We get it. It's rare to have a day go by without indulging in some sweet dessert. Whether you’re celiac, gluten intolerant, or just avoiding gluten for whatever reason, it can be hard to find healthy desserts when you're out. However, cookies, bars, cakes, and cobblers are still options, even when you're making gluten-free sweet treats.
Since many desserts have wheat flour in them, you're often left out of indulging in your favorite post-meal sweets. But no worries. There are plenty of gluten-free options as well.
Here, we've rounded up ten gluten-free dessert ideas for a healthy lifestyle, along with their recipes. Read on!
What Is Meant By Gluten-Free Dessert?
First of all, what does eating gluten-free mean? Well, a gluten-free dessert means the product doesn't contain any gluten. Gluten is basically a protein found in wheat and several other grains. When you decide to go gluten-free, you focus on eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and seeds. Usually, people who have celiac disease or have gluten intolerance tend to follow a gluten-free diet.
Celiac disease is a condition that prohibits people from eating gluten as it causes an unpleasant immune response. Other classes of people are gluten intolerant. Bloating, gas, and nausea are a few symptoms of gluten intolerance, and many people refrain from gluten to avoid these health issues. Next on the list are gluten-sensitive people. While those with this condition don't have celiac disease, eating gluten causes the same issues as those with the disease.
10 Gluten-Free Dessert Ideas For A Healthy Lifestyle
If you're at home and your sweet tooth strikes, here are ten gluten-free dessert ideas for a healthy lifestyle. You don't need to use a long list of unknown, scary, or difficult-to-find ingredients to prepare delicious gluten-free food. What’s more, these recipes are great for anyone, even if you're not following a gluten-free diet. Let’s explore:
1. Flourless chocolate peanut butter cake
This easy-to-make cake is gluten-free, but you will never know it because it's decadent! Truly, The peanut butter chocolate combo is a match made in heaven.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- One teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Three large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Here's how you prepare flourless chocolate peanut butter cake:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease an 8-inch round baking pan and line with parchment paper.
- Now, melt the butter and chocolate in a double boiler. Stir until it becomes smooth.
- Remove from heat and mix in the sugar, salt, and vanilla.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the cocoa powder and mix until well combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
2. Chia seed pudding
Chia seed pudding is a healthy and versatile dessert that's naturally gluten-free. Many people prefer it for breakfast or a midday snack. It’s super healthy and filled with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Fresh berries for topping
Instruction:
- In a bowl, whisk together the chia seeds, honey or maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla extract.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until the mixture thickens.
- Stir the pudding and top with fresh berries before serving.
3. Gluten-free and vegan raspberry tart
This is one of the absolute favorites during summertime for celiac people. This Raspberry Chocolate Tart with No Bake Only Takes Ten Minutes to Prepare!
In addition to being super easy, it's also healthy – it's gluten-free, refined sugar-free, vegan, and Paleo-friendly! And hey, you don't even have to turn on your oven. It's perfect for those hot summer days when you can't bear the thought of adding more heat to your house. The crust is made from almond flour and coconut oil, and the filling is a smooth, creamy raspberry mixture. You can top it with fresh raspberries for a rich, guilt-free dessert.
Ingredients for crust and fillings:
- 1 & 1/2 cups of almond flour
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil, melted
- Two tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
- A pinch of salt
- ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
- 5 cups fresh raspberries, divided
- 2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder
Instructions to make the crust:
- Mix almond flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt until well blended.
- Press the mix evenly into a tart pan, covering the bottom and sides.
- Bake the crust at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden.
- Allow it to cool completely before adding the filling.
Next, you need to prepare the filling and assemble the tart:
- In a blender, mix 2 cups of fresh raspberries, 1/2 cup of coconut cream, and 1/4 cup of maple syrup.
- Blend until smooth and well combined.
- Once the crust has cooled, pour the raspberry filling into the tart crust. Spread it out evenly.
- Refrigerate the tart for several hours.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries or other fruits before serving. (Optional)
4. Chocolate peanut butter cookie
Wheat allergies or not, this gluten-free dessert will have anyone excited to blow the candles out for a slice. This healthy cookie cake has a bonus of healthy fats plus protein. It uses rice flour instead of normal or wheat flour, so it's much lighter than a flourless chocolate cake. Moreover, it's low in sugar and gluten-free!
They are easy to make and require only a few ingredients:
- 1 cup of smooth peanut butter
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
- One large egg
- One teaspoon of baking soda
- A pinch of salt
Here’s how you prepare chocolate peanut butter cookies:
- First, mix all the ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
- Scoop out spoonfuls of dough and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Flatten each cookie with a fork.
- Bake at 350°F for about 8-10 minutes or until the edges are set.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Roasted Strawberry ice cream
Did someone say ice cream? Nothing tastes quite as good as homemade ice cream, especially when it contains fresh vanilla beans and juicy strawberry bits. It’s not super sweet, yet fresh and fruity. It can be made without an ice cream maker and with just a few simple, typical ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1/4 cup of honey or maple syrup
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- 1 cup of whole milk
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- One teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions to make roasted strawberry ice cream:
- Spread strawberries on a baking sheet and drizzle with honey or maple syrup.
- Roast at 400°F for about 20 minutes, then let them cool.
- Blend the roasted strawberries with the remaining ingredients until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker.
- Churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until the ice cream reaches the desired consistency.
