Recipe Sifter

Whole wheat coffee cake with fresh fruit, lemon, yogurt, and a cinnamon-brown sugar crumble topping. Made with egg whites and nonfat yogurt, this lighter brunch cake serves 16.

Sunshine orange cake made with fresh orange juice, raisins, and a hint of cinnamon. A lighter one-bowl cake with less sugar that's bright, citrusy, and needs no frosting.

Sunshine orange cream cake layered with tangy sour cream and fresh orange slices. A from-scratch sheet cake split into two layers with a bright, creamy citrus filling.

A thin, fudgy chocolate sheet cake with sour cream for moisture, topped with a warm boiled cocoa icing poured on while still hot. Bakes in a jelly roll pan and feeds a big crowd fast.

Thumbprint snowball cookies with walnuts, cinnamon, and lemon zest in the dough, filled with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar. A festive holiday cookie.

Tiny fruit turnovers filled with a stovetop apricot-date filling and chopped nuts, wrapped in a lemon-scented cookie dough. Bite-sized pastries for holiday trays.

Lighter muffins made with crushed pineapple, coconut flavoring, and vanilla. Golden, tender, and not too sweet. A Weight Watchers-friendly bake that freezes well for easy breakfasts.

Broiled ground turkey patties loaded with sautéed mushrooms and Italian herbs, smothered in a red wine mushroom sauce. A lean, flavorful 30-minute dinner that's diabetic-friendly too.

Two peas with turmeric and mint blanches sugar snap and snow peas, then tosses them in a turmeric-lemon butter with fresh mint. Bright spring side dish, gluten-free, ready in 30 minutes.

Watercress and leek soup sweats leeks and watercress in margarine for 15 minutes, simmers in stock, then blends smooth. A peppery, vibrant green soup in 30 minutes.

White chocolate hazelnut cheesecake with a crushed hazelnut cookie crust, hazelnut liqueur filling, and milk chocolate chunks. A rich, layered baked cheesecake topped with chocolate curls.

Whole wheat French toast with liquid egg substitute, skim milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Lower in fat and cholesterol than the classic, ready in 25 minutes for busy mornings.

Cookie cutter brownies are firm fudgy bars baked flat, chilled, and stamped into hearts, stars, or letters with regular cookie cutters. The foil-sling method makes lifting and shaping clean every time.

Eggy little chocolate pancakes that double as breakfast or sandwich cookies. Quick to mix, fast to cook, and finished with chocolate sauce or sandwiched with buttercream once chilled.

Vanilla oatmeal raisin cookies with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a touch of corn syrup for chewy texture. Soft, spiced, classic homemade cookies.

Dutch pancake with spicy apples is a puffed, golden oven pancake cut into wedges and smothered in cinnamon-glazed apples with a sweet sour cream dollop. A dramatic, custardy brunch centerpiece.