• Monica Barbaro plays Joan Baez in "A Complete Unknown," which follows Bob Dylan's early career.
• Barbaro told BI that she and Timothée Chalamet, who plays Dylan, first met at a music rehearsal.
• Barbaro did vocal training to sing like Baez and duet with Chalamet's Dylan.

In "A Complete Unknown," Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro inhabit two musical legends: Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. True to form, the actors first met on set at a music rehearsal.

The film, directed by James Mangold, stars Chalamet as a young Dylan during the early years of his career, from his 1962 debut self-titled album through his controversial pivot to electric instrumentation. It features many of Dylan's contemporaries from the era, including Baez (Barbaro), Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), and Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook).

The film's greatest strength is its music, much of which was recorded live on set. Not only does Chalamet perform live as Dylan, but he duets in-character with his collaborators. That led to the perfect meeting for the actors.

"We heard each other's voices in recording studio sessions, because I would sing duets to his voice," Barbaro told Business Insider. "The first time we met was a music rehearsal, and it was just the most beautiful experience to me."

Like Chalamet, Barbaro also did vocal training to play Baez in the film, working to emulate the singer's trilling vibrato while also researching Baez's life and career. The actor told BI that she knew the music was going to be "the biggest hill to climb," and she knew that Chalamet — who spent five years preparing to play Dylan — had been practicing. By the time they first met, she felt ready to hold her ground not only as an actor, but as a musician.

"Getting to play next to him and hear the harmonies of our voices and the accompaniment, so complementary of each other — that was a career highlight," Barbaro said.

"I'm so glad we waited until that point to meet each other and to work with each other," she continued. "It was more true to a Bob and Joan version of the meeting that we'd have these musical proficiencies, that we could collaborate and play together."

Authorities in Kazakhstan are investigating the cause of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in the country, which killed 38 people and injured 29 others on Christmas Day.

The big picture: Flight J2-8243 was diverted while en route from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, to Gronzy in southern Russia.

• Images of the incident shared online show the Embraer 190 aircraft catching fire and splitting apart as it crash-landed near the Kazakh city of Aktau.
• The Kremlin is warning against "hypotheses," but aviation security analysts say it's "reminiscent" of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile system over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in 2014, per AFP.

State of play: Azerbaijan held a national day of mourning for the victims on Thursday, as Kazakh officials told media investigators had found the plane's black box at the crash site.

• A Kazakh official told reporters Thursday that an onboard cylinder containing oxygen exploded moments before the crash.
• A survivor told Russian media he remembered the pilot twice trying to land in dense fog over Grozny and then "the third time, something exploded, some of the aircraft skin had blown out."

Situation report: Chechnya, where Gronzy is located, is one of several areas where Russian air defense systems have targeted Ukrainian drones, officials said.

• Chechen media reported Wednesday Russian forces were repelling drone attacks in the region.

Between the lines: "Azerbaijan Airlines flight was likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system," said Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security firm based in the U.K., in an alert to clients that was shared with media, which cited Kyiv's statement also accusing Russia's military of being behind the crash.

• Other factors included "circumstances around the airspace security environment in southwest Russia," said Osprey, which has provided analysis for carriers still flying into Russia after Western airlines suspended flights due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Justin Crump, of risk advisory firm Sibylline, told the BBC: "It looks very much like the detonation of [a Russian] air defense missile to the rear and to the left of the aircraft, if you look at the pattern of shrapnel that we see," he said.

Zoom in: Osprey CEO Andrew Nicholson wrote that the firm had issued over 200 alerts on drone attacks and air defense systems in Russia during the war.

• An unnamed U.S. official told CNN that early indications indicated that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have shot down the plane.
• If confirmed, it could prove to be a case of mistaken identity involving Russian units that have not been properly trained firing "negligently against Ukraine's use of drones," the official said.

What they're saying: "It would be wrong to put forward any hypotheses before the investigation's conclusions," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by state media.

