869 topping recipes

A quick, thrifty potato and bean pie: kidney beans and tomatoes under a mashed potato top, baked until golden. A 40-minute vegetarian bake from pantry staples.

Baked rice souffle with a creamy milk-cooked rice base, whipped egg whites for lift, and a homemade raspberry sauce. A light, elegant French-style dessert with a golden top.

Hot buttered cider spiked with rum and simmered with whole cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and lemon peel. A warming spiked apple drink topped with a melting pat of butter.

Light lemony cheesecake made with nonfat cream cheese and condensed milk on a graham cracker base. A lower-fat cheesecake topped with fresh fruit that still feels indulgent.

Banana French toast: a lighter take on the classic, dipped in egg substitute and topped with vanilla yogurt, caramelized banana slices, and maple syrup. A healthy weekend breakfast.

Whole rye berry porridge simmered with cinnamon, caraway, and vanilla, finished with plump raisins. A chewy, nutty Scandinavian breakfast topped with ricotta. Slow-cooked comfort in a bowl.

Chinese green bean casserole with crunchy bean sprouts, cream of celery soup, and crispy fried onions on top. Four-ingredient potluck side that lands somewhere between Midwest holiday classic and chop suey night.

Blueberry angel food cake with tender whipped egg whites, juicy blueberries folded through, and a bright lemon glaze drizzled over top. A fat-free springtime dessert that doesn't taste like health food.

Rhubarb pie sweetened with light brown sugar instead of white, with thin lemon slices layered between the rhubarb for bright citrus contrast. A lattice-topped pie that's tart, caramelly, and old-fashioned.

Potatoes Rio Grande with boiled potato cubes tossed in a skillet with green chiles, garlic, stewed tomatoes, and bell pepper, topped with melted cheddar. A Tex-Mex potato side dish.

A lighter peach brulee: ripe sliced peaches with orange juice, blanketed in tangy Greek yogurt and topped with a crackly broiled-sugar crust. The flavors of creme brulee with a fraction of the work.

Mashed buttercup squash baked with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter, then topped with fresh chives. A cozy fall side dish that brings out the squash's natural sweetness.

Classic Boston baked beans slow-cooked for 8 hours with molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, and a kick of cayenne. Crusty on top, creamy underneath. The real deal.

Crispy phyllo dough, cheesy and juicy spinach and cheese filling with sweet yet juicy tomato slices on top, this quiche not only looks appealing, but also tastes delicious.

Southern-style mashed yellow squash casserole sweetened with brown sugar and topped with whole wheat breadcrumbs, baked until golden. Egg-free, feeds 12, and a summertime potluck staple.

Broiled bananas au gratin over a smooth vanilla-lemon cottage cheese base, topped with graham cracker crumbs and cinnamon. A low-calorie warm dessert ready in 20 minutes.