If you manage a tree nut allergy and need desserts, I’ve got you covered! Today we’re going to take a look at all things nut free desserts. From cake pops to brownies to carrot cake and more, I’m going to share some very delicious recipes with you. Further down in this article, you’ll also find tips, and great ingredients to keep on hand if you plan on baking. Be sure to use the table of contents to jump around.
In addition to sharing nut free desserts, all of the recipes I’ll be sharing are gluten free, allergy friendly, and vegan/plant-based.
Great Ingredients to Keep on Hand
If you plan to make a lot of nut free desserts at home, here’s a non-exhaustive list of pantry and baking basics you should have available.
- Chocolate Chips (milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips)
- Granulated Sweeteners (cane sugar, light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar,
- Liquid Sweeteners (maple syrup
- Select Canned Goods (pineapple, pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree, condensed milk)
- All Purpose Flour (read this article if you need gluten free flour)
Note: If you’re also gluten free, read this article on flours.
If you’re a foodie at heart, look into products that aren’t common here in the United States, especially spices and seasonings. Here are a few items to look into:
- Japanese Black Sugar
- Jaggery
- Rose Water + Dried Rose Petals
- Orange Blossom Water
- Barberries
- Gelatin Sheets (for making specialty desserts, be sure to research strengths before purchasing)
- Cook’s Vanilla for a wide range of specialty extracts
- Organic Food Grade Oils (orange oil, lemon oil, etc.)
Note: Food grade oils will give you a more potent, and authentic flavour when compared to extracts. As an example, one batch of frosting only requires 3 – 4 drops of peppermint oil to shout peppermint.
Additional Dairy Free + Nut Free Ingredients
If you manage dairy and tree nut allergies, you’ll have to keep a few extras on hand.
- Dairy Free Milk (oat milk, soy milk, rice milk, seed milk, homemade milk)
- Nut Free Vegan Butter (avoid brands like Miyoko’s and Kite Hill)
- Dairy Free Cream Cheese (Tofutti is soy based, Vio Life is coconut based, avoid Kite Hill)
Additional Egg Free + Nut Free Ingredients
If you need to make your nut free recipes without eggs, or perhaps you’re making delicious vegan desserts that are nut free, here are a few more ingredients to keep on hand.
- Flax Seeds (whole seeds and flax meal)
- Chia Seeds
- Agar Powder (not the flakes, this is the one that i use)
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Nut-Free Treats for Lunches & School Parties
If you need safe treats to send to school, you have a lot of options. There are a few brands that make products, and there are some great recipes as well.
- No Whey Chocolate (huge range of candy and baked goods, including faux/dupe M&Ms, Twix, Snickers, and more)
- Vermont Nut Free
- Better Bites Bakery (cupcakes and other sweet treats)
- Blake’s Seed Based
- Partake Foods (cookies and graham crackers)
- Red Plate Foods (top 9 free cookies, cupcakes, granola)
- Rule Breaker (my child with food allergies swears the birthday cake flavour is one of the best free-from products on the market)
- Safe + Fair
- Sweet Loren’s (take and bake cookies along with various other products)
- Helpful Articles: Gluten Free + Allergy Friendly Candy | Navigating Class Parties with Food Allergies
- Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies (this cookie recipe is from my award winning bakery)
- Top 9 + Gluten-Free Graham Crackers
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Delicious nut-free dessert recipes that are also gluten free, egg free, and top 9 free.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth and manage multiple food allergies, here are some epic desserts to make.
- Chocolate Upside Down Cake Recipe
- Moist Gluten Free Orange Cake (such a delicious cake recipe)
- Candy Cookie Bars (features the No Whey faux M&Ms)
- Rich Chocolate Brownies (a seriously indulgent dessert and great if you’re a chocolate lover)
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Classic Dessert Recipes: Nut Free + Top 9 Free
Just because you manage food allergies doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the classics. Sure, they’ll be a little different, but they can be just as delicious and take you back to a time when you first enjoyed these treats. Note: If you’ve been missing pecan pie, you MUST check out this nut free pecan pie my friend Meg has created.
