant addition of sugar in each of those layers. This recipe is a great place to start if you’re new to laminated doughs, as it’s surprisingly forgiving.

Get the recipe: Classic Kouign-Amann (Breton Butter Cake)

Shop the recipe: SAF Instant Yeast and Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne

16) Gruyère-Stuffed Crusty Loaves

Filled with melty Gruyère cheese and pizza seasoning, these crusty loaves are just what every dinner table needs. I like to utilize the long rest option included at the bottom of the recipe page so I can more easily fit this recipe into my schedule.

Get the recipe: Gruyère-Stuffed Crusty Loaves

Shop the recipe: Pizza Dough Flavor

For more recipes to bake this winter, check out our collection of Extraordinary Bread recipes.

Cover photo (Small-Batch Cinnamon Rolls) by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.

Additional contributions from Laura Scaduto. 

The 16 best recipes to bake in January (2024)

FAQs

What is the simplest thing to bake? ›

All Easy Baking Ideas
  • Banana Bread. Recipe | Courtesy of Mary Sue Milliken|Susan Feniger. ...
  • Sugar Cookies. Recipe | Courtesy of Alton Brown. ...
  • Crispy-Cakey Chocolate Chip Cookies. Recipe | Courtesy of Food Network Kitchen. ...
  • Twice-Baked Potatoes. ...
  • Banana Walnut Bread. ...
  • Shortbread Cookies. ...
  • Banana Bread. ...
  • Classic Deviled Eggs.

What is the one big rule in baking? ›

#1 Read through the recipe.

What is the oldest baked good? ›

Charred crumbs of a flatbread made by Natufian hunter-gatherers from wild wheat, wild barley and plant roots between 14,600 and 11,600 years ago have been found at the archaeological site of Shubayqa 1 in the Black Desert in Jordan, predating the earliest known making of bread from cultivated wheat by thousands of ...

What are the names of bakery dishes? ›

Bakery and baked goods categories like bars, breads (bagels, buns, rolls, biscuits and loaf breads), cookies, desserts (cakes, cheesecakes and pies), muffins, pizza, snack cakes, sweet goods (doughnuts, Danish, sweet rolls, cinnamon rolls and coffee cake) and tortillas.

What is the most popular thing to bake? ›

Some of the most popular baked goods are apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, cornbread, and banana bread.

What is the most common thing baked? ›

The most common baked item is bread but many other types of foods are baked as well.

Why bake at 400? ›

375-400 F: Shorter term baking or roasting favors a slightly higher temperature to ensure crisp edges to cookies or bubbling golden cheese. This is also the perfect roasting temperature for chicken to ensure golden, crispy skin.

Can I bake cookies and chicken at the same time? ›

Unfortunately cakes and cookies generally bake at 180c/350F so the oven temepratures would not be compatible but some muffins and cupcakes can be baked at 200c/400F and the cooking time is fairly short so it is possible to bake at the same time as the chicken, though it is not something we would generally attempt.

What are the 4 principles of baking? ›

4 Fundamental Principles of Baking to Transform Your Experience
  • First Rule: Precision in Ingredient Measurement: Accurate measurement of ingredients is paramount in the science of baking. ...
  • Second Rule: Temperature Control: ...
  • Third Rule: Proper Mixing Technique: ...
  • Fourth Rule: Cooling and Storage Method:

What is the best baked good in the world? ›

The World's Best Baked Goods
  • Eiffel Tower Pastry in Paris. ...
  • Babka in Warsaw, Poland. ...
  • Key Lime Pie in Miami. ...
  • Caprese Cake in Italy. ...
  • Guava Pastries in Miami. ...
  • Cheesecake Brownies in New York City. ...
  • Cakes in Paris. ...
  • Rum Baba Eclair in Paris.

What baked goods last long? ›

How to Store Baked Goods
Baked GoodRoom TemperatureFreezer
Cheesecaken/a3-6 months
Cinnamon rolls (Note: Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated.)1-3 days3 months
Cookies2-3 weeks8-12 months
Cream Piesn/an/a
8 more rows
Oct 26, 2023

How did they bake bread in Bible times? ›

Bread was baked in small domed clay ovens, or tabun. Archaeologists have excavated ancient ovens which were usually made by encircling clay coils or from re-used pottery jars. The oven was heated on the interior using dung for fuel; flat breads were baked against the interior side walls.

What are fancy bakers called? ›

A pastry chef or pâtissier (pronounced [pɑ. ti. sje]; feminine pâtissière, pronounced [pɑ. ti. sjɛʁ]) is a station chef in a professional kitchen, skilled in the making of pastries, desserts, breads and other baked goods.

What are 3 common foods a baker makes? ›

A baker can bake a wide variety of items, including bread, rolls, pies, cakes, cookies, pastries, donuts, and more. But pastry chefs usually specialize in desserts.

What is the best bakery name? ›

Best Bakery Name Ideas for Your New Bakery
  • Sweet Humble Pie. Cakes in a Hurry. ...
  • Cake Me Proud. Pie or Die. ...
  • Tout de Sweet Cakes. Bake Love, Not War. ...
  • Confect. Minima Bakery. ...
  • Retro Pies. Good Old-Fashioned Cookies. ...
  • Hole in One Donuts. Holy Cannoli Bakery. ...
  • Yummy Tummy Bakery. Italian Dolce Vita. ...
  • Locally Baked Home-Baked Happiness.

Is there anything like an easy bake oven? ›

With adjustable heat settings, and usually built-in timers, a toaster oven can cook a much wider range of foods (both sweet and savory) than any Easy-Bake Oven, which runs at the same heat at all times. Also Easy-Bake's tiny entrance for baked goods and snacks limits what you can place inside.

What is the simplest and most common pastry? ›

Shortcrust pastry is the simplest and most common pastry. It is made with flour, fat, butter, salt, and water to bind the dough.

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