I tried 8 of Ina Garten's most popular desserts, and the best one was the easiest to make

I've made many of Ina Garten's dessert recipes, including her incredible mocha icebox cake.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderI've been making my way through Ina Garten's dessert recipes. Her blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake is bright and light, and her brownies are outrageously good. My favorite is her mocha icebox cake, which Garten said was so good it'd make "grown men weep." In her very first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook," Ina Garten wrote that "a homemade dessert is a special reward." And she's been gifting her fans wonderful recipes for over two decades. Garten gave up a job at the White House to run a 400-square-foot specialty food shop called Barefoot Contessa. She turned that store into an empire with 13 cookbooks and a 23-year run on the Food Network. Garten's cookbooks helped me get back into baking, and now I've been slowly making my way through many of her sweet treats — including one she says is so good it'll make "grown men weep." Here's how they all stack up. In eighth place is Ina Garten's tiramisu.Ina Garten's tiramisu.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's tiramisu is featured in her cookbook, "Family Style," and in an early episode of her show, "Barefoot Contessa." The Food Network star said she wanted to whip up the classic dessert for her husband, Jeffrey."Tiramisu was to the 1990s what Pasta Pesto was to the '80s — it was done, done, and overdone," Garten wrote in her cookbook. "Now that it's not so pervasive, I dragged out my old recipe and rediscovered a dessert that's delicious, can be made in advance, and requires no cooking!" Garten's tiramisu features Italian ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and dark rum.Garten's tiramisu also features brewed espresso.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make Garten's tiramisu, which serves eight, you'll need: 6 extra-large egg yolks at room temperature 30 Italian ladyfingers (Garten recommends the brand Savoiardi) 17 ounces of mascarpone cheese 1 ½ cups of brewed espresso ½ cup of good dark rum ¼ cup of sugar Bittersweet chocolate, shaved or grated Confectioners' sugar (optional)Garten's tiramisu has a nice flavor but is a bit forgettable.Garten's tiramisu is super easy to put together.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's tiramisu is very quick and easy to put together, which is always a huge plus. But I couldn't find the Savoiardi ladyfingers she recommends at my grocery store, and the American ladyfingers I used were far too fluffy to work well with her recipe. I thought the filling tasted lovely, especially with the punch of dark rum. But I still prefer my dad's delicious no-bake chocolate cake, which has a similar flavor but a far better texture thanks to the use of Nilla wafers. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's tiramisu here.Taking the seventh spot is Garten's apple spice cake.Ina Garten's apple spice cake.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderThis apple spice cake was among the many recipes that Garten developed while working at her Barefoot Contessa store. "We used to have all kinds of cakes like this out on the bakery counter, and you could come buy a whole cake, but you could also buy a piece," Garten said in an early episode of her "Barefoot Contessa" show."It's not fancy," she added. "Just really delicious and earthy, and you always want to come back for more." Garten's apple spice cake features Granny Smith apples, rum, raisins, and pecans.Ingredients for Garten's apple spice cake.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make Garten's apple spice cake, you'll need: 1 ½ pounds of Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and ¼-inch diced 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour 1 cup of chopped pecans 1 cup of golden raisins 1 cup of granulated sugar 1 cup of dark-brown sugar, lightly packed ½ cup of dark rum (Garten recommends Mount Gay) ¾ cup of vegetable oil 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoons of grated orange zest (2 oranges) 2 teaspoons of baking powder ½ teaspoon of kosher salt 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon of ground ginger ⅛ teaspoon of ground cloves Vanilla ice cream for serving Caramel sauce for serving Garten's apple spice cake is a lovely fall dessert.Garten's apple spice cake out of the oven.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's apple spice cake is full of delicious fall flavors. The rum-soaked raisins reminded me of caramel, infusing some sweetness to the tart Granny Smith apples. Each bite was filled with the delicious nuttiness of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and I loved the surprising zing of the orange zest. The cake wasn't too sweet, so I even enjoyed a few slices at breakfast during the week. But I recommend following Garten's instructions and pairing it with ice cream and caramel for the "perfect dessert." Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's apple spice cake here. In sixth place is Garten's chocolate cake with mocha frosting.Garten's chocolate cake with mocha frosting.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten has many chocolate cakes in her recipe repertoire, but she says this chocolate cake with mocha frosting is a "dessert everyone will remember." Garten's cake features Kahlúa, instant espresso powder, and bittersweet chocolate.Garten's chocolate cake also features cocoa powder and vanilla.