This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Looking for the best gluten free desserts to bring to a picnic? These easy recipes are just right for warm-weather fun, whether it’s a backyard BBQ, a day at the park, or a pool party. From cookies and bars to cakes and fruity treats, you’ll find plenty of gluten free sweets that are made for sharing. They’re simple to make, easy to pack, and totally crowd-friendly, even for folks who don’t eat gluten free!
Over 90 Easy Party Desserts for Spring and Summer – All Gluten Free!
When the weather gets warmer, everyone wants to bring their parties outside! Sometimes it’s a picnic for two or just bringing along the kids, other times it’s a huge gathering or friends or family. And these occasions call for sweet treats! Just because you are gluten free doesn’t mean you should miss out on the deliciousness. Don’t worry – there are lots of options for you to enjoy too!
Typically in warm weather, we might want cool treats, but ice cream and popsicles aren’t the most portable party desserts when outdoors. Even fudge will get a little melty and messy. So…
What are the best easy picnic desserts for spring and summer?
- Brownies and Bars – you can make a pan, cut them into squares, and everyone can just grab one in between innings of a baseball game or after a swim.
- Cakes – while they may be a little harder to serve while outdoors, if you are celebrating a special occasion, sometimes you just need a cake. Layer cakes and bundt cakes may incorporate summer flavors, and sheet cakes in a pan are easy to pack and transport.
- Cupcakes – everything you love about cake in an individual serving, and probably the kids’ favorite dessert.
- Cookies – just like the brownies and bars, one batch of cookies makes a ton and there are no utensils needed.
- Fruit Desserts – in the spring and summer, fresh fruit is perfectly ripe and in season, so it’s definitely the time of year to serve pies, crisps, crumbles, and other fruity sweets.
Gluten Free Picnic Dessert Recipes
Bars and Brownies
Peanut Butter Brownies
Fudgy brownies swirled with creamy peanut butter and loaded with peanut butter cups are a chocolate and peanut butter lover's dream come true. This combo is always so hard to resist.
Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe
Gluten Free S’Mores Bars
These gluten free smores bars turn your favorite campfire treat into a gooey chocolate-and-marshmallow-filled magic bar with a buttery graham cracker crust!
Gluten Free S’Mores Bars Recipe
Gluten Free Brownies
Ruch, fudgy, and just the thing to satisfy your chocolate cravings! With all the tips for the perfect shiny, crackly top and chewy texture, this recipe is a keeper for sure.
Gluten Free Brownies Recipe
Gluten Free Oreo Rice Krispies Treats
Make a classic no-bake dessert even better with crunchy crushed cookies stirred into a gooey marshmallow base. Use gluten-free ingredients to make this an entirely gluten-free dessert!
Oreo Rice Krispies Treats Recipe
Gluten Free Lemon Bars
This classic dessert with a thick layer of creamy lemon filling on top of a buttery crust is the perfect bright and citrusy treat. It's a super popular recipe, and once you try it, you'll know why!
Gluten Free Lemon Bars Recipe
Flourless Nutella Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
Rich, fudgy flourless brownies are marbled with Nutella and cheesecake swirls. These Gluten Free Nutella Cheesecake Swirl Brownies are a decadent dessert perfect for any chocolate-lover.
Get The Recipe
No-Bake Peach Cheesecake Bars
No-Bake Peach Cheesecake Bars are here just in time for the fresh peach season. These creamy, dreamy dessert squares pair a light and fluffy cheesecake mousse – filled with fresh peaches – and an easy gluten free almond meal crust that tastes like shortbread. But, no oven needed for one of the best gluten free no bake dessert recipes!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Brookies
You'll never need to choose between tender chocolate chip cookies or rich, fudgy brownies again. These homemade Gluten Free Brookies are both!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
Soft homemade pastry, creamy cheesecake, and a small dose of sugary honey make these gluten-free sopapilla cheesecake bars impossible to resist!
Get The Recipe
Monster Cookie Bars
Crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, these Monster Cookie Bars are fully-loaded with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and M&M candies. Quick and easy to prepare!