6. Elderberry pickled eggs with red raspberries.
This unique dessert combines the tartness of pickled eggs with the sweetness of raspberries. It's a refreshing and unexpected gluten-free treat. To make elderberry pickled eggs, you'll need:
- 5-6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
- 1 cup of elderberry juice
- 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of fresh red raspberries
Instructions for Elderberry pickled eggs with red raspberries:
- Mix elderberry juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, and salt in a jar.
- Add hard-boiled eggs to the jar.
- Ensure the eggs are fully submerged in the pickling mixture.
- Refrigerate the jar for at least 24 hours to pickle the eggs.
- Serve the pickled eggs with fresh raspberries for a delightful flavor combination.
7. Gluten-free cinnamon rolls
Cinnamon roll is everyone’s go-to gluten-free dessert. These gluten-free cinnamon rolls made with yeast are incredibly fluffy and taste best when still warm. There are no disagreements there—everyone is aware that they taste the finest right out of the oven. Alternatively, it could simply be our incapacity to resist a cinnamon roll. This eliminates the need for you to resist if you avoid gluten.
For the dough, you'll need:
- 2 1/2 cups of gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons of instant yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of warm milk
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
- 2 large eggs
Instructions to prepare:
- Mix the dry ingredients for the dough.
- Add the wet ingredients and knead until a smooth dough forms. Roll out the dough into a rectangle.
- Spread a mixture of 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and two tablespoons of ground cinnamon evenly over the dough.
- Roll up the dough tightly from the long side to form a log.
- Slice the dough into rolls of your desired thickness and place them in a greased baking dish.
- Let the rolls rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- While the rolls are baking, prepare a simple icing by mixing powdered sugar with a small amount of milk until smooth.
- Drizzle the warm cinnamon rolls with the icing before serving.
8. Coconut macaroons
Coconut macaroons are crispy outside yet chewy inside. All you have to do is bake the five ingredients for 30 minutes. But you need to watch out in case they are done earlier.
Ingredients include:
- Pure vanilla extract
- Three egg whites
- ½ tablespoons fine salts
- Sugar
- Cream of tartar
- 5 cups of shredded coconut
Here’s how you prepare the delicious Coconut macaroons:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl.
- Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form in a separate bowl.
- Slowly fold the egg whites into the coconut blend.
- Drop spoonfuls of the mix onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
9. Pavlova
This meringue dessert is as dreamy and delicate as they come, much like the Russian dancer who bears the same name, Anna Pavlova. It's a meringue dessert that's as gorgeous as it is sweet, with a crispy exterior and a marshmallows within! The raspberry topping in this recipe is readily replaced with any other berry, frozen or fresh, such as blackberries, strawberries, or even currants when they're in season.
Ingredients:
- Four large egg whites
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- One teaspoon of white vinegar
- One teaspoon of cornstarch
- One teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions to prepare:
- Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
- Fold in vinegar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract gently.
- Spread the meringue onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, shaping it into a circle with a slight indentation in the center.
- Bake at 250°F for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Let it cool in the oven with the door slightly open.
- Top with whipped cream and fresh fruits such as strawberries, kiwis, and blueberries
10. Gluten-free Cheesecake
Cheesecake can be made gluten-free by using a crust made from gluten-free cookies or almond flour. The creamy and rich filling is naturally gluten-free. It can be the perfect dessert for special occasions or even a casual day. You can top it with fresh berries or a fruit compote for added flavor and presentation.
For the crust, you'll need:
- 1 1/2 cups of gluten-free graham cracker crumbs or almond flour
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
- Two tablespoons of granulated sugar
Mix the ingredients and press the mixture into the bottom of a springform pan. For the filling, you'll need:
- 24 ounces of cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- Three large eggs
- One teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of sour cream
Instruction:
- Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract and sour cream.
- Pour the filling into the crust.
- Bake at 325°F for 50-60 minutes or until the center is set.
- Let it cool, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Serve with your favorite fruit topping.
Conclusion
So, which one of these did you find more appetizing? Living a gluten-free lifestyle doesn't mean you have to give up delicious desserts. These ten gluten-free dessert ideas are sure to delight your taste buds while keeping your diet on track. Note that a gluten-free label doesn't necessarily make a food healthy.
If you don't have celiac disease, experts recommend removing highly processed foods from your diet before removing gluten. Try to have more vegetables, fruits, whole-grain bread, and lean proteins.
FAQs
1. Are gluten-free desserts healthier?
Ans: Yes, gluten-free desserts are made with whole ingredients, such as whole grains, which are richer in fiber.
2. What are some gluten-free sweets?
Ans: Some of the gluten-free products include Milk Chocolate, Goobers, M&Ms, and Snickers bars.
3. What are healthy dessert options to buy?
Ans: The popular healthiest dessert options are:
- Oatmeal raisin cookies
- Ice cream with fruits and honey
- Chocolate and peanut butter smoothies
- Smoothie popsicles
- Frozen yogurts with nuts and fruits
- Chia seed pudding
- Tofu pudding
4. Do all deserts have gluten?
Ans: Yes, Cookies, cakes, brownies, pies, doughnuts, pastries, and cheesecake are almost always made with gluten unless marked “gluten-free,”
5. Does cheesecake have gluten?
Ans: Most typical store-bought cheesecakes contain gluten. They have a graham cracker crust, and those crackers contain wheat, so they are not gluten-free.
6. Are Oreos gluten-free?
Ans: Typically, No. Most Oreos contain wheat flour, so they are not safe for people with celiac disease.
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