Toppings, marshmallow cream

Marshmallow creme is the whipped, glossy spread sold in jars under names like fluff, best known as the top half of a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich. Bakers fold it into fudge to keep the texture smooth and glossy, swirl it through rice krispie treats for extra stickiness, use it as a filling for whoopie pies and pinwheel cookies, and spoon it over hot cocoa or sweet potato casserole. Its texture is soft, sticky, and pourable straight from the jar, with a mild vanilla sweetness that takes on whatever flavor it's paired with, from chocolate to graham cracker crumbs to toasted coconut. A spoonful stirred into warm milk also makes a quick hot chocolate topping without needing to toast individual marshmallows.

Look for jars with an unbroken seal and no crystallized sugar around the lid. Once opened, press plastic wrap directly against the surface before resealing, since exposed creme dries into a crust within days and is harder to spread evenly afterward. Nutritionally it is close to pure sugar, with 322 calories and 79 grams of carbohydrate per 100 grams against just 0.8 grams of protein and 0.1 grams of fiber, so it works best as a small topping or mix-in rather than a food eaten by the spoonful. Sodium is low at 80 milligrams per 100 grams, which is one of the only things it has going for it besides flavor and convenience.