Save this list as your go-to resource whenever you need a gluten-free dessert recipe idea. From easy flourless chocolate chip cookies to show-stopping pavlova, this page has something to satisfy your sweet tooth—without using any gluten-containing ingredients.
In other words, you won’t miss the gluten. 😉
Gluten-Free Dessert Recipe Ideas
Most of my 1,300+ (!!!) published recipes are traditional baking recipes—think chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, vanilla cake—and a good majority of those recipes contain flour as a main ingredient. For those with dietary restrictions, it can be challenging to find dessert recipes.
Over the years, I’ve worked on developing a growing collection of gluten-free recipes where flour simply isn’t needed. I’m happy to share 40 of my favorites with you today! Truly, many of these recipes are some of the most popular among readers, even for those not following a gluten-free diet.
In fact, I make these peanut butter banana chocolate chip oatmeal bars more than any other recipe on my site. (Bonus: they’re sweet enough to satisfy your dessert cravings, but wholesome enough to serve for breakfast. I know we all appreciate a versatile recipe!)
If you’re looking for a dessert to impress, both flourless chocolate cake and cranberry frangipane tart are classic gluten-free desserts options. As single-layer cakes they are perfect for smaller gatherings, just like crème brûlée and chocolate soufflé (both also GF). If you have these recipes on your baking bucket list, consider this your invitation to try!
And let’s not forget about cookies! Whenever I make these flourless almond butter chocolate chip cookies, flourless monster cookies, or flourless peanut butter oatmeal cookies (pictured below), people rarely notice that they’re missing flour. (Making them great options for those in need of dairy-free recipes, too.)
For more gluten-free recipe inspiration—both sweet and savory—browse my entire collection of gluten-free recipes.
40+ Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes
Flourless Chocolate Cake
A 1-bowl cake recipe without any special tools, decorating, or assembly required, this is chocolate cake made easy. With its fudge-like texture, it satisfies even the biggest chocolate craving!
5-Ingredient Pavlova
Pavlova is crisp on the edges, chewy on top, and marshmallow-soft in the center. Pile with lemon curd, whipped cream, and fresh fruit for a delicious gluten-free dessert.
Easy Lace Cookies
Made from only 6 ingredients, these lace cookies are ready in 30 minutes and taste like sweet brown butter and caramel. Everyone loves them sandwiched with a little chocolate.
Easy Crème Brûlée Recipe
Many beginner bakers are SHOCKED at how easy crème brûlée is! There are only 6 ingredients, and if you follow my success tips, you’ll be gifted with the smoothest, creamiest dessert ever.
Delicious Chocolate Soufflé
Yes, you can make fluffy and impressive, totally rich chocolate soufflé from scratch. It’s absolutely luxurious, pretty quick to make, and requires just 7 basic ingredients.
French Macarons for Beginners
This is an in-depth beginner’s guide to homemade French macarons. I include my kitchen-tested recipe, plus success tips, overview of techniques, list of tools… basically everything you need to succeed!
No-Bake Greek Yogurt Fruit Tart
This wholesome Greek yogurt fruit tart comes together with a simple 3-ingredient crust, protein-packed Greek yogurt, and all your favorite seasonal fresh fruits.
Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Cups
You need just 1 bowl to make these wholesome chocolate chip baked oatmeal cups. Ready in about 30 minutes! I love them straight from the refrigerator for a healthy-ish dessert or snack.
No-Bake Chocolate Fudge Oat Bars
Enjoy a delightful combination of chewy-crispy-crunchy textures and salty-sweet chocolate-peanut butter flavors in every bite. These 100% taste like candy bars and they disappear fast.
Peanut Butter Balls
These candies are as soft as chocolate truffles and as irresistible as peanut butter cups. They come together with just 5 ingredients in the filling, plus the chocolate, and they freeze beautifully.
Almond Butter Coconut Macaroons
Naturally gluten-free almond butter coconut macaroons are soft and moist in the center with extra-chewy edges. Top with chocolate and sea salt for a lovely finishing touch. No dough chilling required!
Healthy Dark Chocolate Almond Truffles
Miraculous and delicious things happen when almonds, dates, and dark chocolate collide. They’re delicious cold from the refrigerator!
