67 surprise recipes

Barley cheese soup with broccoli, carrots, pearl barley, and a creamy cheddar finish. A hearty 30-minute soup that's surprisingly filling thanks to chewy barley and melty cheese.

Coffee cake with a hidden filling of dried figs, walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon baked between layers of vanilla batter. A sweet surprise in every slice.

Sauteed crookneck squash with onions, golden water chestnuts and a splash of olive oil. A tender Southern side with surprise crunch in every bite.

Pinto bean fudge blends strained beans with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and nuts for a surprisingly creamy candy. No one will guess the secret ingredient.

Paupiettes de bananes: whole bananas wrapped in ham, baked in cream with Parmesan and paprika until golden. A surprising French appetizer ready in 30 minutes.

Surprise your family with this delicious dish that will have everyone talking about your first class cooking skills.

Whole wheat muffins with a sweet plum jam center baked until golden. A simple from-scratch breakfast muffin with a fruity surprise in every bite.

Diet Rite bread: a 3-ingredient bread machine loaf made with just yeast, bread flour and soda water. Fat-free, sugar-free and low in sodium, with a surprisingly light, airy crumb.

Five-spice-rubbed roast beef served with a homemade spiced blackberry ketchup, sweet, tart, and gently fiery with cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. An elegant roast with a surprising fruit condiment.

Cherry-stuffed cookies wrapped in almond-vanilla dough and dipped in dark or white chocolate. A surprise maraschino cherry hidden inside each one.

El Paso chicken rolls pounded breasts around a cream cheese and salsa filling, then bakes them seam-side down over rice in enchilada sauce. A Tex-Mex one-dish dinner with a creamy surprise inside.

Creamy peanut butter soup made with chicken broth, heavy cream, and a splash of Madeira wine. A rich, velvety Southern classic that's savory, nutty, and surprisingly elegant.

Great flavor with the basil and tomatoes. I needed to use up some fresh tomatoes and I was surprised how good they tasted in this.

Garbanzo bean pizza with a gluten-free chickpea puree crust topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Italian herbs. High-protein, grain-free, and surprisingly crispy.

Potato skin soup uses just the peels, sauteed in butter with onion, simmered in chicken broth, and blended smooth. A resourceful, zero-waste soup with surprisingly rich potato flavor.

Buttery cookies hiding a whole Andes mint inside, wrapped in soft dough and topped with a pecan half for surprise chocolate-mint magic in every bite.