Get The Recipe
Flourless Turtle Cheesecake Brownies
These rich and fudgy flourless Turtle Brownies are swirled with cheesecake and caramel, and then topped with pecans. They are the ultimate decadent dessert recipe for anyone who craves the chocolate, caramel, and pecan combo. And it's a naturally gluten free brownie recipe that you won't be able to resist!
Get The Recipe
More bars and brownie recipes:
- Gluten Free Strawberry Oatmeal Bars from Fearless Dining
- Gluten Free Apple Pie Bars from What the Fork
- Brown Butter Churro Crispy Treats from Well Plated
Cake Recipes
Reese’s Poke Cake
Serious peanut butter cups lovers will be obsessed with this Reese's Poke Cake. It is the ultimate chocolate and peanut butter dessert recipe because it is easy to make and perfect to bring to potlucks and parties. Check out the suggestions for how to make it gluten free.
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Strawberry Cake
Tender cake, fresh berries, and fluffy whipped cream, this cake is siple perfection. It's a favorite when spring and summer straberries are in season.
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Potato Pound Cake with Berries
One of the most classic, simple summer desserts is given a fun, tasty, and wheat-free twist. This Gluten Free Potato Pound Cake is made with fresh strawberries and blueberries, and berry jam, too!
Get The Recipe
Peanut Butter Cup Flourless Chocolate Cake Roll
Make the ultimate Reese's dessert – irresistible Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Roll Cake! With flourless chocolate cake, creamy peanut butter mousse, and rich ganache, nobody will guess it's gluten free!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Lemon Pound Cake
Gluten free lemon loaf is perfect for breakfast, a quick snack, or dessert! This lemon pound cake is made with Greek yogurt, keeping it super moist and tender, and a bright, tangy citrus glaze.
Get The Recipe
Banana Snack Cake
Treat yourself to a healthy snack that feels like an indulgent dessert with this easy Gluten-Free Banana Snack Cake! It's finished off with a light and fluffy cream cheese frosting made with Greek yogurt.
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
Easy, decadent gluten-free chocolate cake made two ways! Make this chocolatey cake recipe as a layer cake or in a pan, smothered in homemade chocolate frosting!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Berry Crumb Cake
This patriotic Red White and Blueberry Crumb Cake is a moist and tender, gluten free breakfast cake topped with a rich cream cheese layer, juicy berries, and a sugary sweet crumb.
Get The Recipe
More cakes:
- Gluten Free Texas Sheet Cake from Mama Gourmand
- Gluten Free Dump Cake from GF Jules
- Gluten Free Lemon Bundt Cake from Small Farm Big Life
Cupcakes
Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes
Soft, light, fluffy, and sweet, my Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes are a lovely simple treat that everyone will love. Their sumptuous vanilla flavor is perfectly balanced. Plus, they’re super-simple to make with just a few basic ingredients!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Oreo Cupcakes
Cookies and cream lovers can enjoy their favorite treats again with these Gluten Free Oreo Cupcakes. Moist vanilla cupcakes are loaded with bits and pieces of chocolate sandwich cookies and topped with a creamy Oreo frosting. A dream come true for kids and kids at heart!
Get The Recipe
Coconut Cupcakes
These cupcakes are for serious coconut lovers. With coconut flavor in the cake, filling, frosting, and topping, there's tropical goodness in every bite.
Get The Recipe
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes
Stuffed and topped with peanut butter and jelly, these tender cpcake bring all the nostalgic vibes. Kids of all ages love them!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes
Fluffy and decadent Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes are super easy to make and ultra-chocolatey! This indulgent dessert uses whole milk, cocoa powder, and boiling water to give you a moist texture and rich flavor. It's a classic, tender cupcake recipe that goes great with any frosting of your choice.
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Lemon Cupcakes
Gluten Free Lemon Cupcakes are moist homemade vanilla cupcakes filled with bright, fresh lemon flavor. Enjoy them as they are or top them with your favorite lemon buttercream frosting.