• "We, of course, will not do this, and no-one should do this. We need to wait until the investigation is completed."

Go deeper: Dutch court convicts three for Malaysian Airlines MH17 plane crash

• Business Insider put over 160 recipes from celebrity chefs to the test to find the tastiest winners.
• We've tried everything from breakfasts and dinners to desserts and specialty bread. 
• Some winning recipes came from Guy Fieri, Ree Drummond, Carla Hall, Ina Garten, and more.

Business Insider put the best recipes from celebrity chefs head-to-head to find the most delicious salads, desserts, bread, beverages, and more. 

Here are some of the winners, from hearty breakfasts to refreshing cocktails.

Editor's note: This story was originally published in September 2021 and most recently updated on December 26, 2024.

Breakfasts

The most important meal of the day deserves a great recipe. Food writers Paige Bennett and Tiffany Leigh tested scrambled eggs, omelets, blueberry pancakes, and breakfast burritos to see if they were worth the hype. 

The winning chef's scrambled eggs had parsley as a secret ingredient 

Emeril Lagasse's flavorful recipe for scrambled eggs was food writer Bennett's favorite.

Though the seasoning alone had 10 ingredients, the rest of the technique only required eggs, cheese, milk, butter, and salt. According to Bennett, the cooking process was easy and took only a couple of minutes.

The eggs were incredibly creamy, runny, and cheesy, paired well with fresh parsley. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made scrambled eggs using 8 recipes from famous chefs to find the best one.

Out of the many omelet recipes, the best one was microwaved

Bennett had a couple of favorite omelet recipes, but one of her favorites included Carla Hall's microwaved eggs.

Filled with mayonnaise, lemon juice, broccoli, and butter, the end result was fluffy and light. It had a nice balance of creamy cheese and crunchy vegetables.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made omelets using 6 recipes from famous chefs, and it surprisingly involved strawberries and microwaves.

The key to fluffy blueberry pancakes is whipped eggs

Bobby Deen's winning recipe calls for whipped egg whites.

According to Bennett, the hardest part was whisking the eggs into stiff peaks, but the rest was simple and quick. The final stack was fluffy and delicious, especially with syrup. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 celebrity chefs' recipes for blueberry pancakes, and the best used whipped egg whites.

Try overnight oats in a canteloupe

Nancy Fuller serves up a hybrid of chia-seed pudding and overnight oats in half of a cantaloupe, then tops the concoction with blueberries and honey.

Bennett put all of the ingredients except the blueberries in a container and placed them in the fridge overnight. The flavor goes so well with the blueberries and honey.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made 4 celebrity chefs' recipes for overnight oats, and the best was served in a cantaloupe.

Use simple and fresh ingredients to make delicious blueberry muffins

Ina Garten's simple take on classic blueberry muffins proved to be the best of the bunch.

After using basic ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to make the dough, Bennett folded in buttermilk, butter, eggs, lemon zest, and blueberries to make golden and moist muffins. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 celebrity chefs' blueberry muffin recipes, and the best one was the easiest to make.

Use toasted oats for a hearty loaf of banana bread

To make Alton Brown's banana bread, swap regular flour for homemade toasted-oat flour.

Bennett found the hardest part was making the flour without a food processor. After toasting and pulverizing oats and mixing them in eggs, stick everything in the oven for 10 minutes.

The final product has a distinct nutty flavor without being overpowering. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made 3 banana-bread recipes by Ree Drummond, Alton Brown, and Curtis Stone. One famous chef's use of oats blew me away.

The sweetest cinnamon rolls use strong coffee and maple syrup 

Ree Drummond had the best one-pot recipe for gooey and perfect cinnamon rolls.

After rolling out the dough and filling it with the coffee mixture, Bennett baked them and found that the ingredients made for the fluffiest rolls.

The sugary maple-filled icing is so good, it could be eaten out of the bowl. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made cinnamon rolls using 3 celebrity-chef recipes, and the best one blew me away. 

