If you’re looking for easy vegan sweet treats, look no further. Today I’m going to share some amazing recipes with you, as well as tips for making vegan desserts at home. We’ll also cover gluten free options as well.
First, let’s take a look at ingredients and tools to keep in your kitchen if you plan on making a lot of vegan gluten-free desserts at home.
Dry Ingredients to 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 Flours I Keep on Hand
Everyone’s preferences will be different, so be sure to explore as many options as you can. These are the flours I keep on hand, but remember, each pantry will be a bit different.
- 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 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 (garbanzo bean), 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 to 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)
Related Recipes & Resources
- Vanilla Vegan Buttercream Frosting
- Protein Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Food Allergy Help 101: Wheat Allergy, Celiac Disease, Gluten Free, and Gluten Intolerance
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Tools to Keep on Hand
If you plan on doing a lot of baking, here are some great tools I suggest keeping on hand.
- 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
- Baking Cups (I like the If You Care brand)
You may be wondering if a stand mixer is absolutely necessary. No, it’s not. However, it will make your life MUCH easier. If you need to cook/bake at home often due to food allergies and/or a restricted diet, tools made for efficiency can help you more than you’ll ever know. If funds are tight, consider getting an electric hand mixer, which will still be faster than mixing everything manually.
Need Help with Vegan + Gluten-Free Baking? Check out my Free-From Baking Basics eCourse. You’ll learn how to make amazing gluten-free cakes, dairy-free desserts, and more.
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)
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Vegan & Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
Here are several amazing recipes that are all gluten free, vegan (egg free and dairy free), family friendly, office friendly, and more.
- Gluten Free, Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Recipe
- Fudgy Vegan Brownies (pairs incredibly well with dairy free vanilla ice cream and/or vegan caramel sauce)
- Faux Oreo Cookies (my kids say this is one of the best vegan dessert recipes I’ve ever made)
- Apricot & Tart Cherry Oatmeal Cookies (so good you can’t believe it’s a gluten-free recipe)
- Mint Chip Edible GF + Vegan Cookie Dough (a perfect recipe for sharing with friends and family who don’t need GF/V)
- Gluten Free Black Cacao Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe (one of my kid’s favorite gluten-free + vegan desserts, it’s a faux Hostess Cupcake)
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Vegan + Gluten Free + Nut Free Recipes For the Whole Family
Let’s face it, a lot of vegan foods contain tree nuts. I make it a point to share vegan recipes that are not only nut free but also soy free. Here are some amazing vegan dessert recipes I think you’ll really enjoy.
- Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe (made with dates, refined sugar free, doubles as muffins)
- Pink Beet & White Chocolate Chip Cookies (a really fun recipe if you have kids, great for Valentine’s Day)
- Gluten Free & Vegan Vanilla Smooches Cookie Recipe (uses a top 9 free faux Hershey’s Kiss)
- Brown Sugar Peach Thumbprint Cookies (kids can help shape and fill the cookies)
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bars (soft and cake-like)
- Vanilla Cake Baked Donut Recipe
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Vegan & Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes to Share at a Birthday Party
If you’re hosting a party that’s inclusive those following a plant-based diet or allergy friendly & gluten-free diets, here are some amazing dessert recipes. Each recipe is gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and top 9 allergy free.
- Easy Vegan Gluten Free Vanilla Sheet Pan Cake (so easy to bake and frost, plus you can serve this with a side of free-from ice cream)
- Top 9 Allergy Free & Gluten Free Chocolate Crumble Recipe (great if you don’t want to serve cake at your party)
- Gluten Free + Vegan Vanilla Birthday Cake Cupcakes (I’m told this is such a delicious recipe)
- Maple Brown Sugar Cookies (if you plan on offering several desserts, this could be part of your spread)
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Answering Your Gluten Free & Vegan Dessert Questions
Can I use coconut flour as a substitute when following a regular recipe online?
No, you can’t use coconut flour as a 1:1 substitution when following a recipe online. Coconut flour, along with other flours such as almond flour, are what I like to call special GF flour. This is because they absorb liquids at a different rate and don’t behave the same like an average flour such as brown rice flour.
However, just because they’re special doesn’t mean they don’t have a place in our delicious gluten free world. Special flours need to be part of a well crafted gluten free flour blend to be effective. You’ll want to make sure their taste is present, but that they’re well balanced and the recipe still functions.
If using coconut flour in your recipes is important, use that in your search term. Rather than search for “gluten free vegan brownies” search for “gluten free vegan brownies with coconut flour”. That should help narrow down your results some. If there are other flours you want to try such as almond or buckwheat, use that in your search term in place of the coconut.
Do you know of a good gluten-free cake recipe that’s also vegan and top 9 allergy free?
Why yes I do. RAISE has several cake recipes loaded with rich chocolate flavor. This one has banana as a main ingredient. This one features dates and is refined sugar free. This chocolate cake is a Bakery Recipe, and you’ll need to be a Platinum, Diamond, or Baking Member. The same is true of this spicy chocolate cake recipe.
Is it possible to make really good vegan chocolate frosting? All of the recipes I’ve found online aren’t that good.
Yes, you absolutely can. I operated an award winning gluten free, vegan, and top 9 allergy free bakery. The chocolate buttercream frosting was one of the top sellers. I’ve shared the recipe, along with the other bakery recipes, here on RAISE. You’ll need to be a Platinum Member or Baking Member for access. Unfortunately, I can’t vouch for any other recipe as I’ve only used this one.
