I’m back with more delicious recipes that are gluten free and vegan for those of you with a sweet tooth. If you’re on the hunt for dairy-free desserts, this is for you as well. In case you don’t know, vegan dessert recipes are free from egg, milk, honey, and any animal products or insect derived products.
First, I’m going to share some recipes with you, then we’ll talk about tools, ingredients, and more.
Amazing Gluten Free Vegan Desserts to Try
Here are some recipes that have been home runs and grand slams in my kitchen. My kids, their friends, and neighbors all agree these are some the best I’ve ever made.
- Double Chocolate Chip Muffins (my kids swear this is a dessert, especially when I add mint glaze)
- Brown Sugar Peach Bourbon Cake (the perfect recipe to celebrate summer)
- Dutch Oven Upside Down Gluten Free Vegan Raspberry Cake Recipe (an easy gluten-free dessert)
- Gluten Free Pineapple Cherry Upside Down Cake Recipe (a vegan recipe that will leave you more than satisfied)
- Fluffy Rose Cookies (perfect for a special occasion)
- GF + V + Truly Corn Free Fried Donuts (one of the best vegan & gluten-free desserts I’ve ever made)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Vegan Buttercream Frosting Recipes
These recipes are part of the Bakery Recipe Collection on RAISE. I operated a successful gluten free, vegan, and top 9 allergy free bakery for years. Customers had their taste buds dazzled by these creations and many shared them with people who didn’t need free-from options. Trust me, these recipes are incredibly delicious.
- Faux Oreo Buttercream Recipe
- Peach Vegan Buttercream Frosting Recipe
- Coffee Buttercream Frosting Recipe (a top seller at the bakery)
- Lemon Blueberry Buttercream Frosting Recipe (Top 9 allergy free, this sold out faster than I could make them)
 |
 |
 |
 |
Easy Vegan and Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Here are some easy and delicious recipes to make at home. Not only are these all vegan and gluten free, they’re also nut free and soy free desserts.
- Gluten Free + Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe (includes notes for peanut free options)
- Easy Apple Upside Down Cake Recipe (one of my kids says this might be their favorite dessert)
- Chocolate Banana Vegan Cake Recipe (an amazing gluten free chocolate cake recipe that’s also top 9 allergy free)
- Pillow Soft Cakey Sugar Cookies (a great quick gluten free dessert when you’re short on time)
 |
 |
 |
 |
Dairy Free, Vegan, Allergy Friendly Ice Cream Recipes
If you’re in need of egg free, dairy free ice “cream” recipes, I’ve got you covered. These get their creamy texture from other ingredients that aren’t animal products.
- Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (tastes amazing with vegan chocolate cake)
- Blackberry Ice Cream Recipe
- Peach & Nectarine Ice Cream Recipe
- Truly Corn Free Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (my kids love eating this with Nutritionally Boosted Vegan Brownies)
 |
 |
 |
 |
Fun Recipes for Kids to Help With
I’ve said this before, and I’ll keep saying it: if you have a child with any type of dietary restriction (Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, food allergies, vegetarian diet, etc.) it is critical that you get them in the kitchen. Learning to cook is going to help them thrive as teenagers and adults.
Some kids don’t have the option to eat food made on shared equipment with that they’re allergic to, and that will make purchasing pre-made convenience foods very difficult. If they know how to cook and bake, they can make what they need at home (and even batch cook and freeze).
Here are some fun recipes that kids of all ages can help you make at home:
- Strawberry Gummy Candy (you can swap the strawberry for other fruits)
- Raspberry Thumbprint Cookie Recipe (the jam can be swapped for other jams)
- Smooches Cookie Recipe (Faux Hershey’s Peanut Butter Blossom)
- Candy Cookie Bar (Made with amazing dairy free, top 9 allergy free candies)
 |
 |
 |
 |
Dry Ingredients I Keep on Hand
What I personally love about making gluten free and vegan desserts is that you start with simple ingredients and transform them into something wonderful. Here are dry ingredients I suggest you keep on hand:
- Agar (for thickening and making gels)
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Flour (can be individual gluten-free flours or an all purpose GF flour blend)
- Cacao Powder (not the same as cocoa powder)
- Gluten Free Rolled Oats (if you can tolerate oats)
- Golden Flax Meal (not always the same as ground flaxseed, can vary by brand)
- Ground Vanilla (expensive, but can add the most amazing vanilla flavor to a delicious dessert)
- Sea Salt
- Warm Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.)