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make Garten's chocolate cake, which serves 12, you'll need: 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 cups of sugar 1 ½ sticks (12 tablespoons) of unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour ⅔ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder ⅔ cup of half-and-half ⅔ cup of hot tap water 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1 teaspoon of kosher salt 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder To make the frosting, you'll need: 12 ounces of bittersweet chocolate 1 ¼ cups of heavy cream 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter (diced), at room temperature 1 tablespoon of Kahlúa2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract Garten's chocolate cake was deliciously moist, but the frosting couldn't compete with some of her other desserts.Garten's chocolate cake was springy and light.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's chocolate cake with mocha frosting has a fantastic texture that reminded me of her Beatty's Chocolate Cake (more on that soon). The cake is springy and light, and the chocolate flavor is well-balanced thanks to the addition of Kahlúa and espresso. But the mocha frosting didn't stand out to me compared with the buttercream in Beatty's Chocolate Cake. Although it was easier to make than the latter dessert and tasted delicious, I didn't find myself craving seconds or thirds as I have with other Barefoot Contessa desserts. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's chocolate cake with mocha icing here.Taking the fifth spot is Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake.Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake appears in her most recent cookbook, "Go-To Dinners," where she writes that everyone who makes this recipe "can't believe how easy it is!" She also shared the cake on Instagram to celebrate Mother's Day in May 2023."For Mother's Day, let mom sleep in while you bake her my Blueberry Ricotta Breakfast Cake," she wrote in the caption. "It's so easy to make — and who wouldn't love cake for breakfast?!!!" Garten's cake also got the top spot in my ranking of Barefoot Contessa breakfast recipes.Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake features ricotta, lemon, and sour cream.Garten's breakfast cake also features vanilla and lemon zest.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make Garten's breakfast cake, which serves eight, you'll need: 2 cups (12 ounces) of fresh blueberries 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour1 cup of whole-milk ricotta 1 cup of granulated sugar 10 tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks) of unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 tablespoons of sour cream 1 tablespoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of grated lemon zestSifted powdered sugar, for dustingGarten's breakfast cake is a delicious dream that I'd happily eat after any meal.Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake was delightfully light and zingy.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderThe sweet blueberries and zingy lemon keep the flavor interesting, and the cake was also extremely easy to whip up in the morning. I made the cake for my mom just before Mother's Day, and she was also a fan. "This was superb," she declared after trying her first few bites. "I give it a 10/10." Garten's recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, and I've loved making it for everyone. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake here.In fourth place is the recipe for Garten's famous "outrageous" brownies.Garten's outrageous brownies.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's outrageous brownies were a huge hit at her Barefoot Contessa store, which she ran for 18 years after leaving a job at the White House. Garten's brownies are also featured in her first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook." In the recipe description, Garten says her brownies were so popular at Barefoot Contessa that she sold "like a thousand a week." Garten's outrageous brownies feature tons of chocolate.Garten's brownies also feature chopped walnuts and instant coffee.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make a serving of 20 (large) brownies, you'll need: 1 pound of unsalted butter1 pound plus 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips6 ounces of bitter chocolate6 extra-large eggs3 cups of chopped walnuts 2 ¼ cups of sugar1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour3 tablespoons of instant-coffee granules2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract1 tablespoon of baking powder1 teaspoon of saltGarten's outrageous brownies are outrageously good.Garten's outrageous brownies were decadent and delicious.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's outrageous brownies taste incredible, so I'm not surprised that they used to fly off the shelves of her store. The brownies are decadent and delicious and don't take much time or effort. I love how the walnuts provide some contrast to the rich chocolate — each bite is moist and gooey, with just a bit of satisfying crunch. Whenever you need a great dessert to bring to a party or gift a relative or friend, Garten's outrageous brownies are a surefire hit. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's outrageous brownies here.Rounding out the top three are Garten's chocolate chunk blondies.Ina Garten's chocolate-chunk blondies.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's chocolate chunk blondies, inspired by chocolate chunk cookies, appear in her 2012 cookbook "Foolproof.""Who doesn't love chocolate chunk cookies?" she writes in the recipe description. "This is the same thing — made into bars."Garten also notes that chocolate chunks have a "more intense chocolate flavor than chips," and that this recipe delivers "moist, delicious blondies, every time!"Garten's chocolate chunk blondies mainly feature pantry staples, so they're cheap to make.Ingredients for Garten's chocolate chunk blondies.