Spicy Chex mix scattered on a baking sheet with a spoon lying in the middle.
Peter Frank Edwards
1 of 7

Spicy Chex Mix

This homemade spicy Chex mix bears some resemblance to the original but is SO much more interesting. The combination of roasted nuts, toasted cereal, and the ideal amount of cayenne and chili seasoning means you may never go back to the classic.
Several bacon-wrapped chicken wings on a grill grate with flame below.
Leigh Beisch
2 of 7

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Wings

Bacon-wrapped chicken wings need just three ingredients–chicken wings, bacon, and black pepper–to make this stellar nosh. In about an hour you’ll have the best-grilled finger food you can imagine. And sooo simple.
Open waxed paper bag with popcorn and maple bacon bits spilling out
Marcus Nilsson
3 of 7

Popcorn with Bacon Fat, Bacon, and Maple Syrup

This amazing popcorn is popped in bacon fat with bacon fat, bacon and maple syrup is a bacon-lover’s version of America’s favorite nighttime, couch-sitting, sitcom-accompanying snack.
A glass bowl filled with Sriracha mayonnaise and a typed label underneath.
Chris Middleton
4 of 7

Sriracha Mayonnaise

Sriracha mayonnaise is gonna shatter your previous notions of what a dipping sauce or sandwich spread or all-around condiment ought to be. Here’s how to make it and our suggested uses.
A salted caramel and pretzel cookie topped with flaked sea salt and pieces of pretzel.
Johnny Miller
5 of 7

Salted Caramel and Pretzel Cookies

These salted caramel and pretzel cookies, made with buttery sugar cookie dough, pretzel pieces, and dulce de leche, have it all. Sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy. Sorta like everything cookies. Need we say more?
A cast-iron skillet filled with chocolate brownie.
Beatriz Da Costa
6 of 7

Skillet Brownies

These skillet brownies are made with dark chocolate, sugar, eggs, almonds or hazelnuts, and cocoa, and baked in a cast-iron skillet. They’re crisp on the edges, gooey in the middle, and just happen to be gluten-free as well.
A single compost cookie from Christina Tosi.
Momofuku Milk Bar
7 of 7

Compost Cookies®

These compost cookies, created by Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar, have a pretty surprising and impressive array of mix-ins, including ground espresso, potato chips, and pretzels. Salty, sweet, chewy, gooey, and soul satisfying.



About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leiteโ€™s Culinaria. I’m the author of The New Portuguese Table and Notes on a Banana. For more than 25 years, I’ve been developing and testing recipes for my site, my books, and publications. My work has also appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appรฉtit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and more. I’m also a cooking teacher, memoirist, and inveterate cat lady.


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15 Homemade Condiments

Say ‘so-long’ to store-bought condiments with these homemade versions that taste better than anything you’ll ever buy.

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