Top 20 Naturally Gluten Free Desserts

Today I’m sharing 20+ easy, inexpensive, naturally gluten free desserts that require no special ingredients at all!

These are my go-to desserts anytime I need an allergy-friendly option at the last moment. They are also the recipes I share with anyone who asks for a simple and uncomplicated gluten free dessert recipe.

Naturally Gluten Free Desserts

All of the desserts I’m sharing today are naturally gluten free, meaning that they require no special flour or starches and can be made with ingredients typically found in the average kitchen.

Years before I started blogging, when I first started baking gluten free treats for a friend of mine, the recipes I found were completely overwhelming.

Special flours, starches, and gums, careful treatment of the doughs, delicate baking instructions, and confusing instructions, all combined to make me toss more than a few cookies into the trash.

I promise you that NONE of these recipes are like that. These are some of the easiest gluten-free desserts we make and every last one of them can be made with ingredients that are likely already in your pantry. No specialty flours, tools, or skills are required.

I love baking gluten free (and often dairy free) treats to bring to gatherings and events knowing that everyone will be able to enjoy them. Whether you’ve been baking without gluten for a while or you’re new to the whole thing, I hope that you enjoy these easy gluten free desserts.

Creamy, rich homemade fudge is the easiest gluten-free holiday treat to give as gifts or serve on a dessert tray. Unlike traditional fudge recipes that boil on the stove and must be stirred constantly, each of these Fudge Recipes can be made in 10 minutes or less!

You can imagine my delight when I realized that these copycat Cosmic Brownies are a naturally gluten free treat! Made without any flour at all they are perfectly chewy, ultra fudgy brownies, topped with a layer of fudge frosting.

Easy Gluten Free Desserts

Many times, when you need a gluten free dessert, it’s for a dinner guest or a friend, and it doesn’t make sense to buy several different specialty flours just to make a single recipe.

This collection of desserts is perfect for any occasion; a special dinner or a gift for a friend. For many years, I baked gluten-free at least 90% of the time and I can happily promise you that no one will realize they are eating a gluten-free treat.

Grandmother’s Monster Cookies are a classic, much-loved cookie that was gluten free before gluten free diet recipes were ever a thing. Luckily, they stand the test of time and they’re still the most requested cookies we make.

Does a cookie recipe get any easier than 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies? All you need is an egg, a cup of peanut butter, and a cup of sugar. These chewy, dense, peanut butter cookies are an unforgettable memory from my childhood.

Flourless Desserts

Flourless Chocolate Brownie Cookies are a dairy-free rich chocolatey treat. And these Flourless Chocolate Turtle Cookies are just as crisp and chocolatey with plenty of chewy caramel and pecans in each bite.

These Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are perfect for anyone who can’t get enough of the classic chocolate peanut butter combination. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies are another naturally dairy-free cookie that combines peanut butter and chocolate.

This Chocolate Cake blows the mind of everyone who tastes it. Just writing about it here makes me grin as I think about how perfectly moist, rich, and chocolatey it is. With the texture of a traditional cake, there is no flour needed at all. Want to guess the secret ingredient?

Have you tasted a Flourless Chocolate Cake? If so, you’ll likely never forget that first bite. Unassuming in appearance and almost ridiculously easy to make, this cake is a fantastic decadent treat.

Simple Gluten Free Desserts

Are you a coconut lover? Classic Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons are rich, sweet, chewy cookies that are almost candy-like. While they’ve been a holiday favorite for as long as I can remember, coconut macaroons are a treat we enjoy year-round.

Want to make your macaroons even fancier? If you like German Chocolate Cake with its layers of chocolate cake, gooey caramel, coconut and pecan frosting, you will love these German Chocolate Macaroons. They are outrageously, almost unbelievably, delicious.

Want a few desserts without chocolate? Rice Krispy Treats are a classic gluten free treat that will never go out of style. Coconut Lovers be warned, this Coconut Rice Krispie Treat is going to star in your food daydreams for years to come. I adore coconut and I also love a great rice krispie treat, so this combination is pretty much my idea of snacking perfection.

Chewy Coconut Oatmeal Cookies are the ultimate five-ingredient cookie, irresistible to any coconut lover, so grab a mixing bowl and get started. These cookies get bonus points for being made without flour or dairy.

No Bake Gluten Free Desserts

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bites require no oven time and impress anyone who tastes them. A box of these homemade gluten free treats makes a wonderful gift!

Homemade Almond Joy Cups are full of rich chocolate and coconut flakes for a candy you won’t be able to resist.

Rich, creamy over-the-top Peanut Butter Fudge is so easy to make, even the kids can make it. This is one of the best peanut butter fudge recipes I’ve ever tasted, and it is beyond simple to make.

This 5 Minute Fudge comes together in just a few minutes and it is perfect for gifting, snacking, and serving for any occasion. Made with or without nuts, this fudge is a favorite sweet treat year-round.

Easy Gluten Free Dessert Recipes

Every single one of the recipes I’m sharing here has been tried and tested by both gluten-free friends and gluten-eating friends alike. Whether you’re avoiding gluten in your own diet or baking for a friend, these recipes show how easy it is to avoid wheat and still enjoy amazing desserts.

Almost 20 years ago, I was handed one of the most delicious cookies I had ever tasted. Pignoli Cookies are unique in flavor and texture; completely unlike anything I had tasted before.

The restaurant where I first tasted these cookies simply called them Pinon Cookies (a.k.a. Pine Nut Cookies). Crunchy, chewy, sweet and nutty, these cookies are a perfect match for any almond-lover.

Gluten Free Dessert Recipes

If you plan to bake more than the occasional gluten-free treat, I have a huge index of gluten-free sweets and treats that we love. Try the simple recipes I’ve shared here, and then dive in and pick up the flour and starches for the rest of our gluten-free recipes!

SPECIAL NOTE: Some of the recipes above contain oats. Most of the people I bake for have no trouble at all with consuming regular old fashioned oats, however, some individuals have a much higher sensitivity to gluten and oats are not safe for them.

If you are baking for someone with a gluten allergy, ask first, or simply buy certified GF oats if you are uncertain.

Classic 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

These peanut butter cookies are a naturally gluten free dessert – you're going to love them from the first bite!

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 12 minutes mins

Total Time: 17 minutes mins

Servings: 14 -18 cookies, depending on size

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 1 cup sugar
• ▢ 1 cup peanut butter
• ▢ 1 egg

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir the ingredients together until smooth. Scoop onto a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. (Roll into 1" balls with your hands, if you do not have a scoop.)
• Press down on each cookie dough ball with the back of a fork and then press again from the opposite direction, to form the criss-cross pattern on top.
• These cookies will not spread at all. You can bake the full recipe on a single tray if you would like.
• Bake for 12 minutes and then let cool on the tray for 1-2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

I like to remove about 2 tablespoons of peanut butter from the “cup” listed in this recipe. This results in a slightly less dense cookie that everyone loves even more than the original.

Alternatively, some readers have mentioned that they like to add an extra egg to this recipe. If you choose to add an extra egg, simply scoop the finished cookie dough onto the baking tray. It will not be firm enough to roll into balls or press with a criss-cross pattern. The cookies will be puffier straight out of the oven and then will settle a bit as they cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal · Carbohydrates: 17g · Protein: 5g · Fat: 9g · Saturated Fat: 2g · Cholesterol: 11mg · Sodium: 89mg · Potassium: 123mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 15g · Vitamin A: 15IU · Calcium: 10mg · Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 8/1/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 5/1/24}