27 Dessert Recipes You'd Never Guess Are Gluten-Free

Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee, Robin Shreeves

August 14, 2021 at 12:33 AM·8 min read

We’ve gathered a cornucopia of gluten-free desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth.

<p>Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe</p> — Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Gluten-free desserts have come a LONG way, since new and wonderful gluten-free flours and ingredients have entered the market. The secret to using gluten-free flour is finding a blend that works for you. Gluten-free flour with xanthan gum is perfect for baked goods because it works best for substituting that binding agent that gluten provides in dessert recipes that use all-purpose flour.

The best part about gluten-free baking? You can also make no bake recipes! We’ve included a few delicious desserts that require you to step away from the oven and make a delectable treat in a matter of minutes. No matter what dessert you whip up in your kitchen you’ll be surprised that it's gluten-free.

Robin Shreeves joins Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee in compiling this list.

Gluten-Free Monster Cookie Bars

These monster cookie bars are just the treat for lunch boxes, afternoon snacks, picnics, or pot lucks. They are loaded with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips and M&Ms. They are easy to make—just one sheet pan and you're done!

Get Recipe: Monster Cookie Bars

Fudgy Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies

No one will believe that these decadent brownies are both vegan and gluten-free once they bite into these moist wonders. As an added bonus, these crowd-pleasing chocolate brownies come together in one bowl.

Get Recipe: Vegan Brownies

Gluten-Free Vanilla Birthday Cake

This is the perfect celebration cake when you want something without any eggs, dairy or gluten. It’s designed for a 9x13 cake pan, so frosting is super easy. A generous handful of sprinkles adds extra fun to this cake!

Get Recipe: Gluten-Free Vanilla Birthday Cake

Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Cupcakes

Perfect for when you want a chocolate dessert without a lot of fuss, these moist and delicious chocolate cupcakes also take advantage of any over ripe bananas you happen to have laying around. Since the cupcakes can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days (up to 5 if they are unfrosted), they also make a great breakfast treat the following morning.

Get Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Cupcakes

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Recipes

With just a few ingredients you'll have these gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies ready for a tall glass of milk. No mixer required! Just a bowl and a spatula and you're on your way to PB and chocolate cookie heaven.

Get Recipe: Monster Cookie Bars

Pavlova

Just like its namesake Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, this meringue dessert is as ethereal and delicate as they come. This recipe has a raspberry topping, but you can easily substitute with any other fresh or frozen berries, like strawberries, blackberries, or even currants when they are in season.

Get Recipe: Pavlova

Gluten-Free Apple Tart

An easy almond flour crust made in a food processor serves as the paleo-friendly base for this beautiful apple tart. The apples are thinly sliced and arranged in a round scalloped pattern to make this gorgeous dessert. You can use any variety of tart apples for this, but you can also easily substitute summer stone fruit, like peaches and plums, with great success.

Get Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Tart

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

If you love the inside of a peanut butter cup then this recipe is for you! You need only seven ingredients (one of which is salt) and 15 minutes to whip these gluten-free sweet treats up. The hardest part is waiting 12 hours for the fudge to set.

Get Recipe: Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Something to please everyone at the end of a weeknight meal, this gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe comes together quickly since you bake it in a cast-iron skillet. It goes from oven to table in just 20 minutes. Top it with some vanilla ice cream to make it extra extra.

Get Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Slow Cooker Orange Almond Rice Pudding

Let the slow cooker do your work for you, with this easy rice pudding recipe large enough to feed a crowd. Inspired by Indian kheer, this dessert works served either cold or warm. The oranges and almonds add a delicate topping, but you can easily substitute with chocolate chips, pumpkin pie spice, coconut or any other toppings.

Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Orange Almond Rice Pudding

Chipotle Flourless Chocolate Cake

If you are fan of a little heat with your chocolate, then this gluten-free chocolate cake is perfect for you! We combine chocolate with a bit of chipotle powder and cinnamon so that you can get a beautiful slow tingle after each and every bite. If you’re not a fan of heat, just leave out the chile powder.

Get Recipe: Chipotle Flourless Chocolate Cake

Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries

<p>Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker</p> — Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Tossing fresh berries in aged balsamic may sound like an unusual indulgence, but trust us. The sweetness and tartness of the deeply aged balsamic works beautifully with the color and fragrance of strawberries for this easy no-bake dessert. Make it the day before, and let it chill overnight in the fridge. Try it with blackberries or raspberries if those are in season.

Get Recipe: Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries

Crème Anglaise (Vanilla Custard Sauce)

<p>Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm</p> — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

It's hard to resist the temptation to spoon this rich, creamy, vanilla-y sauce right into your mouth, but it's meant to go on top of the dessert, not be the dessert. Drizzle it over fruit, pound cake, fruit pie, and more to turn average desserts into something extra luscious.

Get Recipe: Crème Anglaise (Vanilla Custard Sauce)

Strawberry Eton Mess

<p>Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas</p> — Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

Dessert comes together in an instant—okay, 15 minutes to be exact— when you make this mixture of juicy macerated strawberries, broken pieces of meringue, and whipped cream topped with slivered almonds.

Get Recipe: Strawberry Eton Mess

Limoncello Yogurt Pops

<p>Matt Armendariz</p> — Matt Armendariz

The perfect summer dessert to cool the adults off after a summer cook-out. Whole-fat Greek yogurt, honey, Limoncello, and lemon combine to make this refreshing popsicle. Swap out the limoncello for lemonade, and they're kid-friendly.

Get Recipe: Limoncello Yogurt Pops

Lotus, Purple Sweet Potato, and Coconut Rice Pudding

<p>Simply Recipes / Uyen Luu</p> — Simply Recipes / Uyen Luu

Sweet, luscious, and comforting, this Vietnamese-inspired coconut rice pudding features sticky rice, purple sweet potatoes, lotus root and seeds, and a little palm sugar. Serve it straight from the hot pot or cold from the fridge.

Get Recipe: Lotus, Purple Sweet Potato, and Coconut Rice Pudding

Raspberry Macarons

<p>Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon</p> — Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Fill delicate French macaron shells with raspberry buttercream filling to make a fancy, gluten-free dessert. These little treats are worth the work. If peppermint is more to your taste, try our White Chocolate Peppermint French Macarons. Or, be ambitious and make both.

Get Recipe: Raspberry Macarons