27 Delectable Dessert Recipes You Would Never Guess Are Gluten-Free

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

By
Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
Cecilia is a James Beard Award nominee and author of three cookbooks. Her recipes were chosen as Top 10 of the Year for LA Times 2 years in a row.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated October 04, 2022
Delectable Dessert Recipes You Would NEVER Guess Were Gluten-Free

Simply Recipes

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

    Close up of an overhead view of Bar Cookies of the Gluten Free Monster Variety.
    Kalisa Marie Martin

    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!

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  • Fudgy Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies

    Fudgy Gluten-Free Vegan Brownies on a surface with one brownie cut in half
    Megan Gordon

    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.

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  • Gluten-Free Vanilla Birthday Cake

    Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake
    Megan Gordon

    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!

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  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Cupcakes

    Gluten-Free Vegan Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Banana Cupcakes
    Megan Gordon

    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.

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    Continue to 5 of 27 below.

  • Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Recipes

    Two stacks of No Mixer Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with glasses of milk in-between them.
    Sally Vargas

    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.

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  • Pavlova

    Pavlova
    Elise Bauer

    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.

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  • Gluten-Free Apple Tart

    Paleo and Gluten-Free Apple Tart
    Sabrina Modelle

    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.

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  • Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

    Peanut Butter Fudge squares on cutting board
    Irvin Lin

    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.

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    Continue to 9 of 27 below.

  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
    Megan Gordon

    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.

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  • Slow Cooker Orange Almond Rice Pudding

    Jewish Kheer Recipe
    Rachel Narins

    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.

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  • Chipotle Flourless Chocolate Cake

    Chipotle Chocolate Cake
    Elise Bauer

    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.

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  • Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries

    Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries

    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.

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    Continue to 13 of 27 below.

  • Crème Anglaise (Vanilla Custard Sauce)

    Bowl of Crème Anglaise with Some Dripping from a Spoon

    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.

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  • Strawberry Eton Mess

    Glasses of Strawberry Eton Mess with Spoons

    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.

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  • Limoncello Yogurt Pops

    Someone Holding a Bowl of Limoncello Yogurt Pops on Ice Surrounded by Leaves and Lemons over Grass

    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.

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  • Lotus, Purple Sweet Potato, and Coconut Rice Pudding

    Coconut rice pudding with lotus and sweet potato served in a bowl with a spoon.

    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.

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    Continue to 17 of 27 below.

  • Raspberry Macarons

    Overhead view of French macarons with raspberry buttercream filling and whole raspberries next to them.

    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.

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  • Chocolate Mousse Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

    Gluten free chocolate mousse-filled peanut butter cups.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    Dense and luscious mousse with deep chocolate flavor (that also happens to be vegan) fills a small flourless, crispy, peanut butter cookie crust. It's all gluten-free and all delicious.

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  • Crème Brûlée

    How to Make Creme Brulee spoon cracked into a ramekin of creme brulee
    Alison Conklin

    You knew crème brûlée was the perfect dessert but did you also know it's gluten-free? This foolproof recipe for the custard dessert with a crisp sugary topping takes you step-by-step through the instructions so you can't get it wrong.

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  • Flourless Lemon Almond Cake

    Flourless Lemon Almond Cake
    Elise Bauer

    Light, airy lemon cake is a treat at the end of the meal. Our gluten-free version uses almond flour and gets some zing from lemon zest and ground cardamom.

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    Continue to 21 of 27 below.

  • Grain-Free Apple Honey Cake

    Slice of gluten-free apple cake
    Coco Morante

    Grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free, this apple cake has a festive topping of toasted almonds and a honey glaze. Flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, it's the perfect fall treat.

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  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Muffins

    gluten free, vegan chocolate chip muffins
    Megan Gordon

    Gluten-free and vegan, these muffins make a quick breakfast or treat for the lunchbox. Use a good gluten-free flour blend that has xanthan gum for the best results.

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  • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes

    Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes
    Elise Bauer

    Dressed up with nuts, raisins, molasses, and honey, and topped with cream cheese frosting, these pumpkin cupcakes seasoned with pumpkin pie spice are moist and delicious.

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  • Marsala Poached Pears

    marsala poached pears
    Elise Bauer

    Sugar, star anise, cinnamon, and cloves infuse Marsala poached pears with a happy, spicy, delicious aroma. Use firm, just-ripe pears for the best results.

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    Continue to 25 of 27 below.

  • Gluten-Free Banana Bread

    Overhead view of simple gluten-free banana bread on a platter and sliced into thick slices.
    Kalisa Marie Martin

    Use up your overripe bananas in this gluten-free version of moist and delicious banana bread. Simply swap out all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free flour.

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  • Nian Gao (Baked Sticky Rice Cake with Red Bean Paste)

    Side view of red bean paste rice cake stacked on a plate.

    Simply Recipes / Uyen Luu

    Chewy rice cakes, in many forms both sweet and savory, are popular in several Asian cuisines. This version is baked with a layer of sweetened red bean paste in the middle. It’s sticky, soft, and chewy, a little greasy, and very addictive.

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  • Watermelon Granita

    Two glasses with watermelon granita topped with lemon slice.
    Alison Bickel

    Freeze watermelon into a simple summer dessert. Pureé watermelon, combine with honey and lemon juice, put in the freezer, scrape it with a fork every hour for a few hours and it's ready to enjoy.

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