Recipe Sifter

Lower-fat banana cake with pureed prunes replacing most of the butter, nonfat vanilla yogurt, and egg whites. A moist sheet cake that cuts the fat without losing flavor.

Southwest bread Gilroy: a rustic yeasted loaf packed with black beans, corn, cilantro, Anaheim chiles, and garlic. Hearty Southwest-style artisan bread that eats like a meal.

Vegetarian eggplant casserole layered with crumbled veggie burgers in tomato sauce and cheddar cheese, baked until golden and bubbly. A meatless moussaka-style dish.

Spider-shaped chocolate Halloween cookies with red-hot candy eyes. A simple shaped cookie kids can sculpt themselves: oval body, round head, eight skinny legs.

Ginger and spice cookies with brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. Chewy, golden-edged drop cookies with deep brown-sugar warmth and a crackled top.

Low-calorie baked macaroni and cheese made with skim milk, cottage cheese instead of cheddar, dill, and parsley. Topped with breadcrumbs and paprika for a crispy finish.

Brownies baked in mason jars with cocoa, buttermilk, and cinnamon. A sealed jar brownie that makes a charming homemade gift, decorated with fabric and ribbon.

Traditional British steamed pudding studded with sweet sultanas and wrapped in greaseproof paper. This classic Spotted Dick is proper old-school comfort food, best served with hot custard poured over the top.

Three layers of homemade cocoa brownie stacked with strawberry ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. This frozen brownie loaf is a make-ahead showstopper that feeds 10 to 12 with zero fuss at serving time.

A show-stopping cheesecake with swirled chocolate and vanilla layers on a cookie crumb crust, finished with a glossy semisweet chocolate ganache glaze. Rich, creamy, and utterly indulgent.

Vegan Irish stew that swaps lamb for frozen-then-thawed tofu, the trick that gives it a chewy, meaty bite. Topped with whole-wheat soy-milk dumplings and baked into a hearty one-dish supper.

Peanut butter cookies studded with chocolate toffee bits and crowned with peanut halves. Makes 7 dozen tender, chewy cookies with crispy edges in just 30 minutes.

This ultra-rich chocolate bar poundcake melts milk chocolate into buttermilk batter for a dense, velvety crumb that practically dissolves on your tongue. A showstopper dusted with powdered sugar.

Vegan whole wheat biscuit crust made with pastry flour, soy milk, and a touch of honey or maple syrup. Use as a pot pie topper or rolled-out base for fruit cobblers.

Buttery onion soup made with sweet sauteed onions, chicken broth, and melted mozzarella for a creamy, cheesy alternative to classic French onion. A weeknight comfort soup ready in under an hour.

German Sweet Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan Filling and Frosting recipe