Best Gluten-Free Desserts for Health Enthusiasts

Whoever said delicious cookies must have wheat flour has not tried gluten-free cookies. Wheat flour has gluten that develops the building structure of a cookie. But this can still be achieved with gluten-free flour like almond flour or coconut flour. 

Almonds and coconuts are rich in starches and fats that bind ingredients and provide stability. Sometimes, these flours are combined with binding agents like xanthan gum to mimic the functionality of gluten.

Apart from giving the cookies structure, gluten-free flour absorbs moisture well, keeping cookies soft and tender.

There are so many ways you could make a gluten-free chocolate-almond cake. You can use almond flour and whipped egg whites that are naturally gluten-free. When you beat egg whites with a hand-held mixer, it becomes pillowy and makes the cake light and airy.

If you want to skip the almond flour, you can use mascarpone. Mascarpone has a high-fat content, which makes the cake incredibly decadent and luxurious. It also flavors the cake with a subtle sweetness.

Blueberry crisp is the perfect summertime dessert. It features a juicy blueberry filling nestled beneath a warm oat and almond crumble topping. When the blueberries and oats are baked together, the sweet and tart blueberries become juicy and vibrant and contrast beautifully with the crunchy and nutty oats.

If you want to change it up, you can replace the blueberries with raspberries, blackberries, or cherries and add chopped nuts like almonds, pecans, or walnuts to the topping for extra crunch and texture.

There are few things more comforting than a warm slice of cinnamon-rich apple cake packed with tender chunks of apples. This cake combines warmly spiced apple pie and moist cake. It is a perfect treat for those who want a delicious apple dessert in a gluten-free format.

In this cake recipe, the wheat flour is replaced with a gluten-free flour blend that is a combination of almond, coconut, oat, and tapioca flour. It has the same classic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger as an apple pie. 

Lucky for gluten-free meringue lovers,creating a delicious and airy gluten-free meringue is achievable. A traditional meringue calls for wheat flour because it helps build the cookies' stability. Luckily, this can still be achieved  with gluten replacement like corn starch and xanthan gum.

Make the meringue cookie batter with whipped egg whites and top them in a piping bag. Pipe dollops of meringue onto a baking sheet and bake. You can add food coloring in the piping bag to make your meringues colorful. 

Gluten-free brownies are every gluten-free chocolate lover's dream. These decadent treats do not have wheat flour but offer the same rich chocolatey satisfaction as their classic counterparts.

But perhaps the best thing about these brownies is their versatility. By changing the flour combinations, ingredients, and baking process, these gluten-free brownies will come out fudgy and melt-in-your-mouth, like classic brownies, or lighter and airier, like chocolate cake.

There is not a single sweet tooth that an almond butter fudge cannot satisfy. It is creamy, decadent, and packed with a nutty richness of almond butter.

The gluten-free fudge has a firm yet smooth texture achieved with ingredients like chia seeds, flaxseeds, or tapioca flour. These ingredients thicken and bind the mixture, ensuring the fudge holds its shape.

There are endless flavor variations for this dessert. Vanilla extract and spices like cinnamon or nutmeg enhance the fudge's flavor profile, while cocoa powder or melted chocolate makes it richer.

Whether it is a light ending to a meal or a refreshing afternoon treat, a strawberry mousse is a guilt-free way to enjoy fresh strawberries for gluten-free dieters. Heavy cream or coconut cream provides the creamy base of this dessert. It is whipped with a mixer until soft peaks form and has a smooth texture.

Once the mousse is ready, fold in ingredients like gelatin to prevent the mousse from being runny. Add pureed or chopped strawberries and chill the mousse thoroughly before serving.

A vanilla ice cream is simple, fuss-free, and satisfies your craving for a sweet and creamy dessert. Milk and cream form the base of a rich and creamy vanilla ice cream, but you can use dairy-free versions using coconut milk for the vegan version. 

Add sugar or natural sweeteners like honey or maple for sweetness and to balance the creamy base. Don’t forget about the star of the show: vanilla. Use authentic vanilla extract or beans for the distinct warm and floral aroma and flavor. 

If you want a lighter alternative to ice cream with a tangy citrus burst, a vibrant and refreshing gluten-free lemon sorbet might be it. The key ingredients of a lemon sorbet are lemon juice and zest.