Get The Recipe
More cupcake recipes:
- Margarita Cupcakes from Chef Alina
- Gluten Free Strawberry Cupcakes from Mama Knows Gluten Free
- Gluten Free Cinnamon Swirl Cupcakes from Snixy Kitchen
Cookie Recipes
Flourless Fluffernutter Cookies
Fluffernutter Cookies top tender, peanut buttery cookies with sweet, gooey marshmallows for the ultimate treat!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chewy Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies will make your heart skip a beat! Filled with just the right amount of melty chocolate, they come together in just 20 minutes.
Get The Recipe
Worms and Dirt Cookie Cups
These Dirt Cookies are a fun treat kids will love to make and eat featuring sugar cookie cups filled with ganache, and topped with Oreo “dirt” and gummy worms. Gluten free option, too!
Get The Recipe
M&M’s Macaroons
These flourless Coconut M&M's Macaroons are a fun and easy way to eat the rainbow. This simple one-bowl recipe has just 3 ingredients, making a basic coconut macaroon recipe more colorful by adding M&M chocolate candies. It is one sweet combination that makes these naturally gluten free cookies a chewy treat that anyone can make and nobody can resist.
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups are the perfect easy dessert! These bite-sized cookie cups are crispy outside, chewy inside, and studded with mini chocolate chips. Baked in muffin pans and ready to fill with your favorite toppings!
Get The Recipe
Trail Mix Cookies
Gluten-free Trail Mix Cookies are a fun riff on flourless peanut butter cookies packed with gluten-free oats, chocolate chips, and crunchy trail mix.
Get The Recipe
S’Mores Cookie Cups
Serving up the familiar melty, sticky goodness without the mess, S'Mores Cookie Cups put a sophisticated spin on a timeless campfire snack. Add the warm and chocolate-studded charm of the classic chocolate chip cookie and you have a match made in heaven.
Get The Recipe
Lemon Sandwich Cookies
With zesty lemon buttercream sandwiched between two vanilla wafers, these Gluten Free Lemon Sandwich Cookies are perfectly sweet and tangy little bites. And the best part is that you can make them completely from scratch or use some help from the grocery store. They make a great dessert for a special occasion or a quick treat for yourself!
Get The Recipe
Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
These aren't your basic Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies! Three kinds of chocolate chips make these flourless peanut butter cookies even better. And since they have no flour, not only are they naturally gluten free, but they have a totally amped-up peanut buttery flavor. Gather a few basic pantry ingredients, and in no time you'll be enjoying them for dessert!
Get The Recipe
Flourless Chocolate Almond Cookies
Chocolate almond cookies are crisp but tender cookies packed with almond butter and cocoa powder, brown sugar, and chopped almonds.
Get The Recipe
Toffee Almond White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
If you can't get enough of salty-sweet treats, then you have to fill your cookie jar with these crisp and chewy Gluten Free White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. They are like classic flourless monster cookies with an extra tasty twist – almond butter, almonds, and toffee for a deliciously nutty flavor and extra texture!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Graham Crackers
Let's enjoy a childhood favorite again! Make crisp and crunchy gluten-free graham crackers for snacks, s'mores, or a sweet treat that's allergy-friendly and perfect for dunking in milk! These homemade graham crackers are better than store-bought, and they will please gluten free folks and gluten-eaters alike!
Get The Recipe
More cookies:
- Gluten Free Kitchen Sink Cookies from Sweets & Thank You
- Black and White Cookies from Let Them Eat Gluten Free Cake
- Lemon Cookies from Gluten Free Palate
Fruit Desserts
Strawberry Icebox Cake
This vintage no bake dessert is so easy! You'll need just 5 ingredients to make this decadent, fruit-filled dessert that's so refreshing on hot summer days.
Get The Recipe
Easy Banana Pudding
The easiest Gluten-Free Banana Pudding made in the style of NYC's famous Magnolia Bakery! This is a refreshing no-bake dessert made from layers of creamy pudding, ripe bananas, and sweet gluten-free vanilla wafers.
Get The Recipe
Chocolate-Covered Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Pretty, chocolate-dipped cheesecake stuffed strawberries make a festive no-bake dessert everyone will love!