Use canned pumpkin puree for sweet, flavorful pumpkin bread 

Bobby Flay's recipe calls for a ton of spices, canned pumpkin, and pantry staples like sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

Bennett mixed the wet and dry ingredients together and folded in toasted pecans and walnuts for an added crunch. 

This bread had the richest pumpkin flavor of all the recipes, plus a moist texture and nutty kick. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made pumpkin bread using 3 recipes from celebrity chefs, and the best was the easiest to make.

Three different kinds of alcohol are used to make a sweet and crispy French toast

To make Guy Fieri's French toast, you'll need orange-flavored and creme de banana liqueur, dark rum, milk, cinnamon, and brown sugar. This recipe turned out to be the most expensive of the bunch, thanks to the alcohol. 

Bennett thickened caramel sauce, dipped and fried bread, and carefully sautéd sliced bananas.

The sweet toast was soft but slightly crispy. The bananas gave it a hint of freshness, and the caramel sauce was delicious. You won't even need maple syrup. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made French toast using 3 celebrity chefs' signature recipes, and the best one cost over $40 to make.

Out of all the breakfast burritos, the best one had steak

Fieri's breakfast burrito recipe calls for ingredients like skirt steak, scrambled eggs, onions, and pico de gallo. This recipe made the best-looking burrito and had an umami flavor thanks to the juicy steak.

Leigh arranged the filling, made up of steak, eggs, diced potatoes and onions, cheese, salsa roja, and lettuce, on the tortilla and then griddled the burrito for a couple of minutes. This gave the burrito a nice golden-brown color and grill marks.

The result was an incredibly satisfying breakfast dish loaded with flavors and textures.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made breakfast burritos using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and Gordon Ramsay's disappointed me most.

Jeff Mauro's recipe for homemade hash browns came together quite easily

Writer Andy Lynes thought Mauro's recipe for hash browns was easy to follow and produced a recognizable version of the breakfast classic.

Notably, this recipe didn't call for eggs or onions. Mauro's recipe required a short list of potatoes, butter, olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne powder.

The final hash browns had a great color from the spices, and they crisped up nicely in the pan.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried hash-brown recipes from Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, and Jeff Mauro, and the best was the easiest to make.

Side Dishes 

A meal isn't complete without a generous side. We tested everything from different kinds of bread to salads and spreads to find which ones should be staples at your dinner table. 

For flavorful corn on the cob, try a spicy chile-lime recipe topped with cheese

Bennett followed corn recipes from Fieri, Giada De Laurentiis, Trisha Yearwood, and Aarón Sánchez.

After grilling the corn for 20 minutes, Sánchez seasons it with rocoto-chile paste, fresh cilantro, lime juice, butter, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Bennett topped it with cotija cheese, cilantro, and butter for a spicy and cheesy main dish. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tested 4 corn on the cob recipes by celebrity chefs, and the best was the spiciest. 

The most delicious baked potatoes took all day to make 

Fieri's "Bomb Bakers" potatoes have to soak in brine for two to eight hours before they are rolled in salt and baked.

Bennett let her potatoes marinate in saltwater for six hours, then rolled them in garlic salt, seasoning salt, kosher salt, and black pepper.

She topped them off with a horseradish spread, sour cream, and black pepper for creamy potatoes that packed some heat. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried baked-potato recipes from Ina Garten, Guy Fieri, Cat Cora, and Nancy Fuller. My favorite took nearly 7 hours.

The best stuffing is the easiest to make

Garten's stuffing was Bennett's favorite because of its complex flavor and easy preparation.

It required only one type of bread, baguettes, which made it easier to prepare. It also had fresh herbs, apples, and almonds combined with savory onions and celery. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made stuffing using 4 recipes from celebrity chefs — the best used a boxed mix and beat Ina Garten's.

To make the best guacamole, you'll need fresh ingredients

Sánchez's guacamole is stuffed with a ton of ingredients, which made it the most time-consuming recipe of them all.