Add lemon zest to a sugar syrup mixture that is prepared on the stove. Once the sugar dissolves, add water and chill the syrup in the fridge. Remove from the fridge, and add the lemon juice to the cold sugar syrup. Freeze the mixture in the ice cream maker for 25 to 30 minutes.

A no-bake cheesecake is always convenient and easy when you do not have an oven or want to use one. Plus, a cheesecake is naturally gluten-free, so you do not have to make any swaps. You can follow a regular cheesecake recipe.

This cheesecake has two components: filling and graham cracker crust. Crushed crackers mixed with butter are chilled in the fridge. As for the filling, mix cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, and sour cream with a mixer until very thick and creamy.

Packed with a cinnamon-infused sweet and crunchy filling made with pecans, almonds, and coconut, baked apples are delicious, healthy, vegan, and gluten-free. They are perfect when you crave a cozy autumnal flavor.

Peeled and cored Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples are stuffed with nut and spice mixture. The mixture consists of chopped pecans, almonds, shredded coconut, maple sugar, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom drenched in coconut oil and mixed well. Scoop mixture in apples and bake.

The sublime combination of juicy peaches, billowy whipped cream, and chewy-crisp meringue of a peach pavlova will make you swoon. It makes quite the impression on any dessert table.

Whisk egg whites past the foamy stage to soft peaks. Add sugar and continue whisking until the peaks are thick and glossy. Fold in cream of tartar and cornstarch and bake. Once baked and cooled, top the meringue with whipped cream and peach glaze. 

No Thanksgiving feast is ever complete without pumpkin pie, but then again, there are no rules stating it is only for the festivities. A pumpkin pie has a smooth, rich, and warmly spiced pumpkin filling and a buttery and flaky crust.

The crust is typically made with pastry flour, which contains gluten, but you can easily replace it with gluten-free flour made from rice flour, xanthan gum, starch, and milk powder. Even with gluten-free flour, the crust turns out butter and flaky. 

Related: Top 20 Types Of Pie You Have To Try

A lime tart is refreshing and vibrant thanks to its sweet and crumbly crust filled with a lusciously tangy and creamy lime filling. The key ingredient is fresh lime juice and zest, which infuses the filling with a bright and tangy citrus flavor that balances the sweetness.

Like the pumpkin pie, the crust is made with pastry flour. Just replace it with a gluten-free crust made of almond flour, oat flour, sweet rice flour, and tapioca flour flavored with sugar, salt, and vanilla.

The best thing about a gluten-free chocolate cupcake is that no one will know it is gluten-free unless you tell them. It is moist and tender, rich in chocolate flavor, just like a non-gluten version.

All the ingredients of a chocolate cupcake are naturally gluten-free except for all-purpose flour. You can replace it with a gluten-free version that you can easily buy from local stores. 

Rice pudding may seem old-fashioned and unexciting, but with a little love and the right ingredients, the pudding can turn into an exciting feast. You can use turmeric and coconut milk for a Thai-style dessert.

You can also play with the texture by adding toasted chopped nuts like almonds and dried fruits like cranberries. These crunchy toppings are a beautiful contrast against the creamy rice pudding. 

Apple Crumble is the oldest dessert out there, but tired it is not. There are many variations, with some that are simple, tasty, vegan, healthy, and gluten-free by using gluten-free flour and oats.

You can jazz it up with some nuts, raisins, or other fruits in the filling and flavor it with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. The apples are rich, soft, and gooey, making it a lovely canvas for crunchy topping.

Also Read: 18 Best Apple Crumble Recipes To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Angel food cake is the kind that tastes best homemade, especially when it is from your grandmother. It is homey, comforting, and so delicious no one will know it is gluten-free. 

The cake is fluffy and light, making it a great dessert for warmer days. The key to a delicious angel food cake is egg whites separated and whipped to stiff peaks. These peaks create the signature airy and delicate structure of the cake. 

Nothing is as refreshing and fruity as a blueberry yogurt popsicle on a hot day. It combines the creamy tang of yogurt with the sweet-tart burst of blueberries, creating a delightful balance of flavors and textures. This makes a healthy dessert or afternoon snack.

Combine fresh blueberries, coconut yogurt, and honey in a high-speed blender until you get a thick, bright pink-colored mixture. Pour the blended mixed berry yogurt mixture into a popsicle mold and freeze it.