31 Gluten-Free Baking Recipes We Love
Updated: Nov. 30, 2023
Want to bake and stick to your gluten-free lifestyle? These gluten-free baking recipes are perfect for curbing your cravings.
Gluten-free baking has come a long way. If you’re imagining sad breads, soggy pastry or crumbly cookies, think again! Our gluten-free baking recipes showcase the huge array of bakes you can make without a speck of wheat flour or other gluten—from chewy sandwich bread to lofty cakes, tender cookies to tasty pies. We include classics like chocolate chip cookies, as well as fresh recipes that will become family favorites.
Gluten-Free Banana Bread
A foolproof recipe for beginning gluten-free bakers, GF banana bread is quick to mix and has all the cozy, comforting flavor of traditional banana bread. Since quick breads don’t need the robust structure gluten provides, most translate extremely well to gluten-free baking—and might even be more tender.
Also, try this perfectly tender and delicious, gluten-free pumpkin bread recipe perfect for your cozy winters.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
A perennial favorite homemade treat, these gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are perfectly chewy and ready to dip. For this recipe, we recommend one of our favorite store-bought gluten-free flour blends, Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Flour, though other blends will still work.
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake
Who says a gluten-free dessert can’t be a showstopper? This GF red velvet cake is chocolate-y, slightly tangy and almost fizzy thanks to a secret ingredient. Naturally, our recipe includes a lick-the-bowl homemade cream cheese frosting, too.
Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread
Our gluten-free bread recipes have chewy crusts, airy crumbs and rich flavor, no gluten required! This gluten-free sandwich bread is a good one to learn, as it’s perfect for a tasty sandwich, sturdy enough to make grilled cheese and delightful toasted with butter. Don’t skip the xanthan gum or gelatin in the recipe, as they contribute crucial structure to the bread.
Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies
Packed with whole grains and lightly sweet, these gluten-free oatmeal cookies make a passably healthy snack as well as a tasty dessert. Thanks to the addition of oats as well as flour, they’re just as chewy as traditional oatmeal cookies. Make sure to use gluten-free oats for this recipe, as they’re grown, harvested and processed differently from gluten-containing grains to ensure that they’re safe.
Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread
While many gluten-free baking recipes call for an all-purpose GF flour blend, this zucchini bread uses a single flour: oat flour. It has a warm, warm, slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with the zucchini. Just be sure to buy oat flour that’s certified gluten-free.
Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
Want a towering, bold cake with a light crumb and full-on chocolate flavor? Make this gluten-free chocolate cake. Both cocoa powder and espresso make for a decadent flavor, while chia and flax seeds add enough moisture that no one will notice the cake is a vegan dessert, too. Chocolate lovers can even stir in chocolate chips.
Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes
Perfect for birthday parties or any special occasion, gluten-free vanilla cupcakes are festive and fun to make. Add a dash of food coloring to the frosting for extra decoration, or top with sprinkles. This recipe works well with a homemade gluten-free flour mix or a store-bought one.
Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins
You can’t beat a fresh-from-the-oven blueberry muffin, and no one will be able to tell these are gluten-free. If you have leftovers, you’ll be happy to know these muffins freeze well. Just pop in the microwave to reheat. Your future self will thank you!
Gluten-Free Cornbread
A simple pan of cornbread makes the best accompaniment to a cozy stew or soup. Although cornmeal is naturally gluten-free, many recipes do contain a bit of wheat flour for a softer, more cake-like texture. Our gluten-free recipe is just as good, sans gluten.
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
With a creamy, spiced custard filling and tender crust, this gluten-free pumpkin pie will stand proudly on any Thanksgiving dessert table. The crust includes a scoop of almond flour, which is both tasty and rich in oils, contributing to a tender crumb.
Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies
Think shortbread cookies are too fussy to make gluten-free? This recipe will prove you wrong. It’s easy to make and full of rich, buttery flavor, proving that the simplest things are sometimes best.
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
A cookie jar staple, gluten-free gingerbread cookies are a fun recipe to bake with kids. Our recipe makes a spiced, rich cookie dough that’s easy to roll out and cut into your favorite shapes. We include several decorating ideas, too.