- Oatmeal Cookies (these have that classic chewy texture of a good oatmeal cookies)
- Blossom Cookies
- Chocolate Creme Cookies (I’m told these are better than original Oreos, and better than gluten free Oreos)
- Vanilla Birthday Cake Cupcakes (vegan, top 9 free)
- Gluten Free Thin Mints Copycat Recipe
- Edible Chocolate Mint Cookie Dough
- Banana Pudding
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
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Dairy + Nut Free Ice Creams to Enjoy
Pretty much all commercial dairy + nut free ice creams are made on shared equipment with tree nuts, which can be issue for some. Here are some homemade ice cream recipes to check out if you can’t have what’s in stores.
If you really want to take a dive into amazing nut free ice cream at home, research custard base ice cream recipes (should be heavy in egg yolks), and get yourself a proper ice cream machine. 10/10, zero regrets.
- Easy Vanilla Ice Cream (truly corn free, top 14 free, vegan)
- Blackberry Ice Cream Recipe (truly corn free, top 14 free, vegan)
- Easy Watermelon Ice Cream Recipe (truly corn free, top 14 free, vegan)
- Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (vegan, top 14 free)
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Nut Free + Vegan Holiday Desserts
If you need some gluten free, nut free, allergy friendly nut free desserts for your holiday gatherings, I’ve got you covered. Here are some recipes to get you started:
- Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie
- Cranberry Orange Cookies
- Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free Shortbread Rollout Cookies
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Budget Friendly Nut-Free Desserts
These days, a trip to the grocery store can feel like you’ve bought a major appliance when you think about how much you’re spending. Not only that, but if you like to purchase pre-made sweet treats, you’re paying even more, gram for gram. An easy way to make budget friendly desserts is to make them at home, or lean into something simple. Here are some ideas and recipes to consider:
- Partially Thawed Frozen Fruit + Melted Chocolate Chips + Homemade Crispy Granola + Whipping Cream (from a can or homemade)
- Baked Chocolate Donuts
- Danish Butter Cookies (vegan, gluten free, top 9 free)
- Homemade Chia Pudding
- No-Bake Cookies
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Coconut: Is It a Tree Nut, or Something Else?
For decades, here in the United States, the FDA combined coconuts with tree nuts for food labeling laws. Whilst this was helpful for people with a coconut allergy, it created a lot of confusion around the ingredient itself.
As of January 1, 2025 however, coconuts are no longer grouped with tree nuts, which has also been a bit of a split. For those who are allergic to coconut, they feel that they’ve lost a safety net, whilst allergy friendly food manufacturers are celebrating because they no longer have to scare people off with “contains tree nuts”.
Essentially, we have botanical tree nuts, and drupes. Those are the two terms you want to focus on. Coconuts are drupes, not botanical tree nuts. If you’re allergic to pistachios and hazelnuts, you may still be able to consume coconuts safely.
I say “may” because no two people are the same. One of my main taste testers is allergic to only two items: macadamia nuts and coconuts. You’ll hear some people say things like “you can’t be allergic to both” when that’s a big fat lie. Anyone can be allergic to anything, and in any combination.
The other consideration to make is shared equipment. Like peanuts, coconuts are commonly processed alongside tree nuts. If you’re wanting to do a food trial, make sure you’re sourcing nut free coconut products.
If you pass, when you see a recipe that calls for coconut milk, coconut flour, coconut oil, or shredded coconut, have fun with it. Also, if you’d like to learn more on the topic, research drupes, culinary nuts, and botanical tree nuts. You may be very surprised to learn about these different classifications.
Tiger Nuts: Tree Nuts, or Something Else?
As you look for nut free recipes online, especially if you stumble into a recipe developer and cookbook author like myself, you will most likely see tiger nuts listed as an ingredient. Don’t panic.
Tiger nuts, despite their misleading name, aren’t tree nuts. They’re tuber root vegetables that have a naturally nutty flavour. Now, I won’t lie to you, the first time you eat something with tiger nuts, your brain is going to freak out a little because they really have a nutty flavour.
The first time I tried them many years ago, I was like…. this tastes like a cross between peanuts and tree nuts… are we sure this is safe??? Don’t worry, everything is fine.
