21 Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes That Are Seriously Delicious

Allergy intolerance or not, these gluten-free desserts can be for the whole family.

Gluten-Free Coconut Cream and Pineapple Cream Puffs
Photo: Karla Conrad

Cookies, bars, cakes, and cobblers are all still options even when you're making gluten-free sweet treats. Whether you're baking gluten-free desserts for your own allergy or intolerance or that of a family member or friend, each of these goodies keeps out gluten-containing ingredients and keeps in all the delicious sweet flavor.

01 of 21

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Andy Lyons

A collection of desserts could never be complete without chocolate chip cookies. Be sure to save this gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe for every occasion. Use a purchased gluten-free baking mix or make your own with our recipe. That's really the only recipe modification needed to make this dessert fit a gluten-free diet.

02 of 21

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with spoon
Blaine Moats

Moist and chock-full of chocolate goodness, no one will ever guess they're biting into a gluten-free cupcake. The rich chocolate ganache makes the ultimate sweet topping.

03 of 21

Gluten-Free Coconut Cream and Pineapple Cream Puffs

Gluten-Free Coconut Cream and Pineapple Cream Puffs
Karla Conrad

Don't be intimidated by making this gluten-free dessert. The lighty, airy cream puff pastry comes together with rice flour and a handful of pantry staples. The sweet coconut cream can be made up to 24 hours in advance, so you'll just have to bake, cool, and fill the gluten-free sweet treats to enjoy.

04 of 21

Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Carson Downing

Peanut butter cookies are typically heavy on the flour (thus, heavy on gluten). But here we ditch the flour altogether to bring you tender, gluten-free cookies that only require three ingredients: peanut butter, egg, and sugar. Every bite is chock-full of peanut butter goodness.

05 of 21

Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie

overhead view of key lime pie
Blaine Moats

The filling for classic key lime pie is naturally gluten-free. We've added a gluten-free graham cracker crust and piles of fluffy homemade whipped cream. If you can't find key limes in the grocery store, swap in regular limes instead.

06 of 21

Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownies

Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownies
Blaine Moats

Just because you're skipping gluten doesn't mean you have to forgo fudgy brownies. We use our trusty allergy-friendly flour mix to give you that gluten-free brownie texture then spread on some frosting to up the decadence factor.

07 of 21

Gluten-Free Birthday Cake

slices of yellow gluten-free cake with buttercream frosting and sprinkles
Blaine Moats

Wheat allergies or not, this gluten-free dessert will have anyone excited to blow the candles out for a slice. The layered yellow cake is perfectly moist and fluffy. Use vanilla bean paste for an even more intense vanilla flavor or add a couple of teaspoons of orange zest to give it a citrus aroma.

08 of 21

Gluten-Free Sweet Ricotta and Strawberry Parfaits

Sweet Ricotta and Strawberry Parfaits in glass jars
Karla Conrad

This is one of our best gluten-free desserts for summer. Why? It comes together in mere minutes so there's more time to play outside. Plus, it's full of fresh summer berries and can be served chilled on hot summer days. It's merely a bonus that it's a lower-calorie dessert (only 159 calories per parfait).

09 of 21

Mini Flourless Chocolate Cakes

Mini Flourless Chocolate Cakes
Jason Donnelly

This ultra-popular restaurant dessert is easy to transform into a gluten-free cake recipe because it's almost always a naturally gluten-free dessert. And who doesn't love having an entire mini dessert all to themselves?!

10 of 21

Gluten-Free Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Custards

Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Custards
Karla Conrad

Use up that bag of baby carrots in your crisper drawer to make a fall-spiced custard for dessert. It takes only five simple ingredients, which are likely already in your kitchen. No clever swaps needed; each ingredient is naturally gluten-free.

11 of 21

Caramel-Ginger Wild Rice Pudding

Caramel-Ginger Wild Rice Pudding
Andy Lyons

The core ingredients in this recipe (wild and brown rices) are naturally gluten-free, but it's the coconut milk, caramel, and candied ginger that really transform this into a delicious gluten-free pudding.

12 of 21

Strawberry Meringue Cookies

Strawberry Meringue Cookies
Andy Lyons

These crisp cookies are swirled with homemade strawberry sauce and baked until light and airy. If you're making these ahead, store them in the refrigerator for up to three days before serving. This gluten-free cookie recipe is a great way to use up in-season summer berries.

13 of 21

Gluten-Free Pumpkin-Walnut Streusel Muffins

Gluten Free Pumpkin-Walnut Streusel Muffins
Jason Donnelly

Come fall or, heck, even by August, we know the craving for a gluten-free dessert featuring pumpkin is going to strike. Crush the craving with this muffin recipe that can serve as breakfast (it's a muffin with a vegetable in it) or dessert thanks to the cream cheese icing.

14 of 21

Flourless Chocolate-Lime Cake

Flourless Chocolate Lime Cake
David Loftus

If you like margaritas and you like chocolate, this recipe is for you. A slightly crusty top covers a moist, decadent, gluten-free cake. Serve it with a quick homemade margarita cream and even the gluten-eaters at your table will ask for more.

15 of 21

Gluten-Free Banana Pudding With Shaved Dark Chocolate

Gluten Free Banana Pudding with Shaved Dark Chocolate
Karla Conrad

The secret ingredient to this gluten-free dessert is tofu: Blend it with bananas and chocolate and no one will even know that it's tofu giving the pudding its silky, smooth texture. Chocolate shavings or chocolate curls are a sweet garnish.

16 of 21

Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles

Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle cookie
Blaine Moats

Our homemade gluten-free flour mix is the base of these chewy cookies. We recommend making a double batch to have on hand for all your baking needs. It will keep for up to three months. Roll the cookies in cinnamon and sugar before baking for a crisp crust.

17 of 21

Tropical Apricot Crisp

Tropical Apricot Crisp
Jason Donnelly

Take tastebuds on a trip to warmer climates with this sweet treat. To make this fruit crisp gluten-free seek out gluten-free granola and read the ingredient lists of the other items.

18 of 21

Gluten-Free Glazed Chocolate Cake

Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate Cake
Karla Conrad

Oh, yes, classic cakes are on the menu for those avoiding gluten. This gluten-free chocolate cake uses brown rice flour instead of all-purpose so it works with your eating plan. We glazed it, but any gluten-free frosting recipe would work.

19 of 21

Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars

stack of Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars
Carson Downing

This bar cookie is an excellent gluten-free dessert or snack when you need a sweet treat. The brown sugar, butter, and chocolate pieces keep traditional blondie flavors, but we added chocolate-covered caramels and extra salt to take things up a notch.

20 of 21

Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie in flower shape
Blaine Moats

Keep this sugar-free dessert recipe handy for every holiday and special occasion. Let the kids help cut them into festive shapes before decorating these gluten-free sugar cookies with their favorite allergy-friendly sprinkles and colorful frosting.

21 of 21

Gluten-Free Giant Ginger Cookies

Gluten-Free Giant Ginger Cookies
Blaine Moats

Cinnamon, cloves, and molasses give these oversize gluten-free cookies their signature spiced flavor. Roll the dough in coarse sugar to create the perfect crisp-yet-chewy cookies. If you'd prefer smaller cookies, we've included a variation to create mini treats.

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