After using a mortar and pestle to grind the ingredients, Bennett noted that the chile, cilantro, sliced radish, and queso fresco added a nice kick to the avocado. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 4 famous chefs' guacamole recipes, and I'd make all of them again.

Easy and affordable ingredients can make the tastiest deviled eggs 

Bennett tried deviled-egg recipes from Alex Guarnaschelli, Rachel Ray, and Paula Deen. Guarnaschelli's eggs were not only a breeze to make, but they were also creamy.

Simply toss egg yolks in a bowl with the rest of the ingredients until they become soft. They have a nice kick thanks to the hot sauce, scallions, and paprika. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made deviled eggs using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best were the cheapest to make. 

This celebrity chef's garlic bread was buttery, spicy, and not at all soggy

The ingredients for Fieri's recipe are a little more complex than others, but the process is quite simple.

Bennett added all the ingredients to a bowl and slathered them on a French baguette. The parmesan, hot sauce, scallions, and parsley balanced each other out. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 celebrity chefs' garlic bread recipes, and the best one has hot sauce in it.

The best cornbread didn't have any butter but turned out soft and fluffy

Hall follows her grandmother's recipe for golden cornbread. Bennett tested it out and found her technique to be simple and straightforward.

After making a thick batter, heat a cast-iron skillet and pour the mixture in.  The creamed corn and canola oil made for a slice of soft and savory bread. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made cornbread using 5 celebrity chefs' recipes, and there's only one I wouldn't eat again.

For pillowy biscuits, use cake flour and sea salt 

Fieri's buttermilk biscuits had similar ingredients to other recipes. Bennett mixed the ingredients in a food processor, cut the dough into rectangles, and brushed them with butter and salt.

She was initially skeptical of the scone-like appearance but found the cake flour made for a soft and delicious biscuit. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made 4 celebrity chefs' biscuit recipes, and the best were little pillows of deliciousness.

The tastiest rolls were also pull-apart 

Brown's recipe seems complex at first but turned out to be quite simple. Bennett tossed the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, egg yolks, and warmed milk in a stand mixer and let the dough rest.

After letting it rest for an hour, slicing it into strips, and baking them, she found the rolls to be savory and crispy. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made dinner rolls using 4 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best doesn't even need extra butter.

The creamiest mashed potatoes contain sour cream 

Garten's recipe was a traditional take on mashed potatoes. Bennett put it to the test and used a ricer to break up red potatoes, which was the most time-consuming part.

After mixing it with warm milk, sour cream, and butter, the final result was tangy and savory. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made mashed potatoes using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and any of them could work for Thanksgiving with some tweaks.

The best recipe for egg salad was simple and had a dash of fresh herbs 

Garten's egg salad featured dill and mustard, with a stronger egg flavor. Bennett found the process of boiling eggs to be easy and quick.

All she had to do was add eggs to a pot, boil them, drain them, and cover the batch in cold water. Finally, she added some mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and dill. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 4 celebrity chefs' recipes for egg salad, and the worst is full of potatoes.

Bennett's favorite pasta salad featured Miracle Whip for a salty and sweet flavor

Sunny Anderson's recipe for pasta salad calls for peas, cheddar, bacon, and Miracle Whip.

Bennett found it to be easy to make. She simply mixed anchovy-free Worcestershire sauce, red onion, apple-cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper with cooked noodles. The sweet replacement for mayonnaise added a tangy kick. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 celebrity chefs' recipes for pasta salad, and the best doesn't use any mayonnaise.

There was more than one winner for the best potato salad

Fieri and Garten were tied for the best potato salad. Fieri's recipe called for red potatoes, vinegar, mayonnaise, sour cream, green onions, bacon, and chopped green onions.

Garten, on the other hand, used whole-grain mustard, buttermilk, salt, pepper, celery, red onion, and white potatoes. Both were crunchy and tangy thanks to the vegetables and condiments. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 4 celebrity chefs' recipes for potato salad, and I'd make them all again.

