Our Favorite Gluten-Free Desserts

Updated November 20, 2007
Oxmoor House

Enjoy creamy custards and puddings, baked fruits, and tangy sorbets for dessert as well as cookies and cakes made with gluten-free products. Recipes that are tagged as “gluten-free” do not include products that normally contain gluten.  However, some recipes with the gluten-free tag may call for ingredients such as sauces or mixes that may or may not contain gluten, so be sure to read ingredient labels carefully.

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Peaches and Cream Mini Cupcakes

Credit: Oxmoor House

Peaches and Cream Mini Cupcakes Recipe

Petite and almost too cute to eat, these miniature cupcakes are infused with the sweet flavor of summer's juiciest fruit.

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Fresh Orange Sorbet

Credit: Iain Bagwell, Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Fresh Orange Sorbet Recipe

All you need to make this refreshing sorbet is a few oranges, a couple of lemons, sugar, and water. It's a great way to use the oranges that come in holiday fruit baskets.

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The Ultimate Unbaked Brownies

Credit: Lara Ferroni

The Ultimate Unbaked Brownies Recipe

These unbaked brownies are so good, they've earned their title. This recipe feature power players such as dates, walnuts, and maple syrup. Spread the mixture into a pan, and then refrigerate for at least two hours to set.

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Key Lime Cheesecake

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Key Lime Cheesecake Recipe

A gluten-free crust means you can enjoy luxurious, creamy cheesecake again! Key limes have a short growing season, usually June through August. If they're not in season, you can substitute bottled Key lime juice and Persian lime zest.

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Chewy Caramel Apple Cookies

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Chewy Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe

These old-fashioned chewy oatmeal cookies are extra sweet with the addition of caramel candies and chopped apple. Even folks who don't need to eat gluten-free cookies are likely to devour these, so you'd better bake an extra batch.

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Caramelized Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Missy Neville Crawford

Caramelized Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Recipe

This cake has a gorgeous caramelized crust, rum-soaked pineapple, and is 100% gluten-free. Need we say more?

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Cherry-Grapefruit Basil Sorbet

Credit: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Cherry-Grapefruit Basil Sorbet Recipe

Fresh basil pairs wonderfully with the sweet-tart citrus and deep cherry flavors in this elegant sorbet. Garnish the scoops with small basil leaves, if you like.

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Chocolate Layer Cake

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Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe

This stunning dessert is also delicious using unsweetened almond milk in both the cake and frosting.

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Almond Crème Caramel

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Almond Crème Caramel Recipe

This decadent gluten-free dessert looks like you spent all day slaving in the kitchen, but calls for just eight ingredients.

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Classic Vanilla Pudding

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Classic Vanilla Pudding Recipe

For a quick and elegant dessert, serve this pudding topped with fresh berries, crumbled pistachio brittle, or chopped toffee candy and a pretty mint leaf.

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Spiced Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Spiced Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

A smear of cream cheese frosting is the ideal topper for warm spiced carrot cake. Your friends won't believe you when you tell them this moist, delicious cake is gluten-free!

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Cinnamon Rice Pudding with Dried-Cherry Sauce

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Cinnamon Rice Pudding with Dried-Cherry Sauce Recipe

Aromatic jasmine rice cooks to a moist texture, which makes for perfect rice pudding. Use a pan with a heavy bottom to prevent scorching.

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Watermelon with Tangy Granita

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Watermelon with Tangy Granita Recipe

Juicy-crisp watermelon chunks turn extra-refreshing with a cold topping of slushy cucumber-lime granita. If you have access to both, use red and yellow watermelon.

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S'more Bars

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S'more Bars Recipe

This kid-friendly gluten-free dessert is perfect for after-school snacks or a dessert treat after the kids have eaten their veggies!

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Butterscotch Pudding

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Butterscotch Pudding Recipe

The crumbled toffee candy on top gives the creamy butterscotch pudding a crunchy-sweet finish.

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Mocha Cream Brownie Wedges with Fresh Raspberries

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Mocha Cream Brownie Wedges with Fresh Raspberries Recipe

You'd never guess by looking at this sophisticated dessert that it started from a boxed brownie mix.