Get The Recipe
Red, White, and Blue Berry Watermelon Fruit Salad
This Red, White, and Blue Berry Fruit Salad with watermelon stars is perfectly patriotic for all of the summer holidays and especially for the 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Birthday Parties, or Baby Showers. Tossed in a light honey lime dressing, it's fresh, sweet, healthy, and delicious!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcakes
Celebrate summer in style with a Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake. This recipe combines soft buttermilk sweet biscuits, juicy strawberries and homemade whipped cream into one ultra satisfying treat!
Get The Recipe
Peanut Butter and Jelly Apple Nachos
Apple sliced drizzled with a Greek yogurt cheesecake topping, peanut butter, and strawberry jelly salsa, then sprinkled with chopped peanuts are a fun and easy snack recipe the whole family will love.
Get The Recipe
Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie
Rich dulce de leche, sweet bananas, creamy vanilla custard, and fluffy whipped cream come together in a chocolaty no-bake crust for a twist on the dessert recipe that is even more luscious and mouthwatering than the original.
Get The Recipe
Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip
This cheesecake-inspired Strawberry Fruit Dip features a tangy blend of cream cheese and Greek yogurt sweetened with honey and fresh strawberries.
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Apple Turnovers
Golden and buttery Gluten Free Apple Turnovers are made with a burst of tender, sweet and spiced apples in every bite!
Get The Recipe
Red, White, and Blue Berry Pound Cake Bites
Fill your mini fruit kabobs with blueberries and strawberries to make these Red White and Blue Pound Cake Bites. For a simple summer dessert recipe with store-bought, homemade, or even gluten free or vegan options, you can whip up a platter of these little treats in no time. Don't forget the whipped cream or coconut cream for dipping!
Get The Recipe
Waldorf Fruit Salad
With seasonal ingredients and honey-yogurt dressing, this Creamy Winter Fruit Salad makes a lovely addition to a holiday breakfast or brunch. We've been making it for Christmas breakfast and even a Thanksgiving snack for decades! The festive colors and flavors ensure that it looks gorgeous on the table, but the bowl will be empty in minutes.
Get The Recipe
Watermelon Pizza
Red, White, and Blue Berry Watermelon Pizza is a fun and healthy treat for the summer that the kids will love to make and eat. Use your favorite toppings and berries!
Get The Recipe
Mini Blueberry Cheesecake Parfaits
An easy no-bake dessert that's perfect for parties with a creamy but lightened up cheesecake layers, juicy wild blueberries, and a naturally gluten free almond meal crust.
Get The Recipe
Healthy Apple Candy Bar Salad
This Creamy Apple Salad is made with apples, chocolate, and peanuts tossed in a honey-sweetened Greek yogurt and cream cheese dressing. Your new favorite fruit salad is like Snickers salad, but lighter!
Get The Recipe
Gluten Free Blueberry Pie
This sweet and sumptuous Blueberry Pie is made with fresh or frozen berries and an easy homemade gluten-free pie crust! You'll fall in love with the flavors and textures of this fruity summer treat.
Get The Recipe
More Fruit Dessert Recipes:
- Sweet Grape Salad from Nutmeg Nanny
- Blackberry Mango Lemon Poppy Seed Fruit Salad with Earl Grey Whipped Coconut Cream from With Food & Love
- Hawaiian Cheesecake Salad from The Slow Roasted Italian
I love that Paska bread was a favorite. It has been a tradition in my family for many generations. Always one of my favorites (along with the Perogi).
I’m so glad you shared these. I may have to go to more picnics or barbecues this summer just to try these desserts! 🙂
Is it bad that I want one of each?
Thanks so much for including my Cheesecakes.
I’m right with you, Kim!
What a delicious list of treats! Thanks for including me!
There are some great ones! Thanks for contributing to the collection!
Great round up of treats! You can never go wrong with cookies on a picnic.
I agree! Perfectly portable!
I love this round up. So may great options!
tHanks Christie!
My husband has been begging to go on a picnic lately…so these are perfect! Thanks for the great ideas!!
I’m sure you’ll find something you love! Have fun!
Thanks for this great roundup! Might actually encourage me to have some more picnics this year. 😉 And thanks so much for including my Raw Fig & Cherry Bars, too! 😀
Of course, Ricki! I love when my roundups contain a variety of options for all different taste and dietary preferences!