13 Recipes with a Secret Ingredient

From the Recipe Creator: Ice cream gets a whole new use in this tender bread recipe that I pared down to serve two. Be sure to use full-fat ice cream for best results. —Katherine Kuehlman, Denver, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: A friend who's an excellent cook shared this hamburger recipe with me, and it has since become a family favorite. The unusual combination of cola and French salad dressing added to the ground beef gives it fabulous flavor. The mixture is also used as a basting sauce on the moist burgers. -Melva Baumer, Millmont, Pennsylvania

From the Recipe Creator: I created this dish after my father had triple bypass surgery. He loves comfort food and I wanted him to be able to enjoy a rich and tasty dish like mac & cheese without all the fat and butter. It's also a great way to sneak in some veggies for children. —Megan Schwartz, New York, New York

From the Recipe Creator: You’d never guess these rich, velvety chocolate treats contain a can of black beans. Who would have thought black bean brownies would be so amazing? —Kathy Hewitt, Cranston, Rhode Island

From the Recipe Creator: The secret ingredient in this homemade candy is a true surprise—no one tasting these delicious morsels will guess what’s in the sweet, creamy filling! —Katrina Smith, Lawrence, Kansas

From the Recipe Creator: I've long used whole or ground cloves as my secret ingredient in cooking and baking. Added to an overnight marinade, they provide the gravy in this meaty main dish with great flavor. —Marijane Rea of Milwaukie, Oregon

From the Recipe Creator: I received this recipe for baked apple dumplings with Mountain Dew from a friend of mine, then tweaked it to suit my family's tastes. The soda is definitely the secret ingredient in this rich apple dessert. —Chris Shields, Monrovia, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: These country-style patties are so simple to prepare. You'll never again settle for store-bought versions that are loaded with preservatives and not as good. —Bertha Bench, Mineral Wells, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: I made these for an office party cookie contest—not a crumb was left on the platter! —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota

From the Recipe Creator: If you like pina coladas, you’ll love this! But here’s the kicker: The secret ingredient is fresh zucchini. Spread the jam on crackers and cheese or add to a pan sauce to give chicken or pork chops a tropical twist. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

From the Recipe Creator: The secret to incredible bread pudding with a soft middle and crisp edges starts with leftover dinner rolls. I picked up the rich brown sugar sauce recipe from my friend Kathryn Gartmann. A big drizzle of it takes this dessert over the top and really makes it the best bread pudding ever. —Maria Petrella, Taste of Home Prep Cook

From the Recipe Creator: These cheesy potatoes are always welcome at our dinner table, and they're so simple to make. A perfect complement to ham, the versatile, homey side dish also goes well with pork, chicken and other entrees. —Cris O'Brien, Virginia Beach, Virginia

From the Recipe Creator: Mom made the best meat loaf, and now I do too. When I first met my husband, he wasn't a meat loaf guy, but this recipe won him over. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas