19 New Year Bakes That Will Keep Your Kitchen Smelling Amazing All Day

If your New Year goal is “less stress, more cozy,” letting a warm tray bake while your house smells amazing is a perfect start. These simple, mostly hands-off recipes use basic ingredients, feed a crowd, and work for brunch, dessert, or an afternoon snack. They save you from last-minute cooking, keep guests happy, and make the home feel special without spending all day in the kitchen.

Apple Tart with Puff Pastry

Apple tart with puff pastry is exactly what you want in the oven while you ease into a quiet January afternoon. Flaky layers puff up around soft, caramelized apples so your whole kitchen smells warm and cozy. A warm slice with a scoop of ice cream makes staying in feel like the only plan you need.
Get the Recipe: Apple Tart with Puff Pastry

Pecan Pie

Pecan pie brings that toasted caramel aroma that makes a chilly New Year day feel softer around the edges. The no-roll crust bakes up tender under a gooey, nutty filling that crackles just a little when you cut into it. One slice with a cup of coffee turns a simple evening at home into a small moment worth lingering over.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie

No Crust Cheesecake

No crust cheesecake keeps baking with low effort while still making your place smell like a dessert shop in the best way. The creamy filling bakes up smooth with a light tang from the sour cream layer, so it never feels too heavy after weeks of rich holiday food. A chilled slice from the fridge feels like a calm little reset at the end of the day.
Get the Recipe: No Crust Cheesecake

Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets

Puff pastry apple pie pockets send out clouds of cinnamon and butter as they puff up in the oven. Each little parcel holds tender, spiced apples tucked inside a crisp, flaky shell that feels extra cozy on a cold January night. One warm pocket on a plate is all you need for a solo dessert that still feels special.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets

Blueberry Buckle

Blueberry buckle fills your kitchen with the smell of cake and berries while you move slowly through the first days of the year. Juicy blueberries sink into a soft crumb under a golden, buttery topping that bakes up just a bit crisp at the edges. A square for breakfast or dessert keeps the post holiday mood relaxed but still a little bit sweet.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Buckle

Lemon Blueberry Loaf

Lemon blueberry loaf brings a bright citrus scent that gently cuts through all the lingering heaviness of December treats. The soft loaf wraps juicy blueberries in a lightly tangy crumb that works just as well with tea as it does with coffee. Serving a thin slice in the morning makes the new year feel a touch lighter already.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Loaf

Puff Pastry Palmiers

Puff pastry palmiers are an easy bake to slide into the oven while you potter around the house in comfy clothes. The sugar melts into the buttery layers, so each little heart-shaped swirl turns crisp and caramelized. A small plate of them on the counter turns everyday snacking into something quietly elegant.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Palmiers

Macadamia Nut Coffee Cake

Made with feel-good ingredients, this sweet treat stays gluten-free, grain-free, and sugar-free, with an easy option to keep it dairy-free too. Macadamia nut coffee cake fills your kitchen with a gentle roasted-nut aroma while the tender crumb wraps around crunchy macadamias for that cozy mix of soft bite and buttery crunch. Place a warm wedge next to your coffee or tea is such a calm, comforting way to ease into the new year.
Get the Recipe: Macadamia Nut Coffee Cake

Peanut Butter Brownies

Peanut butter brownies bring deep chocolate smells swirling through the house with a cozy peanut swirl baked right on top. The brownies come out dense and fudgy with ribbons of peanut butter running through every square, so no bite feels plain. A little stack by the stove turns late-night snacking into a quiet New Year treat just for you.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Brownies

4-Ingredient Banana Bread

4-ingredient banana bread is the kind of thing you pop in the oven on a slow New Year morning, then forget about until the whole place smells amazing. Ripe bananas, a simple batter, and one bowl make it budget-friendly yet cozy enough for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Left on the counter, a loaf keeps the house smelling cozy long after it leaves the oven.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Banana Bread

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms

3-ingredient peanut butter blossoms bring back chocolate candy vibes in the easiest way, which feels just right after a busy holiday season. Soft peanut butter cookies meet melty chocolate kisses, so the whole tray smells warm and nostalgic the second you open the oven door. A small plate beside your coffee makes quiet January evenings feel extra sweet.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms

Matcha Sugar Cookies

Matcha sugar cookies give classic sugar cookies a mellow tea twist that feels fresh for the new year. The edges bake up lightly crisp while the centers stay tender, filling your kitchen with a mix of buttery richness and earthy matcha aroma. A batch of cooling on the tray turns an ordinary afternoon into something a bit more special.
Get the Recipe: Matcha Sugar Cookies

Red Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake brings big bakery energy to a simple day at home with its cocoa notes and pretty red crumb. The tangy cream cheese frosting smells sweet and cozy as you spread it over each layer, making the whole cake feel celebration-ready even if you’re just in sweats. Cutting into that red crumb feels like giving the new year its own little celebration.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake

Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies

Dirty chai earthquake cookies are perfect when you want your kitchen to smell like a coffee shop and a bakery at the same time. Espresso and chai spices perfume the air while the cookies crackle on top, so you get a serious aroma with very little effort. Stack a few by the kettle so every refill comes with a cozy cookie moment.
Get the Recipe: Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies

Chocolate Fudge Cake

Chocolate fudge cake is the rich, no-nonsense bake that makes the whole house smell like cocoa in the best way. The batter comes together from pantry staples, yet bakes into a dense, fudgy dessert that feels right for curling up on the couch with a fork. Bake it on a slow New Year’s Day when you want chocolate to do all the talking.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Cake

Matcha Brownies

Matcha brownies are a fun switch from the usual chocolate tray bakes once January rolls in. The green hue looks striking out of the pan while the mix of sweet white chocolate and gentle matcha sends out a cozy, slightly toasty aroma. The gentle tea flavor keeps the dessert feeling fresh even after weeks of rich holiday treats.
Get the Recipe: Matcha Brownies

Hot Milk Cake

Hot milk cake brings old-school comfort to your first bakes of the year with a soft crumb and simple vanilla scent. Warming the milk gives you an extra tender texture, so the whole kitchen smells like pure cake as it puffs up in the oven. One warm slice at the table makes the new calendar feel off to a soft start.
Get the Recipe: Hot Milk Cake

Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls

Puff pastry cinnamon rolls are what you reach for when you want that bakery smell without fussing with yeast. Store bought pastry turns flaky and golden around a swirl of brown sugar and cinnamon, then a quick drizzle of glaze finishes everything off. Let a pan bake while you lounge in pajamas so cinnamon quietly sets the tone.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls

Gooey Butter Cake

Gooey butter cake is pure comfort, sending out a sweet, buttery scent that hangs in the air long after baking. The soft, rich top settles over a tender base so every square feels indulgent without asking for fancy ingredients. Serve small squares through the day so your kitchen keeps that sweet bakery feel.
Get the Recipe: Gooey Butter Cake