Recipes with margarine

Lighter chocolate caramel cheesecake built on a crispy rice cereal crust with nonfat cream cheese, fat-free sour cream, and egg whites. A gooey caramel layer and chocolate-walnut crumble keep things indulgent without the guilt.

A golden cornmeal-Parmesan crust pressed into a deep-dish pie pan and loaded with saucy kidney beans, zucchini, bell pepper, and seasoned tomatoes, then blanketed with melted mozzarella. Hearty, protein-packed vegetarian comfort in one gorgeous pie.

Downeast blueberry bread pudding bakes wild Maine blueberries with stale white bread cubes and evaporated skim milk for a low-fat, low-sugar New England dessert.

Light, fluffy chocolate mocha icing with instant coffee and cocoa. No-cook, no-fuss frosting that whips up in 15 minutes flat. Foolproof every time.

No-bake orange-date balls made in the microwave with dates, orange zest, graham cracker crumbs, and whole wheat cereal, rolled in chopped nuts.

Sour cream coffee cake mixed the night before, chilled overnight, and baked in the morning. Tender buttermilk crumb with a swirl of cinnamon-pecan-brown sugar streusel through the middle.

Easy nut fudge made entirely in the microwave with brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and powdered sugar. Caramel-toned penuche-style fudge with crunchy nuts, no thermometer needed.

Lighter chocolate cake with oats, egg whites, skim milk, and fresh orange: 50% less fat but loaded with chocolate chips and bright citrus zest for moist, tender sheet cake.

Oreo crumble cake with a crushed cookie base, chocolate-pecan fudge layer, and whipped vanilla ice cream top. A layered frozen dessert that slices like an ice cream cake.

Old-fashioned icebox cookies with cardamom, cinnamon, lemon juice, and chopped nuts. Slice-and-bake dough that refrigerates overnight or freezes for weeks. Paper-thin and crispy.

Low-fat Dutch apple cake spreads a thin, biscuit-like batter under overlapping cinnamon-sugar apples. Egg whites and skim milk keep it light, more fruit than cake in every slice.

Farfel pudding made with matzah farfel, eggs, apple or banana, and chopped nuts, baked until golden. A traditional Passover side dish or dessert that's simple and satisfying.

Chocolate buttermilk sheet cake with rich cocoa icing poured on while still hot. A classic potluck crowd-pleaser that bakes in under 25 minutes and feeds a big group.

Moroccan sweet rice with cinnamon, a buttery side dish dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. A classic North African accompaniment to spicy tagines or roast lamb.

Pasta with ricotta-walnut sauce blended from ricotta, yogurt, walnuts, garlic, and Parmesan with fresh herbs. A creamy, no-cook pasta sauce lighter than traditional Alfredo.

French onion soup (Marguerite Patten): the classic bistro soup of slow-caramelized onions in rich beef stock, topped with toasted bread and bubbly gruyere cheese. Ready in 60 minutes.

A layered Southern dessert with a buttery pecan shortbread crust, creamy sweet potato and cream cheese filling, and billowy whipped topping. Crunchy, creamy, and utterly indulgent.

Sweet potato pie with nutmeg and margarine in a simple 5-ingredient filling. A no-fuss Southern classic that comes together fast with boiled sweet potatoes.

Quick and easy simple chicken recipe that is low in fat and tasty.

Oatmeal apple cheese cookies pair sharp cheddar with sweet apples and warm cinnamon for a sweet-savory cookie that captures classic apple pie a la mode in every bite.

Upside-down muffins with pecans and melted margarine in the bottom that become a praline topping when inverted after baking.

Crispy oven-fried Parmesan chicken coats chicken breasts in crushed corn flakes, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes, then bakes until golden. The healthier no-fry alternative to fried chicken.

Classic cocoa brownies made by beating eggs and sugar for 5 minutes until fluffy, then folding in cocoa, flour, melted margarine, and chopped pecans. Simple pantry ingredients, rich results.

My kids all love carrot cakes. This time made these carrots cookies, and they loved them so much. I will make these cookies very often from now on.

