7,057 light recipes

Breakfast waffles with soda use fizzy club soda for an extra-light, crispy waffle from a few pantry ingredients. The carbonation aerates the batter, so the waffles bake up airy inside and crisp outside.

Homemade string hopper sweet rolls, delicate steamed rice-flour noodle disks wrapped around a sweet coconut treacle and cinnamon filling. A soft, lightly sweet Sri Lankan steamed treat for breakfast or tea.

Make-ahead pumpkin chiffon pie with a cloud-light gelatin filling of pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg folded into stiff egg whites. Lighter than classic pumpkin pie and a Thanksgiving prep-day winner.

Very blueberry cheesecake is a no-bake stunner: pureed fresh blueberries folded into a light, lemony cream cheese filling set with gelatin over a vanilla wafer crust. No oven, just chill until firm.

A deliciously light chocolate marbled angel food cake is filled with raspberry jam, and topped with coffee cream. It's sweet and rich enough to please your sweet tooth, but without too much guilt.

Light, crispy citrus waffles brightened by fresh orange and lemon juice and zest, with ground pecans folded in for nutty crunch. Beaten egg whites give them a cloud-like interior. Brunch upgrade.

Classic Greek moussaka with layers of browned eggplant, seasoned ground beef with red wine and cinnamon, and a rich bechamel sauce baked until golden and bubbling. A hearty Mediterranean casserole that serves 10.

Golden saffron buns with a soft, pillowy crumb and pearl sugar topping. A Scandinavian-style yeast bread with warm saffron color and delicate floral flavor.

Homemade Swiss roll, a light sponge cake baked thin, rolled while warm to keep it crack-free, then spread with vanilla buttercream and rolled into a tender, swirled slice. A classic teatime treat from scratch.

Homemade flatbread you cook in a frying pan, no oven needed. A soft yeast dough rolled into thin rounds and toasted until lightly golden and pillowy, ready to fold around curry or any savory filling.

Tender flaky biscuits made with cake flour, butter, milk, and an egg. Cornmeal-dusted pan for crisp bottoms and biscuits set close so they rise tall instead of spreading.

Summer white bean soup with sauteed celery, swiss chard or kale, a splash of rice vinegar, and a hint of liquid aminos. Light, vegetarian, naturally high in fiber and gentle enough for warm weather.

Low-fat double chocolate brownies that don't taste like a compromise: unsweetened chocolate, cocoa, and chocolate chips with applesauce standing in for most of the butter. Rich, fudgy, and made with whole wheat flour.

Homemade granola with rolled oats, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, wheat germ, and cinnamon, lightly bound with maple syrup and oil. Bakes in 10 minutes flat. Toss in golden raisins or dried cranberries after toasting.

Light hummus made creamy with non-fat yogurt instead of tahini and oil. Just chickpeas, garlic, lemon and cumin blended smooth in minutes for a tangy, low-fat dip to scoop with pita.

Oven poached pears in wine, whole ripe pears roasted upright in fruity white wine and honey with cinnamon, bay, and orange zest, then drizzled with the reduced syrup. An elegant, light, make-ahead dessert.