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make Garten's blondies at home, you'll need:1 ¼ pounds of semisweet chocolate chunks2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature½ pound (2 sticks) of unsalted butter, at room temperature2 cups of all-purpose flour1 ½ cups of chopped walnuts1 cup of light-brown sugar, lightly packed½ cup of granulated sugar2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract1 teaspoon of baking soda1 teaspoon of kosher saltI should note that I opted to skip the walnuts for this recipe and accidentally bought chocolate chips instead of chocolate chunks.The blondies still came out fantastic, so feel free to use either based on your preference or what's already in your kitchen!Garten's blondies were a huge hit with everyone who tried them.Everyone loved Garten's chocolate chunk blondies.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's blondies are so moist and luscious that there's sure to be some chocolate dripping down your fingers. But the mess is worth it for the delicious treat, which had a crispy crust that gave way to a middle so fluffy it reminded me of an extra-soft cookie."Three words: chunky, decadent, delicious," my friend Kayla said when I asked for a review.I also loved that this dessert was as quick as it was cheap. There's no better pick than this when you're looking for a way to impress people without breaking the grocery-store budget.Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's blondies here.Taking the second spot is Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake.Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten actually got the recipe for Beatty's Chocolate Cake from her friend Michael Grimm, who frequently appears on "Barefoot Contessa." The cake was named after Grimm's grandmother Beatty, who would bake it for her husband and the customers on his milk deliveries, said Grimm's friend Monte Mathews, who shared the famous cake's origin story on his blog Chewing The Fat. Beatty's Chocolate Cake features freshly brewed coffee, cocoa powder, and semisweet chocolate.Beatty's Chocolate Cake also features vanilla and instant coffee.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make Beatty's Chocolate Cake, you'll need: 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour (plus more for pans) 2 cups of sugar 1 cup of freshly brewed hot coffee 1 cup of buttermilk (shaken) ¾ cup of cocoa powder ½ cup of vegetable oil 2 extra-large eggs at room temperature 2 teaspoons of baking soda 1 teaspoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of kosher salt 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract The chocolate frosting requires: 6 ounces of good semisweet chocolate 2 sticks (½ pound) of unsalted butter at room temperature1 ¼ cups of powdered sugar (sifted) 1 extra-large egg yolk at room temperature 1 tablespoon of instant coffee granules (such as Nescafé) 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract Garten's Beatty's Chocolate cake blew me away.Beatty's Chocolate Cake is deliciously rich yet fluffy and moist.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderWhen I first tested and reviewed Beatty's Chocolate Cake, I wrote that it's "packed with chocolate and still light as air — a true feat." It's deliciously rich yet fluffy and moist, and the buttercream is truly the perfect icing on top with its hint of sweetness. Beatty's Chocolate Cake still tastes great days later, making it perfect for leftovers. While it's not the quickest or easiest cake to make, the work was extremely worth it. This is a cake you make for someone you really love. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake here.Our winner is Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake.Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten previously told Epicurious the mocha chocolate icebox cake was one of her go-to recipes, and was inspired by a "fabulous caterer" friend. "I thought it was such a good concept that I was going to do it with something more interesting," she said. "So I took Tate's chocolate-chip cookies, and I added Kahlúa and cocoa powder. I made it into mocha whipped cream and then layered those and put it in the refrigerator, and, oh my God, it makes grown men weep."Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake features Tate's chocolate-chip cookies, Italian mascarpone cheese, and Kahlúa liqueur.Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake also features instant espresso powder and semisweet chocolate.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo whip up the cake at home, you'll need: 3 (8-ounce) packages of Tate's Bake Shop chocolate-chip cookies12 ounces of Italian mascarpone cheese2 cups of cold heavy cream¼ cup of Kahlúa liqueur½ cup of sugar2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extractSemisweet chocolate (for the garnish)If you can't find Tate's Bake Shop at your local supermarket, Garten recommends using another thin, crisp chocolate-chip cookie for the recipe instead. Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake is one of my favorite desserts, period.Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake is one of my favorite desserts.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten's mocha chocolate icebox cake was the first dessert I had made from scratch in a long time, and it's beyond simple and fun to whip up. The cake looks extremely impressive, thanks to its 10 layers, which you can easily see in each slice — and tastes even better. The Tate's cookies give the cake a rich and buttery flavor that will satisfy every sweet tooth, and I loved how the mocha whipped cream paired with the crunch of the chocolate-chip cookies. This is also one of those cakes that gets better each day it sits in the fridge, which was a delightful treat to look forward to as my family and I finished it all week. It might not make a grown man cry, but anyone who tries this cake will be thinking about it for a long time. I know I still am, and I can't wait to make it again and again. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's mocha icebox cake here.Read the original article on Business Insider

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