Maple cream coffee treat with refrigerated biscuits filled with coconut cream cheese, baked over a sticky brown sugar-nut-syrup base, then flipped like sticky buns.

Vegetarian curry with black-eyed peas, kidney beans, sautéed bananas, and apple in a spiced yogurt sauce. Served over rice with peanuts and cilantro.

Apple coconut kuchen with a yellow-cake-and-coconut crust, sliced apples layered with cinnamon sugar, and a sour cream custard drizzle on top. German-style coffee cake done semi-homemade.

Hamburgers Diane with sauteed mushrooms, onions, and Worcestershire in a skillet. A steakhouse-inspired ground beef dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Impossible cranberry-orange pie forms its own crust as it bakes, with sweet-tart cranberry-orange relish setting beneath a custardy biscuit-mix top layer. A no-roll retro pie for the holidays.

Creamy green split pea soup pureed smooth with browned onions and marjoram, finished with skim milk. A simple, high-fiber soup from just 7 ingredients. No ham needed.

A Louisiana-style turkey gumbo loaded with sauteed okra, the holy trinity of celery, onion, and green pepper, fresh and canned tomatoes, and file powder, served over rice. Leftover turkey gets a bayou soul in 40 minutes.

Low-cal crustless quiche packed with green chilies, Monterey Jack, roasted red peppers, and Dijon mustard. Spicy, cheesy, and lighter than traditional quiche.

Coconut macaroons with crushed pineapple, toasted almonds, and sweetened condensed milk. Tropical, chewy drop cookies with a hint of lemon zest and almond extract.

Tender crepes filled with crab, mushrooms, and scallions in a white wine cream sauce, baked until heated through and broiled golden. French-inspired elegance in 45 minutes.

Chicken pot pie meets Thanksgiving leftovers: creamy chicken filling crowned with savory herb stuffing instead of pastry. Easy casserole-style comfort with crispy, seasoned topping. Turkey works great too.

Oat-crusted Mexican chicken breast baked with chili powder and paprika, served with a fresh tomato, green pepper, and lemon relish. A crunchy, spiced chicken dinner with a no-cook salsa topping.

Lemon glazed buttermilk bundt cake: tender buttermilk pound-cake base with vanilla, lemon, and almond extracts under a glossy lemon-butter glaze. Classic potluck bundt for any occasion.

Soft, cinnamon-swirled quick bread made with buttermilk and vanilla, topped with a crumbly streusel that bakes into golden ribbons. No yeast needed. One loaf, one hour, pure warmth.

Delicious dirt cake made sugar-free with devil's food cake, chocolate pudding, cream cheese filling, and crushed cookie crumbs on top. A lighter dirt dessert.

Classic oatmeal cookies made lighter with sunflower oil and a touch of whole wheat flour. Cinnamon-spiced with chewy texture at just 62 calories per cookie.

Grasshopper brownies with fudgy chocolate base, minty creme de menthe cream cheese filling, and a glossy semi-sweet chocolate ganache top. Three-layer mint chocolate bars for the holidays.

Apple & Honey Scones with Sweet Cinnamon Topping recipe

Strawberry-shaped cookies made from a stovetop date and Rice Krispies mixture, rolled in red sugar with green icing stems. A fun no-bake candy-cookie for kids and parties.

Steamed cabbage-beef rolls stuffed with ground beef, rice, and sage, finished with a chili-tomato pan sauce. An Eastern European golubtsi-style dish with tender, juicy filling from steam cooking.

Classic broccoli rice casserole with sharp cheddar, cream of chicken soup, and sauteed onions. Mix, bake, and serve this crowd-pleasing side in under an hour.

Christmas cookie slices are old-fashioned icebox cookies: vanilla shortbread dough rolled into logs, chilled, sliced thin, and baked into crisp golden rounds. Make ahead and ready to slice for holiday baking.

Creamy vegan mushroom bean soup purées navy beans with potato, white mushrooms, and shiitake for a velvety dairy-free bowl. Big earthy flavor, no cream needed.

Stuffed red snapper fillets rolled around a savory bread crumb, scallion, and bell pepper filling. Baked with lemon and a hint of nutmeg for a quick weeknight dinner that feels restaurant-fancy.