A couple of tips for you: make sure your dairy free butter is soft enough to work with, but not in a melting sort of way. You should be able to press your finger in easily, and have the indent still hold its shape. Make sure your powdered sugar isn’t clumpy. Every so often, you’ll absolutely need to sift it. Finally, make sure you beat the frosting with a paddle attachment in your stand mixer on high. You really want to get it to whip up, and this difficult to do manually.
I’ve been trying to make good gluten free and vegan cinnamon rolls with no luck. Any suggestions?
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.
Do you have a suggestion for vegan chocolate chips that actually taste good?
I’m going to assume you can have cane sugar and suggest the Guittard dairy free chocolate chips. From there, I’ll suggest the Equal Exchange chocolate chips. These are the two that I’ve heard absolutely nothing by good things about. Enjoy Life has options, as does Pascha, but sometimes the reviews are hit and miss.
Is it possible to freeze leftover cake batter that’s gluten free and vegan?
Yes! I’ve tested this extensively. I suggest purchasing 32 ounce deli containers. I make double or triple batches of cake batter, then bake what I need. I transfer the leftover cake batter to a deli container, put the lid on, label it, and pop it in the freezer.
To bake, I let the cake batter thaw at room temperature. Once it’s completely thawed, I give a quick mix with a fork or spatula, then use it like a regular cake batter. It’s nothing short of awesome and no one can tell the cake batter has been frozen.
Do you know of a gluten free all purpose flour I can buy without guar gum or xanthan gum?
Better Batter sells gluten free, vegan, and allergy friendly GF flour, and last I checked, their Artisan Blend is gum free.
Do all vegan recipes for baked goods use flax eggs? I’m seeing this a lot, but I’m allergic to flax seeds.
You’ll have to work hard to find flax free vegan recipes. I personally make some for people just like you. Check out the Advanced Recipe Search on RAISE, and be sure to use the flax seed free button, vegan button, and dessert button.
When searching online, look for recipes that have banana or peanut butter as the main ingredient. Most recipe developers are using the flax as the binding agent. Banana and peanut butter are naturally binding, and those recipes are less likely to contain flax seed.
If you’re able to eat chia, a chia seed sometimes works. Where I use a 3/6 flax to water ratio, the chia version is 3/9 (Tablespoons). However, the chia blend creates a different texture and look in your final baked goods. As long as you’re not running a bakery or Instagram food account, you should give it a try.
Would chia pudding be a good healthy dessert?
In my humble opinion, yes, especially because chia seeds are packed with nutrients and are a good source of omegas. To help your chia pudding feel more like a dessert, top it with dairy free whipped cream and fresh fruit slices (berries, banana, etc.).
The nice thing about chia pudding is that is also doubles as a healthy snack. If you search online, you’ll find thousands of great chia pudding recipes to try, so have fun with it.
If a recipe calls for all-purpose flour, can I swap it for a gluten free all-purpose flour?
In theory yes. The thing is, gluten free flour blends are going to vary brand to brand. I personally don’t use a gluten free all-purpose flour due to my allergies. Friends who also develop GF recipes have told me that certain brands are only good for certain applications.
What that means for you: it’s really going to depend on the recipe. Some gluten free flours have a suggested use on the package, and that’s a great starting point. The recipe developer who made the recipe in question may also be able to provide some insight.
Outside of that, you’d have to take the plunge and test it out. I will add this: if you’re making any other additional swap such as egg free, no, it will not work.
Gluten free + egg free baking requires you to start with GF EF recipes.
Do you know of a good brand for sprinkles?
My top two picks are No Whey Chocolate (rainbow sprinkles) and SuperNatural Foods. Both are free from artificial colors. Supernatural does use coconut and corn in a lot of their products, in case you need to know that. No Whey is coconut free, but not corn free.
When I’m baking a cake, what is the toothpick test?
The toothpick test is where you gently insert a toothpick into the thickest part of the cake, then remove it. When you look at the toothpick, it should either be completely clean, or have very little/few crumbs. If there’s a wet goopy batter on the toothpick, it means the cake is not done baking.
Some recipes have a slightly gooey center, and the recipe developer should note that for you in the instructions (which means your toothpick won’t come out clean).
Are Bob’s Red Mill products good for someone with a nut allergy?
Generally speaking, no, Bob’s Red Mill products won’t be good if you have a tree nut allergy (or a soy allergy). They use shared lines and are super transparent which I can appreciate.
Whilst they have allergy protocols in place, I’ve met many people with nut and soy allergies who have reacted to the Bob’s Red Mill products. You’ll want to take a look at Authentic Foods, or another brand to get started with gluten free flour.
I follow a low sodium diet. Is it OK to skip the salt in dessert recipes?
Yes, when you need to have low sodium bakes, you can skip the salt. Know that the overall flavour will change by a few percentage points since salt helps draw out the natural flavours in ingredients. To counteract this, you can add a little extra vanilla extract and any other flavouring agent in the recipe (cinnamon, etc.). You don’t need to add more than an extra teaspoon to help balance the flavour.
Can I use coconut sugar in place of the sugar in baking recipes?
So long as the recipe calls for a granulated sweetener (white sugar, brown sugar, maple sugar, date sugar), yes, you can swap it 1:1 for coconut sugar. You should know though, the overall sweetness of the recipe as well as the flavour will shift. Coconut sugar, when not masked by chocolate, can make its presence known. This isn’t a bad thing, it just means you need to manage your expectations.
Also, in terms of sweetness, coconut sugar isn’t a super sweet sweetener like cane sugar, so keep that in mind. You can’t add more than about 10% of sugar in the recipe because sugar is hydroscopic, and you’d be throwing off the function of the recipe.
If the final baked good isn’t to your desired sweetness level, you’ll need to add a glaze or frosting instead.
