20+ Easy Flourless Desserts

When I first found out I had to give up gluten, I immediately filled my pantry with every kind of flour and starch and gum, ready to bake gluten free desserts. Yes, it is possible to make cookies and cakes that are gluten free and still taste delicious. But when you are first adopting to this lifestyle, just learning to read labels and navigate restaurants is enough of a challenge. Trying to understand the characteristics of different gluten free flours and blending them in the appropriate ratio with starches and gums is just another challenge you might not need.

But sometimes bakers gotta bake. The solution? Flourless dessert recipes!

By the strictest definition, flourless desserts do not contain any kind of grain or flour made from grains. Some people may think this only means traditional wheat flours such as whole wheat or all-purpose. But it also means many of the gluten free flours, such as rice flour or even cornstarch.

I make two exceptions when it comes to my flourless recipes:

Oats and oat flour – Since oats are a common ingredient and a great way to bind recipes and incorporate whole grains, I will include recipes that contain oat flour in my collection of flourless desserts. And while you can buy oat flour, it also can easily be made in your own kitchen by pulsing oats in a food processor or blender.

WARNING ABOUT OATS: If you have celiac disease or are highly sensitive, be aware that regular oats are often cross-contaminated. Therefore, you will want to be sure to purchase certified gluten free oats for your baking.

Almond flour/meal – Technically, since almond flour or meal is made from nuts and not grains, it is not technically a flour anyway. It’s so versatile that I consider it an essential in every gluten free kitchen. (As long as you don’t also have a nut allergy, of course). Besides brownies and cookies, it can also be used to make a crust for things like S’Mores Pudding Pie, or to bind turkey meatballs, and so much more. It helps to add texture and flavor to gluten free baked goods.

What Are Flourless Desserts Made Of?

If you’re wondering, “but if there’s no flour, what are the cakes and cookies made of?”, you’re not alone. It’s a common question! But there are actually several gluten free ingredients that work as a flour replacement in desserts.

• Nut butters – Miraculously, the combination of peanut butter or almond butter or another nut or seed butter plus eggs and sugar come together to form an amazing cookie or blonde dough. The possibilities for flavoring these gluten free dessert recipes are endless.
• Oat and oat flour – As mentioned, this common ingredient is a great substitute for wheat flour in many types of recipes.
• Almond meal/flour – Classic desserts like macarons, some flourless chocolate cakes, and even brownies achieve a perfect texture with just almond flour.
• Beans – Yes, you read that right, black beans and chickpeas can be blended into batters for everything from cupcakes to blondies to other types of bars.
• Eggs – Meringue cookies are nothing more than egg whites and sugar with whatever flavoring you choose to add.