32 top low recipes

Buttery chocolate shortbread with cocoa, melted unsweetened chocolate, and chopped walnuts baked low and slow into crisp, snappy wedges with a sugar-sprinkled top.

Vegetarian lentil loaf with sauteed onion and tomato, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and milk baked golden with a crispy crumb topping. High-fiber, low-fat, and ready in under an hour.

Chocolate mousse cake with a full pound of bittersweet chocolate, 10 egg yolks, and 12 egg whites split between a low-baked cake base and a real chocolate mousse topping.

One-pot red lentils and rice with mushrooms, carrots, kale, and warm Indian spices topped with cool yogurt. High-fiber, low-fat, and ready in 45 minutes.

Lighter sweet potato casserole made with egg whites, skim milk, and chopped dates, topped with a drizzle of maple syrup. Naturally sweet, low-fat, and ready in 45 minutes.

Southern jam cake with blackberry jam, buttermilk, raisins, and pecans baked low and slow in three spiced layers. Topped with a boiled cream frosting that drips down the sides just like it should.

Three-layer carrot cake baked low and slow with grated carrots, chopped nuts, and cinnamon, topped with a thick cream cheese icing. A Southern-style classic that never goes out of style.

Tart Granny Smith apples and whole cranberries under a buttery oat-brown sugar crumble topping. Baked low and slow until bubbling and golden, this cranberry apple pie is fall on a plate.

Quick microwave red snapper topped with zucchini, melted cheese, and a punchy homemade tomato-chili sauce spiked with horseradish and Worcestershire. A light, low-fat fish dinner ready in under 30 minutes.

A spice cake mix upgraded with rolled oats, low-fat yogurt, and chopped apples, finished with a crunchy brown sugar and oat crumble topping. Bakes in one pan, ready in an hour.

Fruit pudding: apples and prunes simmered into a sweet, juicy base, topped with light dumplings steamed right on the fruit. A cozy, low-fat stovetop pudding that comes together in one pan.

Buttery cinnamon nut squares baked low and slow with a shortbread-like base topped with egg white glaze and pressed pecans or almonds. A crisp, spiced bar cookie that ships and stores beautifully.

Moist, low-fat chocolate cake made with pureed prunes instead of butter and topped with a tangy orange glaze. Deeply chocolatey with barely any fat, and no one will guess the secret ingredient.

Light pumpkin praline cheesecake: low-fat cottage cheese stands in for cream cheese, wheat germ replaces graham crumbs in the crust, and pumpkin pie spice carries the flavor. Topped with maple-drizzled pecans.

Canned pork and beans get the full BBQ treatment: molasses, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire, topped with bacon and smoked low and slow for over two hours. Cookout-worthy baked beans with minimal prep.

This bean soup sports a colorful mixture of vegetables and rich spices reminiscent of Mexican cuisine. It tastes even better after a night in the refrigerator. Serve topped with crushed tortilla chips and low- fat sour cream, if desired.