Gluten Free + Vegan + Allergy Friendly Candy Options
Candy and dessert go hand in hand if you ask me. If you need leads on good brands, these are the two articles to check out. You’ll notice one is GF/V focused, and the other is GF/V/Allergy Focused (nut free, top 9 free, etc.).
- Vegan + Gluten Free Candy
- Gluten Free + Allergy Friendly Candy Options (including top 9 allergy free)
 |
 |
Gluten-Free Flours I Keep on Hand
Gluten-free baking recipes are like a form of science if you ask me. That’s because we’re trying to mimic something that’s not easy to replicate. With that in mind, when I share a gluten-free recipe, I opt to create a killer GF blend of flours each time. This allows me to control the overall taste and texture of the final baked goods.
I also want you to know this: if gluten free baking is a science, vegan + gluten free baking is something you need a PhD in. Once eggs are removed, things can get wild pretty quickly. I’ve written more on the topic here in this article. For now, here are the flours I like to keep on hand for my baking projects.
- Almond Flour
- Arrowroot
- Buckwheat Flour (yes, this is a gluten free flour)
- Cassava Flour
- Millet Flour
- Oat Flour (I use an organic Purity Protocol oat flour)
- Potato Starch
- Rice Flour (brown, white, sweet, all superfine)
- Sorghum Flour (superfine)
- Tapioca Starch
- Tiger Nut Flour (tuber, not a tree nut)
For those who can have it, keep an all purpose flour on hand, rather than lots of flours like I do. As a recipe developer with a severe corn allergy, I can’t use gluten free all purpose flours as they usually contain corn derivatives such as xanthan gum.
Different Gluten Free Flours have Different Properties
Let’s briefly talk on the importance of having a range of gluten-free flours available to you. Each flour has a different weight (ex: 1 cup of almond flour is not the same scale weight as 1 cup of arrowroot). These weights, when blended, can create good results and get you closer to the texture and function of wheat flour (there is no such thing as a perfect GF clone).
Additionally, each flour has a specific taste. For example, I’ve heard so many people tell me they can’t stand the taste of chickpea flour, but they’re fine with brown rice flour. With some flours such as chickpea and amaranth, even in small amounts, many people aren’t a fan.
Rather than keep you here all day talking about flours, I’m going to point you to this article. If this is something you’d like to learn more about, this article on GF flour is a great starting point.
Wet Ingredients I Keep on Hand
It’s a good idea to keep your pantry and fridge loaded with the ingredients you’ll need to cook and bake amazing gluten free vegan options. Honestly, one of the worst feelings when you have food allergies, Celiac Disease, or a special diet: running out of what you need. Make it a point to stay on top of your stock. Here’s a starting place, not an exhaustive list:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Coconut Oil (if you can tolerate coconut and want to make really good vegan cheesecakes)
- Dairy Free Butter
- Dairy Free Milk (almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, rice milk, soy milk, homemade milk, etc.)
- Food Grade Oils (lemon oil, orange oil, etc.)
- Lemon Juice
- Maple Syrup
- Oils for Baking (avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, tiger nut oil, etc.)
- Spreads/Butters (Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, etc.)
- Vanilla Extract (use real organic products for the best vanilla flavor)
Tools & Supplies to Keep on Hand
Here’s a list of the top items I think every kitchen should have if you plan on baking regularly. Whilst there are many more tools on the market, these will cover you when making basic sweet treats at home.
- Stand Mixer with Bowl & Attachments
- Heavy Duty Spatulas
- Measuring Cups & Measuring Spoons
- Kitchen Scale
- Cookie Dough Scoops (I like the OXO brand)
- Cake Pans
- Baking Trays/Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper (I cannot stress enough the importance of parchment paper)
- Baking Cups (I like the If You Care brand)
Advanced Recipe Search
I’ve only shared a fraction of my dessert recipes in this article. If you need more ideas, or perhaps you’re managing additional dietary restrictions, check out the Advanced Recipe Search on RAISE. From pie to chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake and banana bread, there’s hundreds of dessert recipes to choose from.