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Arctic Lime Freeze

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Arctic Lime Freeze Recipe

You're probably thinking there's no way a dessert with tofu in it could ever be good, right? Well, think again because silken tofu can give a creamy, rich texture to smoothies and frozen desserts like this one. Tofu is also a great source of protein, B vitamins, calcium, and iron—.

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Grilled Peaches with Honey Cream

Credit: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Grilled Peaches with Honey Cream Recipe

Make use of summer's most fleeting fruit in this naturally gluten-free dessert. You can also use apricots or nectarines instead of peaches.

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Chocolate Pots de Crème

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chocolate Pots de Crème Recipe

This no-fuss dessert requires less than 15 minutes of prep time, and the finished product is sure to draw oohs and aahs from guests of all ages. You can make it the morning of the party, and everyone will think you worked all day.

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Cherry Tart with Almond Streusel Topping

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Cherry Tart with Almond Streusel Topping Recipe

Use fresh or frozen cherries to make the deep red-hued, sweet-tart filling for this gluten-free tart. The crunchy, crumbly almond streusel really sends it over the top.

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Chocolate-Cherry Pudding Cake

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Chocolate-Cherry Pudding Cake Recipe

As the cake bakes, it separates into two layers, a tender chocolate spongelike cake and a rich chocolate-cherry sauce.

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Piña Colada Cheesecake Bars

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Piña Colada Cheesecake Bars Recipe

This recipe uses a small amount of coconut flour, which is slightly sweet, high in fiber (3 grams per tablespoon), and gluten free. Look for it in health-food stores or order online. You also can substitute an equal amount of gluten-free all-purpose flour.

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Strawberry-Chocolate Trifle

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Strawberry-Chocolate Trifle Recipe

Use gluten-free devil's food cake mix and gluten-free vanilla instant pudding mix to make this gorgeous layered dessert. You can make one big trifle or individual ones for a special presentation.

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Chocolate Chai Sherbet

Credit: Scott Peterson

Chocolate Chai Sherbet Recipe

Deep, rich flavor abounds in this creamy sherbet featuring bittersweet chocolate, ground spices, and the subtle spiciness of chai tea.

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Ambrosia

Ambrosia Recipe

Revel in the sweetness of winter fruit with this no-cook medley topped with coconut.

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Carrot Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Carrot Cake Recipe

This deliciously moist cake is chock-full of carrots, nuts, and raisins.

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Kitchen Sink Oatmeal Cookies

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Kitchen Sink Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

These gluten-free cookies taste just like old-fahsioned oatmeal cookies but they've got chocolate chips and chopped nuts, so they're even better. If you happen to be allergic to nuts, just leave the nuts out and add more chocolate chips or raisins.

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Frozen Vanilla Custard

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Frozen Vanilla Custard Recipe

Homemade ice cream is a convenient go-tos when you want an easy dessert. Use this custard as a base for many flavors by adding your favorite gluten-free ingredients such as fruit or chopped candy when it's almost frozen.

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Baked Apples with Meringue

Credit: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

Baked Apples with Meringue Recipe

It's a perfect alternative to apple pie–baked apples with a crisp meringue topping and a chunky apple-raisin sauce.

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Citrus Tea Sorbet

Credit: Randy Mayor

Citrus Tea Sorbet Recipe

Showcase the tangy flavor of fresh grapefruit and orange juices by combing them with tea and freezing the mixture into an icy dessert.

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Pecan-Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

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Pecan-Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Recipe

The distinctive flavor of pumpkin pie spice folded into a creamy cheesecake and baked into chewy brown-sugar bars makes for an extra-special autumnal treat.

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Lemon Cake

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Lemon Cake Recipe

This gluten-free layer cake has a bright flavor and a wonderfully rich frosting. Garnish it with thin lemon slices.

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Maple-Pecan Pie

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Maple-Pecan Pie Recipe

No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a pecan pie. If you have gluten-free family members, this pie will be a real treat for them.

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Chocolate Java Lava Cakes

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Chocolate Java Lava Cakes Recipe

These sumptuous chocolate-coffee concoctions, with their rich molten interior, are a chocolate lover's dream.

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Wildberry Buckle