The best marinara sauce used red wine to create a sweet yet rich flavor profile

Garten came out on top with the best marinara-sauce recipe perfect for any pasta. Garten's marinara recipe required a 1/2-cup of wine, crushed tomatoes, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, and olive oil.

Bennett sautéd the onions and garlic and then deglazed the pan with red wine, which boiled down pretty quickly. Once she added the other ingredients to the pot and let them simmer, she topped the sauce with some fresh parsley.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made marinara sauces using 4 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best had an unexpected secret ingredient.

Bennett was a fan of Anderson's flavorful coleslaw. The apple-raisin slaw called for mayo, sour cream, golden raisins, celery seeds, apple-cider vinegar, cabbage, shredded carrots, and shredded apples.

The finished dish had a balance of sweetness, savoriness, acidity, and tanginess from the sour cream, apples, and raisins. The flavors worked together to make a light yet refreshing take on the cookout classic.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 coleslaw recipes from Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, and Sunny Anderson, and the best one called for raisins and apples.

Entrées

If you find yourself scratching your head for a meal plan or main course, look no further. We've tested baked potatoes, hamburgers, corn on the cob, roast chicken, and pasta to find the best options for your next dinner. 

The juiciest hamburgers are filled with steak sauce and butter 

Food writer Lucien Formichella made different hamburger recipes from Brown, Fieri, and Garten.

His favorite was by the "Barefoot Contessa," which used the most ingredients — an egg yolk, steak sauce, two kinds of meat, and seasoning.

After hand-mixing everything, Formichella added butter to the meat and cooked it in a pan to make a robust and flavorful patty. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made burgers using recipes from Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, and Alton Brown, and the best used butter.

Delectable roast chicken doesn't need extra seasoning or toppings 

Leigh made roast chicken using recipes from Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Garten. Leigh found Keller's technique to be a breeze — and it only uses a handful of ingredients.

After defrosting the chicken, patting off the moisture, and sprinkling pepper and salt on the skin, she cooked it in a cast-iron skillet for 50 minutes. The result was crispy, golden brown, and juicy. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made roast chicken using 3 famous chefs' recipes, and the best took the least amount of time and work.

The best macaroni and cheese took 30 minutes to make

Rachael Ray's recipe used affordable pantry staples like extra-virgin olive oil, butter, flour, milk, white cheddar, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, and elbow macaroni.

After shredding the cheese, Bennett made a roux and broiled the mixture for half an hour. It turned out gooey and slightly cheesy. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made mac and cheese using 3 celebrity-chef recipes, and the best one was the easiest and cheapest to make.

For tasty fettuccine Alfredo, incorporate cauliflower and no cream 

Katie Lee Biegel's fettuccine uses less cheese and more vegetables than other recipes. Though Bennett felt this recipe was more complex than the rest, she found it made the perfect sauce.

To make it, boil cauliflower florets, blend them with milk, and add fettuccine to the boiling vegetable mix. After adding Parmesan cheese, she loved the creamy texture and hardly tasted the cauliflower. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made fettuccine Alfredo using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best doesn't require cream.

For crispy chicken wings, try a flavorful breading and deep-frying 

Anderson's recipe calls for deep-frying and covering the chicken wings with a Buffalo sauce. Food writer Chelsea Davis didn't think that the breading and sauce were anything unique, but she loved that these wings had a nice crunch and tasty deep-fried flavor.

After tossing the wings with a spice blend of flour, cayenne, salt, and pepper, Davis heated oil in a pan and deep-fried the wings for about 25 minutes to create a great taste and texture.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made chicken wings using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best were super crispy.

There wasn't just one winner in the battle for the best chili

Davis made different types of chili from celebrity chefs from Garten, Drummond, and De Laurentiis. She loved Drummond's take on a traditional dish as well as De Laurentiis' recipe for a comforting, vegetable-filled chili.

