On the hunt for the BEST gluten-free dessert recipes? Check out this post for a roundup of 25 TESTED & PERFECTED recipes! From classic chocolate chip cookies to moist, spiced carrot cake, you’ll find a treat for every occasion.
Eating gluten-free doesn’t mean you have to settle for subpar desserts. Each one of these recipes has been carefully tested and 5-STAR reader approved.
Tips for Gluten-Free Baking
Since many traditional desserts rely on gluten-containing wheat flour to achieve a light, chewy texture, there’s definitely a learning curve to gluten-free baking! However, it’s totally possible once you learn a few pro tips like these:
- Follow the recipe exactly: If you’re new to gluten-free baking, this is not the time to experiment. Gluten-free baking can be finicky, and it’s important to follow every instruction without making any modifications.
- Measure carefully: Adding too much or too little of any ingredient could affect the outcome, so take your time and measure carefully. Consider getting a kitchen scale to make your measurements even more exact.
- Use high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour: I like to use gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend like King Arthur Flour in my baked goods. (It works best to use a blend that contains xanthan gum, like this one!)
- Let your batter rest: Most recipes will taste a lot better if you let the batter rest for at least 15 minutes before baking. This minimizes grittiness and improves the texture.
- Don’t worry about over-mixing: Good news! Unlike gluten recipes, gluten-free recipes usually can’t be overmixed. (They don’t contain the gluten that can get tough if the batter is mixed for too long.)
Gluten-Free Desserts
The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’ve been searching for the BEST gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe – look no further! I’ve been eating 100% gluten-free for almost 6 years now and have finally found THE chocolate chip cookie recipe of my dreams.
A few tricks make these gluten-free cookies perfect – soft, chewy, golden and irresistible! They’re easy to make, and NOBODY will guess they’re one of your go-to gluten-free dessert recipes!
Gluten-Free Chocolate Mousse Cake
This gluten-free chocolate mousse cake is rich, decadent and perfect for any celebration! With a brownie-like cake layer and cream-cheese-based chocolate mousse, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream.
This cake probably isn’t the most traditional chocolate mousse cake, but it sure is delicious. The bottom layer is chewy and rich, like a cross between a brownie and flourless chocolate cake.
The Best Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These gluten-free oatmeal cookies are chewy and delicious, with nothing but rave reviews. Plus, they’re made with everyday ingredients and are total crowd-pleasers.
With wholesome oats, a little bit of coconut and gooey chocolate chips, the texture, flavor and chew of these cookies can’t be beat. I’ve worked for years to perfect this recipe and it’s one of my tried-and-true go-to recipes.
Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
This is guaranteed to be the BEST Gluten-Free Cheesecake recipe you’ll ever try! The texture is smooth, rich, and creamy, and served over an easy, gluten-free walnut brown sugar crust.
My mom would make this exact recipe over the holidays every year, even before any of our family members starting eating gluten-free. It has a naturally gluten-free crust as well as a rich layer of creamy cheesecake and sour cream topping.
Since angel food cake gets it’s structure from egg whites, it is really easy to make it a gluten-free dessert. Add fresh strawberries or fresh berries on top and you have one of the best gluten-free desserts.
Hundreds of reviewers agree this is the most delicious gluten-free angel food cake recipe around! This tried-and-true recipe was originally published in 2013 and is one my #1 recipes today.
The Best Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins
These muffins are soft and tender from whole milk yogurt (dairy-free option too!) and bursting with blueberries (use fresh or frozen!). They’re a long-time family favorite.
I use the base as a basic muffin recipe for all kinds of gluten-free muffin flavors. These muffins are light and fluffy with a delicious crumb and flavor.
The Best Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Banana bread made with ripe bananas is one of the most comforting, easy sweet treats to whip up when you want a delicious gluten-free dessert.
This recipe is a long-time reader and family favorite and has a few tricks so you get soft, moist, easy-to-slice gluten-free sweet bread every time.
The Best Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Recipe
I tested this recipe dozens of times to get it just right! The secret to delicious gluten-free cake is skipping the butter and using a combination of sour cream and oil instead. Whipping the batter also makes a light and fluffy cake!
It truly has the most amazing crumb of any gluten-free cake I’ve ever made! Top with ice cream to take it to the next level!
These are my absolute favorite gluten free brownies! I tested this recipe dozens of times to get it just right so you’ll get shiny-topped, fudgy brownies. These brownies are chewy, deeply chocolatey and have that perfect crackly top. They’re one of those decadent treats that’s also easy to make. What more could you ask for?
Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles (Brown Butter!)
These are soft and chewy gluten-free snickerdoodles with crisp, golden edges! Browned butter and a few other tricks give these cookies delicious flavor and texture.
Something about a crisp sugar cookie with a chewy center rolled in cinnamon sugar and baked to crispy-golden perfection is irresistible! You’d never know they’re gluten-free!
This amazing Gluten-Free Cupcake Recipe makes moist and fluffy cupcakes that are perfect for any occasion. Bake them for your next birthday party, family gathering, or just-because celebration!
This gluten-free cupcakes recipe is my go-to anytime I need a good cupcake base. The gluten-free vanilla cupcakes are delicious topped with any kind of frosting and are made with ingredients that I always have on hand.
