27 Dessert Recipes You'd Never Guess Are Gluten-Free (2024)

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Here is a cornucopia of gluten-free desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth.

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 is a food and beverage writer.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Published September 01, 2024

27 Dessert Recipes You'd Never Guess Are Gluten-Free (3)

Gluten-free desserts have come a long way thanks to 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 best substitutes gluten's binding agent in dessert recipes that use all-purpose flour.

The best part about gluten-free baking? You can also make no-bake recipes! A few recipes listed below require you to step away from the oven and make a delectable treat in minutes. No matter which of these desserts you whip up in your kitchen, you’ll be surprised it's gluten-free.

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

Gluten-Free Monster Cookie Bars

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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!
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

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Simply Recipes Contributor Kalisa Marie Martin says, "This dough is quite sticky. Rather than rolling it out with a rolling pin, dust a piece of parchment with flour, spray your fingertips with non-stick spray, and press the dough out into a rectangle shape with your fingertips. Once the filling is spread on the dough, use the parchment to help roll up your log."
Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

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Simply Recipes Contributor Katie Morford says, "This banana bread should cool for a minimum of one hour after baking (even longer is better). It becomes sturdier as it cools—it’s worth the wait!"
Mexican Wedding Cookies

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Simply Recipes Senior Editor Sara Bir says, "This recipe, a classic holiday cookie, traditionally calls for all-purpose flour. But many readers have swapped almond flour 1:1 for the AP flour to make these gluten-free, and they report raving reviews from friends and family."
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Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Recipes

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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.
Pavlova

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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.
Amaretti Cookies

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Simply Recipes Contributor Garrett McCord says, "This amaretti cookie recipe takes no more than 4 minutes to put together and they bake quickly."
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

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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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Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

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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.
Easy Biko (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake)

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Simply Recipes Contributor Elizabeth Ann Quirino says, "Look for short-grained white rice labeled as sweet rice, sticky rice, and/or glutinous rice (which, despite it's name is gluten-free). On the package, there will often be suggestions for how to use the rice. If the packaging indicates the rice is good for rice cakes, then it will work well for this recipe."
Tembleque (Puerto Rican Coconut Pudding)

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Simply Recipes Contributor Marta Rivera says, "Use full-fat coconut milk.Light coconut milk won’t give your tembleque the same body or mouthfeel that you’re looking for. The watery stuff in the refrigerated section should also be avoided for the same reason."
Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries

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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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Crème Anglaise (Vanilla Custard Sauce)

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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.
Strawberry Eton Mess

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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.
Limoncello Yogurt Pops

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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.
Lotus, Purple Sweet Potato, and Coconut Rice Pudding

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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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Raspberry Macarons

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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.
Chocolate Mousse Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

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Dense and luscious mousse with deep chocolate flavor (that also happens to be vegan) fills a smallflourless, crispy, peanut butter cookiecrust. It's all gluten-free and all delicious.
Crème Brûlée

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You knew crème brûléewas 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.
Flourless Lemon Almond Cake

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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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Grain-Free Apple Honey Cake

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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.
Flourless Chocolate Cake

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Simply Recipes Contributor Kayla Hoang says, "Use a bittersweet chocolate with about 60% cacao for a cake that's neither too sweet nor too bitter."
Torta Di Noci (Calabrian Walnut Cake)

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Simply Recipes Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, " For this otherwise simple recipe, it's really important that you separate the eggs properly. The key is to avoid breaking the yolks. You want absolutely no egg yolks in the egg whites—you'll have to start your egg whites over because they won't become stiff."
Marsala Poached Pears

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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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Gluten-Free Banana Bread

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

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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.
Watermelon Granita

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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.