Davis browned ground meat with onions and added a spice blend — chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper — tomato sauce, beans, and corn grits to make Drummond's chili.

For De Laurentiis' dish, Davis cooked ground chicken with a blend of salt, cumin, fennel, oregano, and chili powder and added corn, white beans, and Swiss chard to the mix.

Davis loved both Drummond's and De Larentiis' chili recipes for their hearty, savory, and complex flavors.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made 3 chili recipes from celebrity chefs, and the worst didn't even have beef or beans in it.

Ray's ribs packed flavor and called for a boozy ingredient

Writer Pascale Mondesir thought Ray's dry rub helped make flavorful, delicious ribs.

The recipe called for a dry rub made with brown sugar, espresso powder, mustard powder, paprika, and cayenne. For the sauce, Ray specifically recommended Southern Comfort whiskey, as well as standard ingredients like chicken stock, tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic, onion, oil, and ground pepper.

Though she wasn't sure if she'd like the mixture of hot sauce and whiskey in the sauce, the finished dish had a good spice level and enjoyable fruity flavor notes from the alcohol.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried ribs recipes from Ina Garten, Guy Fieri, and Rachael Ray, and the best was a little boozy.

Celebrity chef Roy Choi's recipe for grilled cheese kept things simple yet tasty

Writer Meredith Schneider thought Choi's recipe for a grilled-cheese sandwich had an impressive, delicious blend of cheesy flavors. 

The sandwich had the shortest ingredient list out of the recipes she tried, calling for sourdough bread, unsalted butter, yellow cheddar, white cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan. 

Schneider even plans to make Choi's sandwich recipe her new go-to grilled cheese.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried grilled-cheese recipes from Ina Garten, Ree Drummond, and Roy Choi. The best one didn't have fancy add-ins.

Desserts

From pastries and cookies to cakes, we've tested delicious recipes that'll satisfy any sweet tooth. 

The tastiest chocolate-chip cookies are the easiest to make 

Bennett found Duff Goldman's recipe to be simple and straightforward.

The recipe needs all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and, of course, chocolate chips.

After mixing everything in a bowl, she baked them for 20 minutes for a buttery and picturesque cookie. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made chocolate-chip cookies using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best is the simplest. 

The perfect pumpkin pie had a bourbon-maple whipped cream 

Though Flay's recipe had a laundry list of steps, Bennett found that making the filling was simple.

After hand-mixing all the ingredients in a bowl and baking a graham-cracker crust, all she had to do was pour the filling in and bake the pie for 90 minutes.

With the whipped cream, the dessert had the perfect balance of vanilla, maple syrup, warm pumpkin, and spices.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made pumpkin pie using 3 celebrity-chef recipes, and the worst was from a baking legend.

Dark chocolate-loaded brownies pair well with berries

To make Gordon Ramsay's indulgent brownies, melt dark chocolate and butter in a broiler and add in the rest of the batter ingredients.

After only 20 minutes, toss more chocolate bits into the crust to break it up. Bennett noted they became bubbly and added to the rich flavor and texture of the pastry. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made brownies using 3 different celebrity-chef recipes, and the best one was also the most fun to bake.

The best chocolate pie required the most ingredients, but they were all worth it

Out of the many chocolate-pie recipes, Goldman's technique using a store-bought crust and homemade whipped cream was the tastiest.

Bennett said it took 30 minutes to whisk and thicken the filling, but after that, it simply had to chill in the fridge.

The whipped cream used mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, fresh vanilla seeds, and sugar for a delightfully sweet pie. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made chocolate pies using 3 celebrity-chef recipes, and the worst has tofu in it. 

You can make quick and easy chocolate lava cake using kitchen staples

For an easy-to-make lava cake, try Drummond's recipe. Bennett simply melted butter and chocolate, then mixed it with powdered sugar, eggs, vanilla, and flour.