Easy Baked Apples
Take cored apples, fill with a buttery brown sugar cinnamon crumble, and bake until tender. They’re like individually portioned apple crisps, which are great for smaller gatherings.
Coconut Macaroons
These homemade coconut macaroons are sweet, moist, and chewy on the inside with a delightfully crisp exterior. Try this classic version, or see recipe Notes for a white chocolate cranberry version.
No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
My no-bake cheesecake jars are fun to make because you can customize them with different toppings. Be sure to use GF graham crackers in this easy 30-minute dessert.
Soft Caramel Candies
The ultimate sweet and salty candy treat, these sea salt vanilla caramels are unbelievably soft and chewy. This makes a big batch to share!
Healthy Berry Streusel Bars
These easy healthy berry streusel bars combine 1 thick layer of berry filling between 2 layers of almond oat streusel. They’re made with wholesome ingredients and your favorite mix of berries.
Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies
With a cookie so deep, dark, and chocolatey, you’d never know there isn’t butter or flour in the ingredient list. These are simple to make and always fly off the serving tray. Very rich!
Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
This is my simple recipe for warm, gooey, brown-sugar-oat-topped flourless apple crisp. A go-to dessert in the fall season, although it’s not unusual to make this reader-favorite recipe throughout the year!
Homemade Butterscotch Pudding
Butterscotch pudding is totally underrated, and after 1 taste you’ll find yourself making this recipe on repeat. It’s luxuriously creamy, velvet-rich, and comes together in just 1 pot in 10 minutes.
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
Creamy and smooth peanut butter fudge made with only a handful of ingredients is… dangerous. No candy thermometer, no stove, and just a few steps. You’ve been warned.
Homemade Dirt Pudding (Fun for Kids!)
This no-bake, make-ahead dirt pudding is as fun to make as it is to serve and eat! It features layers of creamy homemade chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo cookies (use certified GF Oreos), and buried gummy worms.
Blueberry Yogurt Swirl Popsicles
These super simple, protein-packed 3-ingredient blueberry yogurt swirl popsicles are naturally gluten free and hit the spot in the summertime.
Chocolate Coconut Almond Tart
This delicious chocolate coconut almond tart is naturally gluten free and vegan. (You won’t miss the butter & flour!) You need just 7 ingredients, and I guarantee there won’t be any leftovers.
Maple Vanilla Baked Pears
These soft baked pears are infused with maple and vanilla, and topped with crunchy granola. They’re simple to prepare, yet absolutely exploding with flavor!
Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
One of my personal favorites, and I’ve been making them for years! Taste testers never know that both butter and flour are missing from the dough.
Blueberry Sauce Topping
Juicy blueberries bring their natural sweetness to this quick and easy stovetop sauce, which is a versatile topping on plenty of desserts. I love it most on vanilla ice cream!
No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
These no-bake chocolate coconut snowballs are easy to make and freeze wonderfully. They’re nut-free as written, but see recipe Notes for how to add some peanut butter—fantastic either way!
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
A *very* popular recipe. These extra soft and thick no-bake bars come together with just 5 ingredients. Be sure to use GF graham crackers!
3-Ingredient Strawberry Banana Popsicles
Beat the heat with these pretty pink wholesome treats!
Strawberry Coconut Macaroons
Add a little something *extra* (and pink!) to your coconut macaroons. Fresh strawberries are speckled throughout a moist, chewy coconut macaroon for bite-sized bliss.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
These pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal bars are soft and chewy with satisfying pumpkin flavor. Great for on-the-go breakfasts, snacks, and dessert.
Dark Chocolate Key Lime Pie Truffles
These dark chocolate key lime pie truffles are creamy, luscious, and downright extravagant. That’s key lime ganache inside! Citrus and chocolate is a seriously underrated combination.
Flourless Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Only 9 ingredients stand between you and a batch of soft, chewy, perfectly thick flourless peanut butter oatmeal cookies. These are a texture-lover’s dream!
Homemade Caramel Corn
Sweet and crunchy caramel corn! Don’t underestimate this… it’s truly unbelievable. It’s my beloved grandmother’s recipe, and I make it every single holiday season.
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
Of all my recipes, I make these soft-baked oatmeal bars the most often. A 1-bowl recipe, and customizable depending on what ingredients you have on hand. Kids and adults love them.
