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Looking for easy gluten free dessert recipes that taste like the real thing? Here are 13 of them, all from here on Slice of Sweet: moist cakes, chewy cookies, holiday favorites, and a few no-bake treats.
When I bake for family and friends who eat gluten-free, I want recipes that work the first time and don’t scream “diet dessert.” Every recipe below links to the full post, with the flour I use, the tricks that make it work, and the swaps if you also need it dairy-free.
They’re grouped by type, so you can jump straight to cakes, cookies, or no-bake treats. And if you’re new to gluten-free baking, there are a few quick tips near the end that make a big difference. I’ll keep adding new gluten-free dessert recipes to this list as they go up.
Gluten free cakes and quick breads
1. Gluten-free chocolate cake
Moist and fudgy, made with oil and hot coffee, and layered with fluffy chocolate buttercream. You can add a dark chocolate ganache drip on top if you want it extra fancy. It’s also egg-free and dairy-free.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
2. Gluten free cheesecake
A tall, creamy New York style cheesecake on a buttery gluten-free graham cracker crust. It’s baked without a water bath, and the top still comes out smooth and crack-free. The post also has four more versions, including a Basque burnt cheesecake.
Get the recipe: Gluten Free Cheesecake
3. Gluten-free carrot cake
Soft, moist, full of warm spice, and topped with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting. The secret is a 30-minute rest for the batter before baking, so don’t skip it! There are four frosting ideas in the post too.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
4. Gluten free banana bread
The best use for those spotty bananas on the counter. Ripe bananas and sour cream make a moist, tender loaf with a golden crust, and it’s easy to make dairy-free. There are four flavor twists to try once you’ve made the classic.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Gluten free cookies
5. Gluten-free sugar cookies
One easy dough, two kinds of cookie: soft and cakey, or crisp cut-outs with clean edges for decorating. They’re topped with a dye-free pink buttercream, and there are simple swaps to make them dairy-free, egg-free, or nut-free.
Get the recipe: Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
6. Gluten free peanut butter cookies
Soft and chewy, and you can make them two ways: flourless, or with a gluten-free flour blend for a thicker, softer cookie.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
7. Peanut butter oatmeal cookies
Chewy, a little hearty, and great in a lunchbox. The 4-ingredient flourless version is gluten-free and vegan. Use oats labeled certified gluten-free, since regular oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat.
Get the recipe: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
8. Gluten free Springerle cookies
Traditional German anise cookies pressed with a carved mold, so every one comes out with a pretty picture on top. A gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum keeps the design sharp. Plan ahead: the cookies dry for 12 to 24 hours before baking.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Springerle Cookies
9. Gluten free spritz cookies
Buttery, crisp at the edges, and made with just 7 ingredients. The dough presses easily through a cookie press and holds its shape in the oven, so your trees, wreaths, and flowers stay sharp.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Spritz Cookies
10. Gluten free dairy free chocolate chip cookies
Big, chewy chocolate chip cookies with crisp edges and gooey centers, made without gluten or dairy. Chill the dough at least 4 hours before baking. It’s worth the wait.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Cookies
No-bake and layered gluten-free desserts
11. Gluten free chocolate delight
Four layers in one pan: a buttery oat flour and pecan crust, a sweet cream cheese layer, thick chocolate pudding, and fluffy whipped topping. Make it a day ahead for the cleanest slices, which also makes it perfect for parties.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Delight
12. Homemade chocolate rice cakes
Plain rice cakes dipped in dark chocolate, then chilled for 15 minutes. Just three ingredients, about 20 minutes start to finish, and you can top them with peanut butter, sea salt, nuts, or coconut.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Rice Cakes
13. Caramel rice cakes
The sweet, golden cousin of the chocolate ones. Crispy plain rice cakes get a quick homemade caramel coating, and they’re ready in about 20 minutes. Eat them plain, or finish them with fruit, nuts, chocolate, or a pinch of sea salt.
Get the recipe: Caramel Rice Cakes
Tips for better gluten free baking
A few small habits fix most gluten free baking problems.
