When making the move to gluten-free living many will give up desserts. In fact, many will completely abandon the notion of decadent desserts. Instead, they’ll enjoy a few simple treats they can find in the grocery store. For others, gluten-free living takes away desserts completely. We wanted to share decadent gluten-free desserts you have to try!
Decadent Gluten-Free Desserts You Have to Try
Birthdays are always a special time that calls for yummy cake, which can be difficult when the birthday boy or girl is eating gluten-free. Fortunately, we have a delicious chocolate cake recipe that makes it easy to be gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
Recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa
Ingredients:
- 1 lb and 3 oz of bittersweet chocolate broken into chunks
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature cut into pieces
- 1 tbsp Ener-g Pure Rice Flour
- 1 3/4 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 5 large eggs separated (or use Ener-G Egg Replacer*)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to Bake at 425°F.
- Grease an 8-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Place the one pound of chocolate in a large heat-proof bowl. Set over a pan of simmering water and stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted. (You can also use a double boiler for this instead.)
- Take the chocolate off the heat and immediately stir in butter, rice flour, sugar, coffee granules, and salt.
- Whisk in egg yolks until smooth.
- Place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk and beat until they form soft peaks.
- Scrape the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and fold them in very carefully, just until combined.
- Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 15 minutes. (Use a toothpick to check that the center is fully cooked.)
- Turn the oven off and leave the cake in the oven with the door slightly open.
- Allow the cake to cool in the oven for one hour.
- Release the sides of the pan and slide the cake onto a flat serving plate.
- Place the 3 ounces of chocolate and heavy cream in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water and heat just until the chocolate melts.
- Pour the chocolate mixture onto the sunken center of the cake.
- Allow to cool and serve.
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit
Ingredients:
For cake:
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
- 3 ¼ cups tapioca flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp gluten-free Ener-g Baking Powder
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp Ener-g Baking Soda Substitute
- 5 large eggs (or use Ener-G Egg Replacer*)
- 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp gluten-free vanilla
- 10 oz carrots peeled, coarsely shredded, and squeezed to expel extra water
- 3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 3/4 cup walnuts finely chopped
For Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups gluten-free powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp gluten-free vanilla
Instructions:
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to Bake at 350°F.
- Grease two 8” parchment-lined round cake pans with oil and then dust with tapioca flour.
- Whisk salt, baking powder, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, and 3 cups tapioca flour.
- Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and brown sugar in a large bowl until more than tripled in volume. Roughly 5-7 minutes.
- Beat in vanilla.
- Toss carrots, coconut, walnuts, and remaining 1/2 cup oil in another bowl.
- Reduce mixer speed to low.
- Add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with carrot mixture, to egg mixture and beat well after each addition.
- Divide batter between prepared pans.
- Bake cake until lightly browned across the top for about 33-36 minutes.
- Move to the wire rack and let cool completely.
For the Frosting:
- Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until very smooth.
- Reduce speed to low and add powdered sugar.
- Beat until combined and add yogurt, vanilla, and salt.
- Chill for 10 minutes to stiffen to a spreadable consistency.
- Ice cakes and enjoy.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies
Recipe adapted from Mama Knows Gluten-Free
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 brown sugar
- 2 eggs (or use Ener-G Egg Replacer*)
- 1 tbsp gluten-free vanilla
- 3/4 cup rice flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp Ener-g Baking Soda Substitute
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to Bake at 350°F.
- Spray an 8x8 square pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, add melted butter, pure vanilla extract, sugar, and brown sugar, and mix until fully combined.
- Add in eggs one at a time and mix until fully combined.
- In a medium bowl, combine rice flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and whisk together.
- Slowly add rice flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix fully until combined and smooth.
- Pour the brownie batter into the pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Remove brownies and serve.
Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes
Adapted from Rhian’s Recipes
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup almond milk
- 4 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp lemon zest
- 8 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp gluten-free vanilla
- 3 cups Ener-g Pure Rice Flour
- 2 tsp Ener-g Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Ener-g Baking Soda Substitute
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 14 oz full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp gluten-free vanilla
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to Bake at 350°F.
- Place coconut oil in a bowl and melt. Then add milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, maple syrup vanilla, salt, and 1 1/2 cup rice flour and mix.
- Mix in flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Lightly coat the blueberries in rice flour and then fold into the above mixture.
- Bake in the oven for around 15 minutes until risen and a skewer comes out clean.
- Once out of the oven, cool completely before applying the frosting.
- You’ll need to keep your coconut milk in the fridge overnight for the rich cream to separate.
- Open the tin upside down and pour off the watery liquid.
- Place the thick cream into a bowl and add lemon juice, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
- Whip until light and fluffy.
- Once cupcakes have cooled completely, ice with the light and fluffy frosting mixture.
- Top with blueberries or a lemon wedge for an added special touch.
*If using Ener-G Egg Replacer, follow the instructions on the package.