You can mix and match more than 100 filters for dietary restrictions, then choose Desserts & Sweet Treats as one of your filters. BOOM. Awesome desserts, tailored to your individual needs.
Answering Your Gluten Free & Vegan Dessert Questions
Can I cook gluten free and vegan cake batter in my waffle maker?
I tried this once and it didn’t work out. I don’t suggest trying it, unless you’re up for a messy but fun science experiment. In fact, that’s why I did it. As a homeschooling parent, when my kids come up with wild ideas, I tend to let them try them out to see what happens.
What are the best dairy-free chocolate chips?
I’ll start by suggesting the Guittard dairy free chocolate chips. I’ve heard rave reviews about them. Next, there’s Equal Exchange chocolate chips. I used this brand for the bakery I used to operate. Enjoy Life has options, as does Pascha, but sometimes the reviews are hit and miss.
Do you know of a good recipe for gluten free and egg free cinnamon rolls?
I have a few. Kara from Fork and Beans has shared a good recipe on her website. Rustic Scoop sells mixes, and I know at least one of them can be used for cinnamon rolls. GF Jules also has a cinnamon roll recipe that I’ve heard good things about.
Can coconut cream be used in place of coconut milk in a recipe?
No, however, you could dilute the coconut cream and make a faux milk. There are two types of coconut milk: the water type that comes in a box, and the full fat type that comes in a can. You’d need to know the fat content you’re aiming for (box vs can) for the recipe, then dilute the coconut cream with water to make a faux coconut milk.
The easiest way to dilute the coconut cream is to mix it with water in your blender to make sure you get a good emulsion.
Is guar gum necessary in vegan baking?
For at-home baking, no, it’s not necessary. In fact, if you’re following an easy recipe, there’s a good chance they won’t call for guar gum. Usually, guar gum is used in commercial settings. Gums and other select ingredients are used in gluten free baking and sometimes vegan baking as a way to create better texture. However, I’ve developed hundreds of recipes without it and people rave about the final baked goods.
I’ll also add, sometimes guar gum is used in dairy free and vegan ice cream. This is because it helps create a creamy texture/mouthfeel. There are other ways to achieve this, but guar gum along with other gums is the least expensive way to do it.
Just know that if you start with a highly rated recipe that doesn’t call for guar gum, things should turn out fine. If you’re following a recipe that calls for guar gum and you decide to leave it out, there’s a good chance you’ll have less than stellar results when compared to what the recipe developer had. Either way, happy baking!
Do you know of any good nut free recipes that would be good for a kid’s birthday party?
I do indeed, in fact, these recipes will meet many different dietary needs. This top 9 allergy free cake recipe is one of the top suggestions followed by this birthday cake cupcake recipe and then this smash cake recipe (great for kids and adults).
If you need more gluten free, vegan, and nut free desserts, check out the Advanced Recipe Search on RAISE. It has you very covered.
I’m looking for a healthy vegan dessert that’s also gluten free. Any suggestions?
The word healthy means something different to everyone, as it’s an unregulated term. I’m going to guess that you’d like something refined sugar free and made with organic and/or better-for-you/wholesome ingredients.
I’d suggest looking up vegan cheesecake recipes made with coconut oil and cashew. You can also look up AIP Paleo desserts or Paleo dessert recipes. The AIP Paleo diet and Paleo diet are going to provide much healthier desserts as they need to stay compliant with the diet type. Be sure to add the term vegan when searching. RAISE offers a handful recipes that would meet your needs, but I’d suggest searching online first, as you’ll find a lot more options.
I’m following a vegan and gluten-free diet, but also need sugar free recipes. Do you have any dessert options?
If you’re needing cane sugar free, or what I like to call refined sugar free, then I have lots of dessert options for you. You’ll want to use the Advanced Recipe Search on RAISE. Click the cane/refined sugar free button, vegan button, and the dessert button. All of the recipes are gluten free, so you can skip that button if you’d like. The results are all what you’re looking for.
If you need recipes that are completely free from added sugars (no maple sugar, coconut sugar, etc.), I’d suggest looking up some of the following terms online: raw vegan dessert recipes, GAPs diet dessert recipes, and vegan AIP Paleo dessert recipes. Those three search terms will usually be free from added sugars and lean more into dates and other dried and fresh fruits as the sweetness source.
