21 Dessert Recipes You'd Never Guess Are Gluten-Free

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

By
Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee
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
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated December 12, 2024
A Slice of Flourless Chocolate Cake Garnished with Fresh Raspberries Lifted on a Pie Server

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

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 Cinnamon Rolls

    A pan of easy gluten free cinnamon rolls being topped with icing.
    Kalisa Marie Martin

    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

    Side shot of sliced almond flour banana bread.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    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

    Mexican Wedding Cookies
    Irvin Lin

    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."

  • Pavlova

    Pavlova
    Elise Bauer

    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.

    Continue to 5 of 21 below

  • Amaretti Cookies

    Homemade Amaretti Cookies in a Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    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

    Peanut Butter Fudge squares on cutting board
    Irvin Lin

    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.

  • Easy Biko (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake)

    biko (Filipino sticky rice cake) slices on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    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)

    Side view of a coral plate with Puerto Rican panna cotta in the shape of a bundt pan. Ground cinnamon is sprinkled on top. A small white bowl of toasted shredded coconut is behing the plate, as well as a striped dish towel. To the left of the toasted coconut is a light yellow plate with another panna cotta in partial view.
    Marta Rivera

    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."

    Continue to 9 of 21 below

  • Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries

    Ricotta-Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    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.

  • Crème Anglaise (Vanilla Custard Sauce)

    Bowl of Crème Anglaise with Some Dripping from a Spoon

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    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

    Glasses of Strawberry Eton Mess with Spoons

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    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

    Someone Holding a Bowl of Limoncello Yogurt Pops on Ice Surrounded by Leaves and Lemons over Grass

    Matt Armendariz

    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.

    Continue to 13 of 21 below

  • Lotus, Purple Sweet Potato, and Coconut Rice Pudding

    Coconut rice pudding with lotus and sweet potato served in a bowl with a spoon.

    Simply Recipes / Uyen Luu

    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.

  • Raspberry Macarons

    Overhead view of French macarons with raspberry buttercream filling and whole raspberries next to them.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    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.

  • Crème Brûlée

    How to Make Creme Brulee spoon cracked into a ramekin of creme brulee
    Alison Conklin

    You knew crème brûlée was 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

    Flourless Lemon Almond Cake
    Elise Bauer

    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.

    Continue to 17 of 21 below

  • Flourless Chocolate Cake

    Slices of Flourless Chocolate Cake Served on a Small Plate with Fresh Raspberries and Whipped Cream

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    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)

    3-ingredient cake

    Simply Recipes / Devan Grimsrud

    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

    marsala poached pears
    Elise Bauer

    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.

  • Gluten-Free Banana Bread

    Overhead view of simple gluten-free banana bread on a platter and sliced into thick slices.
    Kalisa Marie Martin

    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.

    Continue to 21 of 21 below

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

    Side view of red bean paste rice cake stacked on a plate.

    Simply Recipes / Uyen Luu

    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.

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