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies
These chewy blondie bar cookies nod to peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, only they’re easy to slice and perfect to pack in a lunch or picnic. This recipe is also dairy-free and diabetic-friendly, making it ideal for people with multiple food sensitivities.
Gluten-Free Snowballs
A favorite holiday cookie, snowballs are a tender butter cookie dotted with nuts and dunked in fluffy powdered sugar. Thanks to the use of two starches and light confectioners’ sugar, they almost melt in your mouth. These cookies are a nice one to try if you don’t want to buy special flours, as they only call for pantry staples.
Gluten-Free Biscuits
Gluten-free comfort food is definitely possible! These biscuits are made with buttermilk, just like most wheat-based recipes, so their flavor is comfortingly familiar. Serve them with your favorite stew or soup.
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread
A rich and cozy fall baking recipe, gluten-free pumpkin bread is quick to mix. The extra-moist bread also keeps well at room temperature for a few days, so you can enjoy it for breakfast all week.
Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies
While many gluten-free recipes are converted from traditional recipes, this recipe diverges from typical sugar cookies. It uses applesauce to add both moisture and sweetness, and adds almond extract and lemon zest to round out the flavors. Learn how to make gluten-free lemon cake.
Socca
A traditional Mediterranean flatbread, socca is actually made with chickpea flour (aka besan), making it naturally gluten-free. Like cornbread, it’s a great dinner side dish but also tasty enjoyed on its own, warm from the oven.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
As gluten-free eating becomes more common, your local pizzeria might offer a crust made with an unusual ingredient: cauliflower! The healthy vegetable makes a sturdy crust with a warm, savory flavor. It’s easy to make homemade, too.
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Nostalgic for this classic holiday cookie? It’s easy to make gluten-free. You might be surprised to see applesauce in the ingredients, but it adds both sweetness and moisture to ensure the cookies stay fresh in their tin for days.
Flourless Chocolate Torte
Ultra-indulgent, creamy flourless chocolate cake sometimes tells a fib: Some recipes include a small amount of wheat flour for texture. (If you’re dining out, always ask!) Our recipe is entirely flour- and grain-free.
Gluten Free Peanut & Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
What’s more decadent than cheesecake? Our gluten-free recipe starts with a no-bake cookie crumb crust. The cream cheese filling is dotted with chocolate chips and topped with a chocolate-peanut butter drizzle.
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies
One of our favorite pumpkin recipes, these gluten-free pumpkin cookies are super tender and flavorful. They’re sturdy enough to pack for a potluck or school lunch. We use canned pumpkin for the most reliable flavor and texture.
Mocha-Walnut Macarons
Did you know that macarons are naturally gluten-free? Whipped egg whites and ground nuts make a light, melt-y batter. The French recipe has a reputation for fussiness, but really, these are simple enough for a practiced home baker to make.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These cookies take inspiration from dense, rich European winter cookies. The heartiness of the recipe makes them easy to make gluten-free, and they keep well, too. The powdered sugar-coated exterior cracks in a pleasant, crisp way when baking.
Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Muffins
Perfect for breakfast or snacking, these muffins are flavored with real sweet potato, making them extra moist. A cinnamon-sugar topping raises the bar.
Gluten-Free Almond Crispies
Flavored with cinnamon and maple and flecked with almonds, these cookies are delicious when the weather turns cool. Thanks to whole grain brown rice flour and almond flour, they’re a healthier gluten-free cookie, too. Serve them with tea or dunk into milk.
Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints
Sometimes, you don’t even need flour to bake! These thumbprint cookies couldn’t be simpler. They’re reminiscent of a classic peanut butter blossom, but they include a secret ingredient: Nutella!
Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
A delightful grain-free recipe, this super savory bake is made with a cauliflower crust. It’s also a healthy alternative to pizza that might get your kids eating veggies.
Gluten- and Dairy-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Another dairy-free and gluten-free recipe, this cinnamon raisin bread tastes remarkably similar to its traditional flour-filled counterpart. A heavy dose of raisins and a cinnamon-sugar topping make this a favorite breakfast treat, even for fussy eaters.Up Next: How to Make a Gluten-Free Pie Crust
Originally Published: December 31, 1969
