Recipe Sifter

Soft, cake-style pumpkin spice cookies built on egg whites and pumpkin puree with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, baked tender for a lighter holiday cookie tin.

Cocanes are old-fashioned butter cookies made with brown sugar, shaped into fingers, and baked in a hot oven. No liquid needed. Just six ingredients, mixed by hand, yielding 2 dozen crumbly, buttery bites.

Low-fat cocoa almond biscotti made with egg substitute and chocolate syrup instead of butter. Crisp, twice-baked Italian cookies with deep chocolate and almond flavor.

Low-fat cocoa spice cake made with applesauce instead of oil, egg whites only, and a hint of cinnamon. A lighter chocolate cake that still bakes up moist and satisfying.

Four-layer coconut sour cream cake with a fluffy whipped topping filling and shredded coconut all around. Make-ahead Southern dessert that gets better as it sits.

Coconut pecan pie with a buttery egg custard filling, flaked coconut, and chopped pecans baked in a flaky crust. A Southern-style pie with a lemon-vanilla twist and golden, chewy top.

Pecan shortbread cookies shaped into little ovals and rolled in powdered sugar. Only 4 ingredients, no eggs, mixed by hand, and they melt in your mouth. A Mexican wedding cookie cousin that makes 4 dozen.

Cookie brittle with chocolate chips and walnuts pressed into one pan, baked, then snapped into snappy shards. Sugar-substitute friendly with crisp, candy-like edges.

Simple homemade pizza dough with just five ingredients: flour, yeast, olive oil, sugar, and salt. Knead by hand or food processor for chewy, bubbly crusts every time.

Classic French coq au vin: chicken browned in butter, then simmered with red wine, brandy, pearl onions, and mushrooms. A rustic red wine chicken braise streamlined for the microwave.

Serve up this scrumptious side dish at your next barbecue or family gathering.

Corn and shrimp salad with boiled seasoned shrimp and sweet corn tossed in an emulsified Dijon vinaigrette with red onion and parsley. A bright, summery seafood salad.

Smoky corn and zucchini au gratin with chipotle peppers, Monterey Jack cheese, and a crunchy tortilla-cheese topping. A spicy Mexican-inspired vegetable casserole baked golden.

Simple couscous with raisins and butter, ready in under 10 minutes. Just boil water, stir in couscous and raisins, cover, and let it steam. Five ingredients, no fuss.

Zesty black bean and olive dip layered over cream cheese with chopped hard-boiled eggs, lime juice, cumin, and crushed red pepper. A no-cook party appetizer that serves 12.

Quick stir-fried crab with crisp snow peas, water chestnuts, garlic, and white wine over rice. A light, fresh Asian-inspired seafood dinner ready in 30 minutes.