- Use a flour blend, not a single flour. Rice flour or almond flour alone won’t hold a cake together. A blend with starches and a binder like xanthan gum works much better. If your blend doesn’t include a binder, add the amount your recipe calls for.
- Weigh your flour. Gluten-free flour packs down easily, and too much of it is the number one reason cookies turn hard and cakes come out dry.
- Let the batter rest. 10 to 15 minutes on the counter gives the flour time to soak up liquid, so your bake is less gritty and holds together better.
- Don’t overbake. Gluten-free treats dry out fast. Pull cakes when a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs, and let bars cool fully before slicing.
- Read every label. Gluten hides in places you might not expect, like malt, wheat starch, some sprinkles, and some chocolate chips. If you’re baking for someone with celiac disease, look for a certified gluten-free label. This gluten-free labeling fact sheet from Clemson University explains what that label means.
How to make gluten free desserts dairy free
Gluten free and dairy free aren’t the same thing, so if you’re avoiding both, you’ll need a few swaps. Several desserts on this list already work without dairy: the chocolate cake is egg-free and dairy-free, the chocolate chip cookies are made with no dairy at all, and the flourless peanut butter oatmeal cookies are vegan. The banana bread and sugar cookie posts also show you which swaps to make.
For the rest, these swaps usually work:
| Instead of | Try | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | Dairy-free butter or coconut oil | Cookies, bars, crisp toppings |
| Milk | Almond milk or oat milk labeled gluten-free | Batters, puddings |
| Cream | Full-fat coconut cream | Whipped topping, ganache, mousse |
| Milk chocolate | Dark chocolate labeled dairy-free | Dipping, chips, ganache |
Check chocolate labels carefully. A lot of dark chocolate still contains milk or is made on shared equipment.
Bringing gluten free desserts to a party
A gluten-free dessert is only safe if it stays that way on the table. A few crumbs from a regular cake can be enough to make someone with celiac disease sick.
- Pick desserts that travel well. Cookies, banana bread, and carrot cake hold up in a container. Cheesecake and chocolate delight need to stay cold.
- Bring your own serving utensil, and don’t let it get used for other dishes.
- Label your dish “gluten-free,” and list nuts, dairy, or eggs if they’re in it.
- Set it away from bread and regular desserts so crumbs don’t travel.
At home, use clean bowls, pans, and utensils that haven’t touched wheat flour, especially when you’re baking for someone with celiac disease.
Gluten-free dessert recipes FAQ
What desserts are naturally gluten free?
Pavlova, panna cotta, crème Brulé, rice pudding, chocolate mousse, and flourless chocolate cake. None of them use flour. On this list, the flourless peanut butter cookies and the flourless peanut butter oatmeal cookies don’t need any flour either. Still check labels on chocolate, vanilla, and toppings.
What’s the easiest gluten free dessert for a beginner?
Start with something that doesn’t depend on flour: chocolate or caramel rice cakes, or the flourless peanut butter cookies. Once those feel easy, move on to banana bread and sugar cookies.
Can I use almond flour instead of a gluten free flour blend?
Not one-for-one in most recipes. Almond flour adds moisture and richness, but it doesn’t have the structure of a blend, so cakes can sink and cookies can spread. Use it only when a recipe calls for it.
Are oats gluten free?
Oats themselves don’t contain gluten, but they’re often grown and processed alongside wheat. Buy oats labeled certified gluten-free. Some people with celiac disease also react to oats, so ask before serving them.
Which gluten free desserts are best for a crowd?
Chocolate delight, carrot cake, sugar cookies, and spritz cookies. They’re easy to cut or portion for lots of people, and they travel well.
How do I store gluten-free desserts?
Keep cookies, brownies, and bars in an airtight container at room temperature. Refrigerate anything with cream, custard, or cheesecake. Most baked gluten-free treats freeze well for a couple of months if you wrap them tightly.
More gluten free dessert recipes
Want more? Browse all my gluten free cake recipes and gluten free cookies. And if you’re up for a weekend baking project, try my homemade gluten free puff pastry or gluten free phyllo dough.
Which one are you making first? Tell me in the comments, and if you have a favorite gluten-free dessert that isn’t here yet, I’d love to hear about it.