Another option is to visit the websites of brands that make products such as stevia drops. If that’s a product you can have, there’s a good chance there are recipes on their website that you can follow, using their products. Other companies that produce alternative sugars and sweeteners usually offer recipes on their website that might work for you.
What’s a good way to make small bite desserts?
The easiest way, in my humble opinion, is to use mini molds and/or mini cupcake pans as your starting point. Give yourself a small “container” to work in, and you’ll end up with small bite desserts in the end.
Another good option, especially during the holidays and other busy times of the year, is to make Opera Cake style desserts. Rather than make cupcakes, you’d make sheet pan cakes, stack the layers with special fillings and toppings, then cut. This short on my Youtube channel is a good example.
The key to making it a small bite is to use a professional kitchen ruler to map out 1 inch by inch squares. Usually, a cake slice is several inches in size, but when you cut it grid style with a 1×1″ serving size, you’ll end up with a small, cute bite.
Be sure the cake is still in the pan/mold when you cut to prevent it from shifting around. If presentation is a concern, be sure to cut off the edges, then map out your 1×1″ grid.
If cake isn’t your jam, you can purchase 1×1″ silicone molds (it’s a large mold with rows of 1 inch square cavities), and bake a variety of desserts in them (banana bread, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and so on). When you pop the baked goods out of the mold, you have an instant small bite.
To jazz up a small bite like this, you could pip on a little bit of frosting or cream, or top with micro strawberries, or wild blueberries (they’re smaller than regular blueberries and lend themselves well to a small bite dessert).
Do you have a recipe for *good* gluten free peanut butter cookies?
Yes I do. This recipe is mega delicious, and gluten free. It calls for a spread of choice, and you would use peanut butter in this case. I’ve tested this recipe with a range of spreads (almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter, etc.) and they all work wonderfully. My kids really love these peanut butter cookies, and I hope you do as well.
Are Bob’s Red Mill products good?
Honestly, I’ve heard mixed reviews about Bob’s Red Mill flours. If you’re gluten free only and use eggs in your baking, I imagine Bob’s Red Mill feels like a dream. For people who are more than gluten free, it’s a lot easier to taste and feel the flaws in the products.
If you’re asking about good from the standpoint of gluten free status, yes, Bob’s Red Mill products are good and the GF flours are milled in a gluten free facility. Again, if you’re more than gluten free, you may not like them, or may not be able to eat them due to the shared equipment.
There’s a reason you’ll find Bob’s Red Mill products on gluten free sections in grocery stores nationwide: they’re more than decent. Good? Depends on who you ask. I didn’t hate working with the products, but I also can’t eat them. Plus, with the allergy status of their mill, I ended up switching to a different brand.
Would chia pudding make a good dessert?
I think chia pudding has the potential to be a good dessert. It’s really going to come down to how you make it. If you use low calorie, low flavor, low sugar ingredients, I’d say it’s more of a breakfast item or an awesome snack.
To make it a dessert, you need to think about indulgent ingredients. For example, a rich chocolate flavor with the right level of sweetness and topped with whipped cream and strawberries: that’s a dessert.
Another way to make this a dessert is to pair it with other layers. So maybe you have a cake layer, a chia pudding layer, a creamy whipped chocolate mousse layer, and then a crunchy crumble sprinkled on top. That is also a dessert.
The nice thing about chia pudding is that it’s super duper versatile and doesn’t really clash with other flavours, so you could go chocolate, vanilla, tropical, tart, citrus, and so on. As long as you think about the overall composition and sweetness, I think chia pudding would make for an awesome dessert.
Can I use cashew butter in place of peanut butter when making peanut butter cookies?
Yes, you can. Cashew butter will be a 1:1 substitute for peanut butter in the cookie recipe. Know that the function will be on point, but the taste will be completely different.
If you’re allergic to peanut butter, you may want to consider soy butter, chickpea butter, tiger nut butter (tuber, not a tree nut), hazelnut butter, or almond butter. These will all bring a deeper, richer flavour to your cookies.
This article on spreads and butters may also be a good read for you.