Easter dinner isn’t complete without a delicious carrot cake for dessert! I’ve been making this homemade gluten-free carrot cake recipe for a few years now and it’s always an unbelievable hit. It is light and moist with the perfect tender crumb and hint of spice.
This cake is easy to make with everyday ingredients and topped with a blanket of fluffy cream cheese frosting.
Gluten-Free Coffee Cake (with Sour Cream)
This gluten-free coffee cake is made extra rich and tender with the addition of sour cream. It’s hands-down the best coffee cake I’ve ever had. Bold claim, but it’s true!
The recipe is based on my Grandma’s tried-and-true sour cream cinnamon nut cake, and it’s sure to become your new go-to recipe!
Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (Grain-Free)
This is an all-time FAVORITE recipe! I have attempted several almond flour chocolate chip cookies and finally found a winner!
These cookies are slightly crispy on the outside and moist and soft on the inside. We love keeping them in the freezer and eating them cold straight out of the freezer. They’re great to have around when you’re craving something sweet!
These gluten-free blueberry scones are like a high-end bakery treat, right from your own oven! With fresh blueberries, flecks of butter, sour cream, and a vanilla glaze, these are the ultimate gluten-free scones. You can even customize them to include other fresh fruit, or add lemon zest or lemon juice to make lemon blueberry scones.
The bright pops of blueberry and sweet icing take the scones to the next level of deliciousness.
Gluten-Free German Chocolate Cake
German chocolate cake is one of those gluten-free dessert recipes that’s perfect for special occasions. Made with two different types of frosting, it’s the ultimate combination of chocolate, coconut, caramel, and pecans.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, Father’s Day, or any other special occasions, everyone will be delighted by the impressive layers of chocolate cake on display in this recipe.
Want a gluten free pound cake recipe that is full of flavor and has a tender crumb? This is it! Adding cream cheese for richness and a touch of lemon juice for tenderness is the trick to the best gluten-free pound cake.
Once you try this pound cake recipe, you’ll never need any other!
Moist, rich, and comforting, this gluten-free banana cake is one of those gluten-free dessert recipes everyone loves—even if they aren’t on a gluten-free diet. This cake is dense without being heavy and the whipped cream cheese frosting is irresistible!
Need more quick and easy gluten-free dessert recipes in your life? This gluten-free zucchini bread is made from simple ingredients and completely delicious! It’s lightly sweet, perfectly moist, and one of the best ways to use up fresh zucchini in the summertime.
This gluten-free biscotti is light, crisp and perfect for dunking into coffee, warm milk, or hot chocolate. It makes a special breakfast or a light dessert – nobody will be able to tell it’s gluten-free!
Making gluten-free biscotti from scratch will make you feel like a baking hero! But good news: This is a surprisingly easy recipe!
This gluten-free peanut butter pie has a smooth, creamy cream cheese-based peanut butter mousse and an easy, gluten-free Oreo crust.
Made from scratch (with no Cool Whip in sight!), this delicious gluten free-dessert is perfect for any occasion! It’s quick and easy to make, but guaranteed to impress.
If you want a show-stopping (but easy!) gluten-free key lime pie recipe for summer BBQs, family parties, or birthdays, this gluten-free key lime pie is it.
This is one of those gluten-free dessert recipes that’s the perfect combination of tart, sweet, and creamy. Tucked in an easy gluten-free graham cracker crust, this pie is an easy classic that nobody will guess is gluten-free!
The Best Gluten-Free Pecan Pie
With a trusted homemade gluten-free crust and sweet caramel pecan filling, this gluten-free pecan pie is one of the best gluten-free dessert recipes for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Thanks to pre-baking the crust and adding the filling to the pie crust when it’s still warm, this pie always has a crisp gluten-free crust.
This traditional pumpkin pie is made with my very favorite flaky, buttery, gluten-free pie crust recipe. Thanksgiving isn’t complete without it! It’s one of the gluten-free dessert recipes I turn to every holiday season!
These gluten-free pumpkin bars are everything I love about fall. They’re soft, spiced and topped with a pillowy layer of cream cheese frosting.
I also love these pumpkin bars because they’re great to make for a crowd. One sheet pan can be sliced and served at any fall/holiday gathering. Be warned: They’re one of those delicious desserts that disappear fast!
FAQs
Most desserts can be made gluten-free using gluten-free flour, including chocolate chip cookies, brownies, cake, cupcakes, and more. Other desserts are naturally gluten-free, like coconut macaroons, flourless chocolate cake, three-ingredient peanut butter cookies and more.
Yes, creme brulee is naturally gluten-free, since it is made with cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and water. (But if you’re buying store-bought creme brulee, it’s always best to double-check the label!)
Yes, Nutella is naturally gluten-free. The company has confirmed it does not contain any gluten ingredients, like wheat, rye, barley, or oats.
I hope enjoy these recipes as much as I do! When your sweet tooth strikes, you always have a great recipe to turn to—even while living a gluten-free lifestyle!
Happy baking! If you try any of these gluten-free dessert recipes, leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you!