Once you get over the initial taste shock, you’ll have this ah-ha moment and realize how many nut free recipes you can convert using tiger nuts that will legit taste nutty. If you’d like to learn more about tiger nuts, here are some helpful articles:
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Answering Your Questions About Nut Free Desserts
Is it possible to make a flourless chocolate cake nut free?
Traditionally, flourless cakes call for almond flour, egg whites, and several other ingredients, and it’s usually Paleo friendly (or somewhere in that neighborhood). When it comes to flour free recipes like these, tiger nut flour (tuber, not a tree nut), is going to be your best bet.
It’s critical that nothing else in the recipe change (egg white, sugar content, leavening agent, etc.), or you will have a hot mess on your hands. Additionally, you’ll want to follow a recipe that has a video. You need to see what the batter texture should be, so you know what your results should look like.
Almond meal and tiger nut flour are NOT the same, but tiger nut flour is going to get you pretty close. Start with a 75% substitute of what’s called for. Mix the batter and see if it matches. If it’s too runny, add the last 25%. At this point, do a small test bake.
If it doesn’t come out right and needs more flour, you have a point of reference. If 100% gets you to this texture, how much further do you need to go? Another 10%? Also, following a recipe that uses weights, not cups, will work in your favor, so make sure you have a kitchen scale. Happy baking!
What’s the best nut butter substitute to use if I can’t have sunflower seed butter?
In recent years, there’s been an uptick in the amount of people that can’t have sunflower seeds, but the good news is that you can use other spreads in its place for everything (cooking, baking, snacking, etc.). Your options include:
- Granola Butter (oat based)
- Chickpea Butter
- Soy Butter
- Tiger Nut Butter (tuber, not a tree nut)
- Tahini (sesame seed butter)
Now, application matters. In the case of tahini, you wouldn’t use it in a decadent dessert where the flavour isn’t masked, as it can be intense. You’d want to use a recipe that’s tahini forward so it can shine, but also be balanced.
Soy butter and chickpea butter will be the top two choices for everyday use since they’re the most affordable options on the list. Tiger nut butter is going to get you very close to a traditional nutty flavour, but it’s also the most expensive option to choose from.
Are peanut butter cookies nut free?
It’s important to know that peanuts are not a type of nut, but actually a legume. Whilst the name implies nuts (like tiger nuts which also have a terrible name), peanuts are nut free. A lot of schools and even advocates lump them together, so it can be a real challenge sometimes if you can have one but not the other, and need to find safe options.
Peanut butter cookies are in fact nut free, assuming that you’re following a classic recipe (butter, sugar, leavening agent, vanilla, egg, all purpose flour, and peanut butter). If it’s a recipe that calls for specialty ingredients, be sure to avoid any that are tree nuts, or nut derived.
Is it possible to make healthy desserts?
Yes, it’s entirely possible to make healthy desserts that are also nut free. You’ll want to do online searches for “healthy + dessert name” that you’d like to make. However, you can turn an everyday food into a dessert as well. Here are a few ideas to try next time you have the right ingredients on hand:
- Yogurt + Homemade Crispy Granola + Mini Chocolate Chips + Partially Thawed Frozen Fruit (cherries, strawberries, etc.)
- Chocolate + Banana + Date Smoothie
- Banana + Maple Syrup + Vanilla + Ice Smoothie
- Tropical Smoothie + Mini Chocolate Chips
- Melted Dark Chocolate Chips + Graham Crackers + Partially Thawed Frozen Fruit
- Homemade Pudding (there are a lot of recipes online for this type of dessert)
- Rice Cakes + Spread of Choice + Fruit of Choice + Melted Chocolate
Hopefully something here sparks an idea for you. It’s easy to think that desserts need to be this specific type of item (cookies, cake, etc.), but really, it’s all about how YOU perceive the food. If it’s got a little sweet, feels a little indulgent, and brings you satisfaction, roll with it.
Are cinnamon rolls nut free?
Generally speaking, yes, cinnamon rolls are nut free. If you’re following a recipe you found online, it should be OK. If you’re purchasing cinnamon rolls, ask about the ingredients, and never assume. If you happen to be purchasing dairy free cinnamon rolls, or anything of that nature, it’s possible that a nut based dairy free milk was used when making the dough.
If shared equipment is an issue for you, always do your research, as most bakeries have tree nuts on site.
