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17 Gluten-Free Desserts, Including Blondies, Cupcakes and Cobbler!
December 5, 2016
As gluten-free diets become more prevalent, the amount of gluten-free food available has increased drastically. But just like normal packaged food, gluten-free products can be full of unhealthy ingredients — and that includes dessert. Just because they’re gluten-free doesn’t mean all the sweets and treats you find at the local supermarket are good for you.
Luckily, there’s no reason you can’t make gluten-free desserts at home. From cupcakes and cobblers to crisps and cookies, it’s all here.
17 Gluten-Free Desserts
If you’re a fan of blondies, you have to try these. They’re nice and gooey thanks to two types of chocolate chips, and they have just the right crunch because of chopped pecans. I love that there’s a dairy-free option, but I would replace the refined sugar with coconut sugar and scale back a teeny bit.
Photo: Meaningful Eats
These apple cider cupcakes are a delight. They use real apple cider and cinnamon for a deliciously autumn taste and are topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting. These are the perfect gluten-free desserts to serve over the holidays!
3. Best-Ever Gluten-Free Pie Crust
As far as gluten-free desserts go, this is just part one. But it’s a great recipe to have on hand. The dough works just like a pie crust with gluten, and it’s quite easy to make. I guarantee no one will be able to tell the difference; no more making separate desserts!
This cobbler is super simple to prepare, making it a great dish to have the kids help out with. It’s easy to swap out whatever berries you have on hand if your family isn’t a big fan of blueberries, too. I’d skip the sugar on top of the berries and instead top with fresh whipped cream.
Photo: Posed Perfection
Gluten-free desserts should always be this easy. This simpler alternative to apple pie is packed with fresh, nutrition-rich apples, covered in an oatmeal topping and drizzled with a caramel sauce. You definitely don’t need a special occasion to serve this one.
6. Decadent Chocolate Cake with Whipped Chocolate Frosting
This luscious chocolate cake has a secret ingredient that you’d never expect: quinoa! That means it’s got extra protein and absolutely no flour. Finished off with a whipped frosting, this treat makes for a perfect birthday cake.
7. Flourless Chocolate Chewy Cookies
One fear with gluten-free desserts is that they’ll be hard as a rock. Well, that’s not a worry with these chewy cookies. They’re crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, but the teaspoon of espresso powder is what really makes these cookies. They intensify the cookie’s flavor without adding a coffee taste. Don’t skip the sea salt at the end either!
Photo: Dinner Then Dessert
8. Lemon Bars
Classic lemon bars get an gluten-free upgrade in this recipe. Rice flour, potato starch and tapioca starch produce a light and airy crust, while lemon zest and freshly squeeze lemon juice provide just the right amount of tangy, lemon taste. This dessert doesn’t disappoint.
Even if you struggle making tarts or baking with caramel, you’ll be able to whip up these tarts in no time. The crust is a mix of almond and coconut flours and is refined sugar free. Keeping this gluten-free dessert as “mini” means automatic portion control, but you can easily make this as a 9″ tart. And while this is technically a pecan tart, any nut will do; choose whatever’s most cost-effective!
10. Mint Chocolate Brownie Decadence
Not only are these brownies ridiculously tasty, but you can make them over the course of two days, as they have several layers of yum that need to be prepped and cooled. These will keep for about four days in the refrigerator, but I doubt these gluten-free desserts will last that long.
Photo: My Gluten-Free Kitchen
11. Paleo “Nutella” Fudge Cups
These no-bake fudge cups use a homemade Nutella made from hazelnut butter to make this gluten-free dessert. Best of all, there are only three ingredients in this recipe. You can’t beat that!
This is the type of recipe you should definitely enjoy at a big family dinner: it looks great and tastes even better. Buckwheat groats are actually a complete protein, with all nine of the essential amino acids our bodies need. You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. The creamy filling is to die for as well.
13. Pecan Pie
There’s no white sugar or corn syrup in my homemade pecan pie, but there are lots of whole food ingredients: think grass-fed butter, maple syrup and two full cups of pecans. This pecan pie has a rich flavor and texture — it might just replace your usual pie recipe.
Photo: Dr. Axe
Pumpkin cheesecake is an all-time autumn favorite and there’s no reason not to enjoy it even if you’ve cut out grains. You can use the suggested crust, made with gluten-free cookies, or your own personal favorite. The cheesecake filling is where it’s really at. With molasses adding some extra sweetness and a combination of pureed pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice, this will satisfy that craving for fall flavor.
15. Salted Paleo Sunbutter Cups
A healthy alternative to Reese’s peanut butter cups, this gluten-free dessert recipe is perfect for enjoying after dinner. The cups come together with sunflower seed butter, Medjool dates, coconut oil and, of course, chocolate! Sneak a few of these into your kid’s lunchbox (or your own!) as an after-lunch treat.
Photo: Dr. Axe
16. Toaster Pastry with Sugar Pumpkin Filling
Move over, Pop-Tarts. This recipe is the real deal. Not only is this a gluten-free dessert, but the filling is real, roasted pumpkin. These are a bit labor intensive, but absolutely worth it.
17. Upside Down Apple Honey Cake
This upside down cake uses gluten-free flours for the cake, but it’s the apples and honey sauce that steal the show. The apples are sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, while the honey sauce combines honey with coconut oil, maple syrup and walnuts, for a sweet and crunchy topping that’s fantastic.
