Nuts are off the table for many people. If you need some ideas for delicious nut-free desserts, take your pick from these!
38 Nut-Free Desserts You’ll Want to Celebrate
Updated Jan. 31, 2022
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Cinnamon Crackle Cookies
This recipe is the compilation of many years of baking. I make these cookies for a holiday bazaar and year-round for our family. They freeze well. —Vicki Lair, Albert Lea, Minnesota
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Caramel Dumplings
My family just loves these tender dumplings in the sweet, rich sauce. I love them because they turn out wonderful every time I make them, which is a lot! —Faye Johnson, Connersville, Indiana
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Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
These pumpkin cupcakes are packed with fall flavor, from pumpkin puree to pie spice to cinnamon and ginger. A cinnamon cream-cheese frosting gives the cupcakes a superb taste and aroma.
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S'more Cheesecake
This luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It's a great way to savor a summer classic anytime of year. Our 4-year-old daughter likes it so much that she's requested it for her next birthday! —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
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Banana Bars
Moist and full of sweet banana flavor, these easy banana bars are a delicious way to use up ripe bananas. Top them with your favorite frosting for an extra treat.
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Cherry Dream Cake
I serve this cherry cake for holidays because it's so festive and easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
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Chocolate Strawberry Punch Bowl Trifle
I threw this dessert together when I needed something quick to take to my in-laws’. Because it’s beautiful, everyone thinks it requires a lot of effort. It’s easy. And the recipe makes a lot, making this perfect for potlucks and large gatherings. —Kristi Judkins, Morrison, Tennessee
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Easy Lemon Bars
Easy lemon bars are one of those trusty desserts you can always count on to taste good, and they're easier to make than they look. Just make a thin crust, add a layer of homemade lemon filling and enjoy a refreshing treat.
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Contest-Winning Moist Chocolate Cake
You don't have to spend a lot of time to serve an elegant and delicious dessert. Just mix up the batter in one bowl, bake and get ready for people to love this moist dark chocolate cake recipe. —Christa Hageman, Telford, Pennsylvania
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Tiramisu Cheesecake Dessert
Layers of vanilla wafers soaked in coffee-infused syrup, creamy cheesecake filling, and a finishing touch of whipped topping and cocoa—this tiramisu cheesecake combines simplicity and sophistication in every bite.
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Rhubarb Crisp
Make rhubarb crisp with strawberries in spring and apples in fall to enjoy a simple, year-round dessert.
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Swedish Creme
Swedish cream is similar to panna cotta, because it is set with gelatin, but the tender dessert includes sour cream for subtle tanginess.
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Apple Pie Oatmeal Dessert
Warm and comforting oatmeal desserts bring back memories of times spent with my family around the kitchen table. I serve this dish with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream as a topper. —Carol Greer, Earlville, Illinois
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Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Blueberries? Love them. Blueberry cheesecake? Even better. Blueberry cheesecake ice cream? Now you’re talking!
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Funnel Cake
Whip up a contest-winning funnel cake at home with our simple recipe. Just add cotton candy and corn dogs!
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Thumbprint Cookies
Buttery and not-too-sweet thumbprint cookies filled with fruit preserves make for a refreshing little bite any time of day.
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Peach Crumble Pie
A delightful summertime pie, this dessert is overflowing with fresh peach flavor. Each sweet slice is packed with old-fashioned appeal. The streusel topping makes this peach crumble pie a little different than the ordinary and adds homemade flair. —Sally Holbrook, Pasadena, California
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Banana Bread Pudding
Warm and indulgent, this banana bread pudding makes a wonderful main dish for a weekend brunch or a family breakfast.
