8 Amazingly Gluten-Free Desserts You Must Try

Living with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease is not as cumbersome as it was years ago. Medical causes aside, people are now eating gluten-free for a number of reasons including weight loss, increased endurance, and overall well-being. More restaurants are now offering gluten-free options, and people no longer have to deprive themselves of the food they used to love. Now, it's easier than ever to satisfy sweet cravings with desserts like gluten-free cookies, cakes, and ice cream.

If you’re craving something sweet and tasty, you have options. You can sate that craving by purchasing something at your local store or you can make it yourself. The latter is a better option for anyone who wants to make sure that everything they eat is totally gluten-free. In this post, we’ll be covering some ideas for amazing gluten-free desserts that you can make in your spare time or purchase the next time you're out shopping. 

Fruit-Flavored Ice Cream

Ice cream is a no-brainer when it comes to desserts. You can buy regular ice cream brands without worrying about gluten as long as you stick to fruit flavors and stay away from cookie dough ice cream. The biggest problem with regular ice cream brands is the possibility of cross-contamination. Your tin of strawberry ice cream might have been made by a machine that also processed food with wheat flour and malt.

When purchasing ice cream, always look at the ingredients section for notes about allergens and cross-contamination. If you want to be totally sure, you can stick to known gluten-safe brands like Arctic Zero, Breyers, Talenti, and NadaMoo.

If you want to be totally sure your ice cream is gluten-free, you can make some of your own. You can use this No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe as a base, and add your own flavor, be it fruits or some good, ole chocolate.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies are likely the most popular comfort food of both young and old. Dipping into that cookie jar after a hard day’s work is a source of great joy that everyone should be allowed to experience, even those with gluten sensitivity. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to create your own gluten-free versions of this popular dessert. Here’s a basic Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe to get you started.

The biggest complaint people have with using gluten-free flour alternatives is that the end product tends to be more on the crumbly and tough side. This is due to nut flours having a different texture and composition compared to regular wheat flour. For that reason, you simply can’t pick out any old regular Chocolate Chip recipe and expect it to taste exactly the same after you’ve made a few substitutions. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the measurements right if you’re not using a gluten-free recipe.

If you want to skip the experimentation phase and headache, you can use Chocolate Chip dry mixes, which already have the right amount of everything you need to get soft baked and delicious Chocolate Chip cookies. You can also purchase Chocolate Chip cookie boxes straight from the store if you want to get right down to enjoying this tasty and delicious snack.

Soft and Chewy Cheesecake Brownies

As we mentioned earlier, using gluten-free flours is tricky, and most people complain about crumbly and tough textures on their baked products. This is why brownies are especially difficult to replicate. Don’t fret though, as there are several ways by which you can make your brownies less tough.

Our personal favorite trick is to add ingredients that will not only make the brownies softer but more delicious as well. Here is our tried and tested recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies. The recipe uses pumpkin puree and cream cheese to add some much-needed softness to gluten-free brownies.

Decadent Chocolate Mousse

Another easy dessert to make if you’re going the gluten-free route is chocolate mousse. This particular Chocolate Mousse recipe doesn’t need baking, so there’s no flour in the recipe. It also requires the fewest ingredients - you only need chocolate, cream, eggs, and coffee, which are readily available in stores everywhere. You can also use this chocolate mousse recipe to upgrade other baked goods like bread, cakes, and cupcakes. 

Vanilla Cupcakes

Looking for a simple dessert that’s not too sweet and not too filling? Gluten-free vanilla cupcakes might just be right up your alley. Aside from being easy to prepare, vanilla-flavored desserts are also flexible since you can add your own flair to the recipe if you want to spice it up with some flavor. Here’s a Vanilla Cupcake recipe that uses a combination of coconut flour, flaxseed meal, and almond flour.

When making your gluten-free cupcakes, keep in mind that nut-based flours don’t rise as much as wheat flour, so make sure you fill your cupcake trays. Cupcakes made with nut-based flours usually last longer than regular cupcakes when stored properly, so don’t be afraid to make it in large batches.

No-Bake Strawberry Shortcake

No-bake desserts are great for gluten-sensitive individuals. Not only are they easier to make since you don’t need an oven, but no-bake desserts are also usually safe since you don’t have to deal with flour. These desserts make use of cookies and crackers, so you can use your favorite gluten-free sugar cookies to make your no-bake cakes.

Here is a simple No-bake Strawberry Icebox Cake recipe to get started. You can substitute the strawberry for any fruit of your choice, be it blueberries or mangoes. 

Fruity Popsicles

If you want something cold but more refreshing than ice cream, popsicle sticks are your best bet. They are easier to make and can help you cool down on a hot summer’s day. This Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle recipe is our personal favorite, although you can swap the strawberry for other flavors if you want. The yogurt and lemon juice add some tartness and creaminess to the recipe, but if you can do away with the yogurt if you want something simpler.

Mini Smores Pies

Pies are an absolute favorite when it comes to desserts - and for good reason. Pies are a treat for the palate, from the flaky crust to the smooth, creamy filling. As we mentioned before, nut-based flours will give you a crumbly and tough texture if you're not careful, so pies are pretty difficult to make for gluten-free bakers.

If you want to bake some gluten-free pies but want to minimize the risk of failure, miniature pies are your best option. Not only are they easier to make, but the smaller portions also ensure that you won’t go overboard with eating this delicious dessert. Here is a simple Miniature Smores Pie recipe that will definitely satisfy your pie cravings.

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Remember, eating gluten-free is not as difficult as it used to be, especially when it comes to desserts. Around half of dessert recipes can be remade using gluten-free flours, while the other half don’t even need flour in the first place. So there’s no need to deprive yourself! And if you don’t have the time to bake these goodies, gluten-free desserts are now readily available at many stores and local bakeries so you can get your fix wherever and whenever you want. Some will even ship them right to you!

Having difficulty finding in-stock treats or desserts?  Visit www.chipmonkbaking.com where you’ll find a great variety of gluten-free, delicious cookies, brownies, and more ready-to-eat and delivered directly to your door!