She cooked them for 13 minutes to make a delicious hybrid of brownies and batter. She recommended serving it with ice cream. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made chocolate lava cakes using recipes from 3 celebrity chefs, and they were surprisingly easy to make.

Citrus-filled gingerbread is perfect for the holidays 

To make Guarnaschelli's chewy and flavorful gingerbread, use orange zest and lemon juice.

Although Bennett found the dough to be sticky and hard to work with, it was easier to roll out after spending 15 minutes in the fridge.

The cookies' combination of orange icing and spice was "love at first bite." 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made gingerbread cookies using 3 recipes from celebrity chefs, and the best were nice and chewy. 

Caramel-filled apple pie is perfect for Thanksgiving 

Drummond's recipe for this pie has a long list of ingredients for each component: the crust, the filling, and the topping.

The crust was incredibly buttery and flaky, and the added spices in the crust kept it flavorful. Bennett found the softened apples contrasted perfectly with the crunchy topping. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made apple pie using 3 recipes from celebrity chefs, and the best was the easiest to make. 

The top fruit salads used surprising but refreshing ingredients 

Bennett tried several recipes for the summery salad and found she'd make Fieri's and Flay's recipes again.

The "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" host grills his fruit and adds in pound cake, toasted almonds, mint, and lemony whipped cream for a sweet and caramelized dessert.

Flay uses papayas, kiwis, mangos, pineapples, mint, and a ginger-lime simple syrup for a tropical take. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 4 potato-salad recipes from Guy Fieri, Sunny Anderson, Ina Garten, and Ree Drummond, and the worst one called for hard-boiled eggs. 

The best pecan pie was made with a homemade crust

Out of all the pecan pies, Bennett found Drummond's recipe to be the tastiest. 

Drummond used pantry staples like brown sugar, salted butter, eggs, and pecans to whip up this deliciously warm pie. Although the dough was pebbly at first, the crust held up well after it baked.

The gooey center and caramelized pecans made this dessert stand out. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made 3 pecan pies using recipes from celebrity chefs, and I'd combine 2 of them for a perfect slice.

The best sweet-potato pie was time-consuming but worth the effort

Bennet thought Hall's sweet-potato pie, which required a homemade crust, was delicious.

Though the pie took about five hours to make altogether, Bennett thought the dessert had a great structure and a perfectly sweet filling.

Next time, she'd add a crispy, sugary topping to the pie.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried sweet-potato pie recipes from Trisha Yearwood, Alton Brown, and Carla Hall. The best had an easy homemade crust.

Drinks

Whether you're looking for a refreshing cocktail or a warm mug of hot chocolate to end your day, we've tested iconic beverage recipes from multiple celebrity chefs. 

To make boozy hot chocolate, you'll need vodka or liqueur

Sandra Lee's boozy and hot chocolate uses simple ingredients like milk chocolate, half-and-half, cinnamon, and either vanilla vodka or hazelnut liqueur.

Bennett found this was the fastest recipe to make. She enjoyed the sweet and nutty flavor, which is perfect for winter. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 5 hot-chocolate recipes from celebrity chefs, and my favorite is also a little boozy. 

Steep milk with spices to make a chai-filled milkshake

Anderson's chocolate-chai milkshake was Bennett's favorite of the bunch. She started by steeping milk with cinnamon, pumpkin-pie spice blend, nutmeg, cardamom, fennel seeds, and black peppercorns on the stove for 20 minutes.

The mixture was then strained into a cup and cooled in the fridge. Bennett loved the cinnamon flavor and thick texture of the beverage. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 4 celebrity chef's recipes for chocolate milkshakes, and the best was filled with spices. 

To make minty Moscow mules, try this homemade recipe

Bennett's favorite Moscow Mule was from De Laurentiis, and it required some homemade ingredients.

She soaked fresh mint in vodka for a day, added ginger syrup to vodka, and garnished it with a lime slice, a lemon slice, and a sprig of fresh mint.  