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Apple Butter Cake Roll
This is a new take on a pumpkin roll. Her spicy gingerbread cake might make you think back fondly to Christmas at Grandma's! —Debbie White, Williamson, West Virginia
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White Chocolate Fruit Tart
It takes a little time to make, but this tart is absolutely marvelous, especially in summer when fresh fruit is in abundance. —Claire Darby, New Castle, Delaware
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Butterscotch Pumpkin Mousse
Guests savor every creamy, spoonful of this spiced autumn dessert. It tastes so good, no one guesses that it's actually low in fat. —Patricia Sidloskas, Anniston, Alabama
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Chocolate Malted Cookies
These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips and chunks, these are the best cookies I've ever tasted … and with six kids, I've made a lot of cookies over the years! —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
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Berry-Topped White Cupcakes
Guests just love these yummy white cupcakes that are topped with a cream cheese frosting. The strawberry-blueberry garnish makes them the perfect treat for a patriotic-themed party on Memorial Day or Fourth of July. —Judy Kenninger, Brownsburg, Indiana
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Lemon Icebox Pie
Our chilled, no-bake lemon icebox pie is the perfect indulgence on a hot summer's day.
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Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
I'm a chocolate lover, and these cream cheese brownies have satisfied my cravings many times. No one guesses the brownies are light because their chewy texture and rich chocolate taste can't be beat. My family requests them often, and I'm happy to oblige. —Heidi Johnson, Worland, Wyoming
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Blueberry Zucchini Squares
I saw a bar recipe using apple and lemon zest on a muffin mix. I tried it from scratch with shredded zucchini and fresh blueberries instead. It’s a nifty combo. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
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Apple and Squash Crisp
Someone brought this crisp to a parish dinner at my church. I asked for the recipe, and now I take this yummy dessert to every potluck I attend. —Therese Butler, Ijamsville, Maryland
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Lemon Ricotta Cake
This lemon ricotta cake recipe is a family gem that was passed down from my grandmother and mother. Garnished with shaved lemon zest, the moist four-layer cake is the perfect dessert when you want to impress. —Nanette Slaughter, Sammamish, Washington
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Mocha Truffle Cheesecake
I went through a phase when I couldn't get enough cheesecake or coffee, so I created this rich dessert. Its brownie-like crust and creamy mocha layer really hit the spot. It's ideal for get-togethers because it can be made in advance. —Shannon Dormady, Great Falls, Montana
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Kentucky Butter Cake
Look no further than Kentucky butter cake for a fluffy, buttery cake with an excellent crumb and a vanilla-almond butter sauce that permeates every bite.
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Brownie Mix Cookies
Our brownie mix cookies rely on a not-so-secret ingredient to yield moist, tender cookies in just 25 minutes. They're crunchy, crispy and perfectly moist.
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Cappuccino Mousse Trifle
"This is the easiest trifle I've ever made, yet it looks like I spent time on it," says Tracy Bergland, Prior Lake, Minnesota. "I like to pipe whipped topping around the edge of the bowl, grate chocolate in the center and sprinkle with cinnamon. It gets rave reviews."
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Sour Cream Apple Pie
A cool, creamy version of the original, this delicious dessert is the perfect finish to a satisfying summer meal. Its crumbly topping and smooth apple filling are crowd-pleasers! Be prepared to serve seconds. —Sharon Bickett, Chester, South Carolina
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Frozen Mocha Marbled Loaf
This showstopping marbled dessert seems fancy, but it's really simple to prepare ahead of time and pop in the freezer. Frosty slices have a creamy blend of chocolate and coffee that's delightful anytime of year. —Cheryl Martinetto, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
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Chocolate Angel Cake
When I was married in 1944, I could barely boil water. My dear mother-in-law taught me her specialty—making the lightest angel food cakes ever. This chocolate version is an easy, impressive treat. —Joyce Shiffler, Colorado Springs, Colorado
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Sugar Cream Pie
This rich, custardy sugar cream pie is an Indiana specialty. With just one bite of this decadent dessert, you’ll see why!
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Creamy Caramel Flan
A creamy, cheesy dessert with homemade caramel sauce on top? Count us in!
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Slow-Cooker Hot Fudge Cake
A cake baked in a slow cooker may seem unusual, but after-dinner smiles prove how tasty it is. Sometimes, for a change of pace, I substitute butterscotch chips for chocolate. —Marleen Adkins, Placentia, CaliforniaOriginally Published: September 18, 2019
