20 Gluten And Dairy Free Desserts Ideas You’ll Actually Want to Eat
Let’s be real—gluten-free and dairy-free desserts often get a bad rep. People assume they’re bland, boring, or taste like cardboard. But here’s the thing: that couldn’t be further from the truth.
With the right recipes, you can whip up treats that taste just as good—if not better—than the traditional versions.
Trust me, I’ve been down this road of experimenting in the kitchen, and I’ve had my fair share of fails (looking at you, weird crumbly brownies), but I’ve also stumbled across some absolute game-changers.
So, whether you’re managing food allergies, going plant-based, or just trying to cut back on gluten and dairy, these 20 gluten and dairy free desserts ideas will keep your sweet tooth happy without any of the “ugh, this tastes like health food” vibes.
1. Flourless Chocolate Cake
If you want rich, fudgy decadence without flour or dairy, this is your dessert. It’s naturally gluten-free and swaps butter for coconut oil or avocado oil. Pro tip: dust it with cocoa powder or drizzle melted dairy-free chocolate on top.
Why it works: Chocolate hides everything. You won’t even notice what’s missing.
2. Coconut Macaroons
Not to be confused with macarons (the fancy French ones), these chewy coconut clusters are made with shredded coconut, maple syrup, and egg whites. If you want them vegan, you can swap aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) for egg whites.
Bonus: Dip the bottoms in dairy-free dark chocolate and suddenly they’re bakery-worthy.
3. Almond Butter Brownies
Who needs butter when you have almond butter? These brownies are rich, fudgy, and packed with protein. Plus, almond butter gives them that nutty flavor that makes you forget they’re dairy-free.
IMO: They taste better the next day once they’ve firmed up in the fridge.
4. Chia Seed Pudding
This one’s so easy it almost feels like cheating. Mix chia seeds with almond milk or coconut milk, add a little vanilla and maple syrup, and let it sit overnight. By morning, you’ve got a thick, creamy pudding that tastes way fancier than it is.
Pro move: Top it with fresh fruit or granola for crunch.
5. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Yes, cookies without butter are possible. Use coconut oil or vegan butter, and make sure your oats are certified gluten-free. These cookies are chewy, sweet, and honestly, sometimes better than chocolate chip (yeah, I said it).
6. Vegan Chocolate Mousse
Avocados aren’t just for toast, my friend. Blend them with cocoa powder, maple syrup, and a splash of almond milk, and you’ve got silky chocolate mousse that no one will guess is dairy-free.
Question: Why does everything taste better when you tell people afterward what it’s made of? 🙂
7. Fruit Crisp
Crisps are one of those desserts that are accidentally easy to make gluten and dairy free. Swap flour for almond flour or oat flour in the crumble topping, use coconut oil instead of butter, and toss whatever fruit you have on hand—apples, berries, peaches—underneath.
Hot tip: Serve warm with dairy-free ice cream.
8. Banana Ice Cream (a.k.a. “Nice Cream”)
Throw frozen bananas in a blender, and suddenly you’ve got creamy ice cream. Add cocoa powder for chocolate flavor or peanut butter for extra indulgence.
FYI: This is the easiest dessert on the list. Zero effort, maximum payoff.
9. Rice Pudding
Swap regular milk for coconut milk, and you’ve got a rich, creamy rice pudding that tastes tropical. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg for that warm, cozy vibe.
10. Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
Moist, spiced, and packed with shredded carrots, this cake works beautifully with almond flour or a good gluten-free flour blend. For frosting, go with a dairy-free cream cheese alternative.
Sarcasm alert: If you tell yourself the carrots make it healthy, that totally cancels out the sugar, right?
11. Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
No-bake desserts are a lifesaver. These bars layer gluten-free oats, peanut butter, and dairy-free chocolate for a sweet-and-salty combo that tastes like a Reese’s in bar form.
12. Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Moist, fluffy muffins without gluten or dairy? Yes, please. Use almond flour or oat flour, add applesauce for moisture, and don’t skip the cinnamon—it’s the flavor hero here.
13. Coconut Milk Panna Cotta
A fancy Italian dessert with a dairy-free twist. Swap the cream for coconut milk, add a little sweetener and gelatin (or agar agar for vegan), and let it set in the fridge. Top with berry sauce and watch people’s jaws drop.
14. Lemon Bars
A bright, tangy dessert that can totally work without butter. Use coconut oil in the crust, almond flour to keep it gluten-free, and a lemony custard filling with a dairy-free twist.
Confession: I once ate half a tray of these “just to test if they set properly.” Spoiler: they did.
15. Pumpkin Pie
Holiday classic, but allergy-friendly. Use a gluten-free crust (store-bought or homemade), swap evaporated milk with coconut milk, and boom—you’ve got a creamy, spiced pumpkin pie everyone can eat.
16. Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
Simple, classy, and naturally gluten-free. Just melt dairy-free chocolate, dip your strawberries, and chill. Honestly, this dessert makes you look way fancier than the effort you put in.
17. Vegan Cheesecake
Cashews to the rescue. Blend soaked cashews with lemon juice, maple syrup, and coconut cream, pour into a gluten-free crust, and chill. The texture is ridiculously close to real cheesecake.
Question: Who knew nuts could taste this luxurious?
18. Energy Balls
Okay, technically these are more snack-y, but they double as dessert if you add enough chocolate chips. Mix oats, peanut butter, maple syrup, and mini dairy-free chocolate chips. Roll into balls, chill, and try not to eat them all in one sitting.
19. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yes, the classic. Use almond flour or a good GF flour blend, coconut oil or vegan butter, and dairy-free chocolate chips. The result? Chewy, gooey cookies that no one will guess are gluten and dairy free.
20. Sorbet
When all else fails, sorbet has your back. It’s naturally gluten and dairy free since it’s basically just fruit, sugar, and water. Mango, raspberry, lemon—pick your fave.
Pro tip: Homemade sorbet tastes fresher than anything store-bought, and you don’t even need an ice cream maker.
Wrapping It Up
So there you have it—20 gluten and dairy free desserts ideas that prove you don’t need flour or butter to make something drool-worthy. Some are quick (hello, banana ice cream), some are showstoppers (vegan cheesecake, I’m looking at you), and all of them are crowd-pleasers.
At the end of the day, desserts should make you happy, not stressed about ingredients. And honestly, half the fun is surprising people with just how good these allergy-friendly treats taste.
Now, which one are you trying first? My bet’s on the brownies. Or maybe the lemon bars. Or both—because why choose when you can have two desserts?