It was cold and refreshing, and the ginger and mint flavors came through equally.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made Moscow Mules using 4 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best was hard not to drink like water.

For classic margaritas, try a simple recipe

Geoffrey Zakarian uses lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and agave syrup to make a refreshing cocktail.

Bennett found the tartness from the lime juice, the sweetness from the agave, and the saltiness of the rim came together well without any single ingredient overwhelming the drink.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made margaritas using 4 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best was also the quickest to make. 

A balanced negroni has more citrusy flavors than bitter ones

Ray's recipe was incredibly easy to whip up. Bennett mixed all the ingredients in a shaker, including the lemon peel, and served it neat.

She added a lemon peel as a garnish for an extra boost of citrus. She found that the colder the ingredients are, the better they tasted. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made a Negroni using 4 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best one was easy to make. 

The best recipe for mulled wine was the easiest

Garten's classic recipe had a short ingredient list that included Cabernet Sauvignon and a lot of apple cider.

It also called for honey, cinnamon sticks, orange zest and juice, and a bit of clove and star anise. Bennett had the wine ready in 10 minutes after it simmered in a pot.

It wasn't spicy and had a good balance of sweet honey and cider.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 celebrity chefs' recipes for mulled wine, and the best was the easiest and cheapest to make. 

Add a spicy kick to your Bloody Mary with a jalapeño

Flay's recipe for a spicy citrus beverage calls for plenty of lemon and lime. There's also a jalapeño involved, which Bennett worried would make the drink too spicy.

It took no time at all to muddle most of the ingredients then add in vodka, tomato juice, and Worcestershire sauce. The flavors worked well and balanced one another, and the cocktail had a nice twist from the pepper. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made Bloody Marys using 4 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best was the easiest to make. 

For fruity mocktails, load up on ginger beer

Although it took a little bit longer to come together than the rest, Zakarian's sparkling mocktail was still easy to make.

Bennett filled a cocktail shaker with ice, then added the fruit juices. She strained the mix into an ice-filled glass, leaving a bit of room at the top to pour in the ginger beer.

The pineapple and mango juices gave it a tropical flavor and sweetness that perfectly paired with the spicy ginger beer, which gave the mix a kick that resembled a real cocktail. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 fruity mocktail recipes from celebrity chefs, and the best could pass as a real cocktail.

You can't go wrong with a cosmopolitan

Garten's cosmopolitan recipe makes a massive single serving. Bennett mixed vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry-juice cocktail, and some fresh lime juice together.

There was a nice balance of lime and cranberry to take some of the edge off the liquor. Brown's process was simple, aside from finding fresh cranberries. Bennett boiled sugar, cranberries, and water together until most of the cranberries burst open.

After blending everything in a food processor, she added it to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, vodka, and lime juice for a refreshing beverage. 

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 cosmopolitan recipes from celebrity chefs, and the best has become my go-to cocktail. 

Every single mimosa recipe was good enough to make again 

Bennett made mimosa recipes from Flay, Pat and Gina Neely, Guarnaschelli, and Ray.

Each recipe highlighted different flavors and garnishes in the simple cocktail. She had no complaints about any of these mimosas because all of them were fruity, sweet, bubbly, and refreshing.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I made 4 celebrity chefs' mimosa recipes, and I'd make any of them again for my next brunch. 

The fruitiest white sangria only takes 15 minutes to make

Ray's recipe calls for apple liquor and sparkling water, which Bennett respectively swapped for apple brandy and club soda, as well as dry white wine, sugar, and a variety of colorful fruits.

The recipe also calls for fresh, ripe peaches. This cocktail was light, and the varying colors of the fruit this option stand out.

Read more about the winning recipe and full battle here: I tried 3 celebrity chefs' recipes for white sangria, and the best was also the prettiest. 

The cause of a deadly plane crash in southwestern Kazakhstan is being investigated, and some officials are claiming Russian involvement.