55 Healthy Gluten-Free Desserts - Dr. Axe
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55 Healthy Gluten-Free Desserts, Including Blondies, Cupcakes and Cobbler!

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Paleo sunbutter cups recipe - Dr. Axe

As gluten-free diets become more prevalent, the amount of gluten-free desserts available has increased drastically, but just like normal packaged food, gluten-free products can be full of unhealthy ingredients. 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, you can make your own gluten-free desserts at home. From cupcakes and cobblers to crisps and cookies, they all can be gluten-free desserts if you make them yourself.

Gluten-free desserts

1. Almond Flour Blondies

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.

Almond Flour Blondies
Photo: Meaningful Eats

2. Apple Cider Cupcakes

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.

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These are the perfect gluten-free desserts to serve over the holidays!

3. 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!

4. Blueberry Cobbler

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.

5. Caramel Apple Crisp

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 has 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. It intensifies the cookie’s flavor without adding a coffee taste.

Don’t skip the sea salt at the end either!
Flourless chocolate chewy cookies

Photo: Dinner Then Dessert

8. Lemon Bars

Classic lemon bars get a gluten-free upgrade in this recipe. Rice flour, potato starch and tapioca starch produce a light and airy crust, while lemon zest and freshly squeezed lemon juice provide just the right amount of tangy, lemon taste.

This dessert doesn’t disappoint.

9. Mini Caramel Pecan Tarts

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 free from refined sugar.

Keeping this gluten-free dessert as “mini” means automatic portion control, but you can easily make this as a nine-inch tart. And while this is technically a pecan tart, any nut will do. Choose whatever’s most cost-effective!

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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.

Mint Chocolate Brownie Decadence
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 two ingredients in this recipe. You can’t beat that!

12. Perfect Pumpkin Roll

This is the type of recipe you should definitely enjoy at a big family dinner. It looks great and tastes even better.

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 this 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.

Pecan Pie
Photo: Dr. Axe

14. Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin cheesecake is an all-time autumn favorite, and you can still 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.

Salted Paleo Sunbutter Cups
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 the apples and honey sauce really 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.

18. Protein Peanut Butter Fudge

Ready in just over a half hour, this peanut butter fudge recipe is full of healthy fats and protein thanks to a combo of coconut butter, peanut butter and protein powder made from bone broth. It also utilizes coconut oil, maple syrup and sea salt, creating a delicious flavor that feels decadent but is actually good for you at the same time.

19. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’re looking for gluten-free desserts that are also vegan-friendly, these chocolate chip cookies are for you. Flax replaces the egg, and nut butter is used instead of traditional butter to keep it vegan.

With gluten-free flour and dark chocolate at the forefront, these gluten-free cookies are sure to be a hit.

20. Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies

So long as you use the right gluten-free flour, cookies are easy to make as gluten-free desserts as you can see, and this dark chocolate almond butter cookies recipe is another perfect example. These cookies stay gluten-free with almond butter and almond flour leading the charge. Combined with maple syrup, vanilla extract, dark chocolate chips and cacao nibs, the sweetness is all natural, and the results are delicious.

Here are more healthy gluten-free desserts to try:

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