8-Ingredient No-Bake Cookies
No mixer, no oven, no problem! These no-bake cookies are incredibly simple, but pack big flavor. This is a family-favorite recipe, and to ensure they are gluten free, use certified GF oats.
No-Bake Chewy Coconut Granola Bars
These sweet and salty granola bars are soft, chewy, and pack hefty flavor from almonds, coconut, oats, and chocolate. Skip the oven and allow the bars to set up in the refrigerator or freezer. A healthy-ish dessert or snack!
Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters
Easy! And will satisfy any chocolate cravings. You need 4 ingredients, and you can turn them up a notch by toasting the almonds first.
Chocolate Swirled Meringue Cookies
These chocolate swirled meringue cookies are delightfully crisp on the outside with a melt-in-your-mouth texture inside. A simple pleasure!
I hope you find a new favorite out of all of these gluten-free dessert recipes! Before you go, here are some of my very favorite gluten-free dinner recipes.
Gluten-Free Dinners:
- Zucchini Fritters
- Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Black Bean Burgers (skip the buns; use oat flour)
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
- Strawberry Bacon Salad
I love your website but I would like to see a Gluten Free Vanilla Layer cake recipe. I use gluten free flour ( I also use your substitute recipe to make “gluten free” cake flour. I have a problem with the cakes I make being too dense. I measure correctly, follow all instructions and hints and still get “heavy” cakes. I hope you can help. Thanks. Carol O’Neill
Hi Carol, we wish we could help, but admittedly, our team does not have much experience baking with gluten-free flour. Although some readers report using an all-purpose 1:1 gluten-free flour in many of our recipes with success, you should expect slightly different results anytime you substitute ingredients. If you’re interested, here are all of our naturally gluten-free recipes. We hope you find a few new recipes to try!
I have just started baking yeast recipes. I was afraid of it before but so far, I’m having success. Your recipes are wonderful and so easy to follow. I’ve made the cinnamon rolls, and I baked the Lemon Blueberry cream cheese frosted cake for a friend’s birthday and everyone loved it. Tonight I’m attempting the yeast dinner rolls. Thank you for these wonderful recipes. I shall check out some of the gluten-free recipes as my daughter has celiac disease.
Thank you so much for making and trusting our recipes, Tara! We hope your daughter will enjoy these gluten free recipes.
I like the Pumpkin cupcake recipe. How can I use this recipe for Gluten Free flour?
Hi Cynthia, we haven’t tested our pumpkin cupcakes recipe with gluten free flour, so we’re unsure of the results. Let us know if you give it a try!
Hi Sally, I love the Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins and I was wondering if you would ever make a recipe based off of them!
Hi Megan, those look and sound delicious! We’ll definitely keep recipes like this in mind for the future. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for your recipes! Since finding your site and first trying the Snickerdoodles we use only your recipes! There are none better. I just heard from my granddaughter who is starting college. She requested gluten-free goodies. What timing you have to post 40 of them just when I need them! Again, thank you so very much and keep posting! ❤️
Thank you so much for making and trusting our recipes, Pamela! We hope you find some new recipes to love from this roundup.
Thank you so much for posting this! I love your recipes, but since I’ve gone gluten free it is harder to find ones I can eat. This is a great timesaver for me!
So glad this is helpful for you!
I’m looking forward to trying all your truffle recipes for Christmas this year.
Thank you for putting together this list! It’s awesome to have this to refer to whenever one of my best friends who has to keep a gluten-free diet comes to visit.
One thing though: oats are considered to be gluten-free, but if they are processed in a mill that also does process other grains, unfortunately cross-contanimation can happen. So, if one is baking for someone with celiac disease one would have to look for certified gluten-free oats. Those usually are grown, stored and processed in different places then grains containing gluten. And a small number of people with celiac disease even have bad experiences with gluten-free labeled oats, so when in doubt one should check with the person they are baking for and see if they can tolarate oats.
Hi Sina, such great information! I make sure to provide certified GF oats in individual recipes, because you’re right, that is very important to check.
Thanks for the tip! I’m about to try gf baking for my daughters celiac fiancé. I had no idea about the oats. I kinda like him and don’t want to make him sick lol. Appreciate the extra tips in the comments 🙂