6 Desserts for Celiacs That You Should Try

In the following article, we're going to share 6 gluten-free dessert recipes for celiacs that everyone should try. You're going to love them!

Reviewed and approved by the nutritionist Maria Patricia Pinero Corredor.

Written by Editorial Team

Last update: 08 July, 2023

Did you know that making desserts for celiacs isn’t very difficult? There are a great number of possibilities and, in addition, it’s possible to prepare delicious recipes that will be suitable for the whole family.

In this article, we’re going to share 5 desserts of the most varied, so you can choose the one you like the most. Don’t hesitate to try them all – we promise you that all of them are delicious and ideal for any palate!

Celiac disease and its consequences

Celiac disease is a problem of the immune system that occurs when it reacts negatively after the ingestion of gluten. As a result, the lining of the small intestine is damaged, preventing nutrients from being absorbed normally. Also, according to the US National Library of Medicine, this damage can cause:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal swelling
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Weight loss

It’s for this reason that people with celiac disease should eliminate from their diet all foods containing gluten. These are rye, wheat, barley, and all its derivatives (flour, bread, pasta, and cookies, among others).

How are gluten-free desserts for celiacs?

Considering the dietary recommendations and applications that people with celiac disease should follow, we can say that there are two options for making gluten-free desserts and sweets:

• Elaborate recipes that, in their original version, contain gluten-free ingredients: flans, ice creams, sorbets, mousses, or fruit skewers (among others).
• Adapt desserts that do contain gluten, using flours suitable for celiacs: cookies, cakes, biscuits, etc.

In this last case, nowadays there is a wide range of possibilities when choosing the ty[e of flour you’re going to. Buckwheat, rice, corn, chickpea, almond, and chestnut flours are the most common.

In any case, it’s important to make sure that you choose products that are guaranteed to be 100% gluten-free. To do this, it’s advisable to read the labels and look for some kind of identification that proves it:

• The specific marking “gluten free”.
• The drawing of a barred ear of corn.

6 desserts for celiacs

Now that you know some general guidelines for making gluten-free desserts, let’s take a look at some specific recipes. All of them are very sweet, easy to prepare, and suitable for the whole family.

1. Chocolate mousse

One of the most commonly used ingredients for making desserts is chocolate, as few people can resist its delicious taste.

Mousse is a very tasty and light recipe, which is made with ingredients that are naturally gluten-free. So let’s get to work with the first of the desserts suitable for celiacs.

Ingredients

• 250 grams of dark chocolate
• 100 grams of butter
• 4 eggs
• 100 grams of sugar
• 200 milliliters of whipping cream

Preparation

• The first step to making this mousse is to melt the chocolate with the butter. We can do it in a bain-marie or in the microwave. When it’s ready, set it aside.
• Next, pour the cream into a large clean bowl and whip it with a whisk. It must be very firm and must be kept in the refrigerator until we are going to use it again.
• Now, separate the egg whites and yolks. Add the latter to the bowl with the chocolate (which must have already cooled). On the other hand, beat the egg whites. In the middle of the process, add the sugar and continue until they are thick and shiny.
• Transfer the whipped egg whites to the bowl with the chocolate. This step must be done little by little and with enveloping movements. Then, repeat the operation to add the cream. It should not be added all at once but in small batches.
• Place the mousse in glasses, cups, or individual molds and refrigerate for a while before serving.

2. Cheese flan

Flan is one of the most consumed traditional desserts. It accepts many versions and most of them are suitable for people who cannot eat gluten.

Here, we suggest you prepare a cheese flan. Ideal for lovers of this dairy derivative, creamy textures, and sweet foods.

Ingredients for the flan

• 500 milliliters of milk
• 300 grams of cream cheese or light cottage cheese
• 100 grams of sugar
• 4 eggs
• Half a teaspoon of vanilla essence

Ingredients for the caramel

• 60 grams of sugar
• A few drops of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of water

Preparation

• Before starting, heat the oven to 180 degrees.
• Then, we prepare the caramel. To do this, melt the sugar in a saucepan with the two tablespoons of water and the drops of lemon juice. When it acquires an amber tone, remove it from the heat and place it in the bottom of individual flan pans or a large mold.
• Next, put all the flan ingredients in a bowl: milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla essence, and cheese. With the help of a blender, blend the contents and fill the molds with the caramel.
• We introduce the container (or containers) with the flan in a larger and deeper tray, suitable for the oven. Fill with water for baking in a bain-marie and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the flan is set.
• After this time, remove it from the heat and let it cool before removing it from the mold. If it’s not going to be consumed immediately, it should be kept cold.

This cheese flan can be served as is or decorated with fresh strawberries and a little cream.

3. Basic gluten-free sponge cake

This \ideal cake for a birthday or a snack is something that can’t be missing in any recipe book for gluten-free desserts.

Although making it can be a headache the first few times, its actually possible to obtain cakes as fluffy as or more fluffy than using conventional wheat flour.

Ingredients

• 6 eggs
• 200 grams of sugar (100 + 100 separately)
• 150 grams of rice flour
• 150 grams of corn flour
• 16 grams of baker’s yeast
• 1 orange
• 5 spoonfuls of water (75 milliliters)
• 2 spoonfuls of oil (30 milliliters)
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

• To begin, cover the base of a 24-centimeter springform pan with parchment paper. Then, grease all the walls with a little butter.
• Then, we turn on the oven at 160 degrees, with heat up and down.
• In a large bowl, mix the two flours together with the yeast.
• On the other hand, separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. With an electric whisk, we begin to whip the egg whites. In the middle of the process, add 100 grams of sugar and a pinch of salt. Continue beating until stiff peaks are reached. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• Now, we do the same process with the egg yolks, together with the rest of the sugar (100 grams more). The liquid should be whitish in color and a little frothy. Add the orange zest (without the white part) and the juice.
• Then add the flour to this mixture: pass it through a sieve and mix it little by little. If the dough is a little thick, you can add a little water. Then add the egg whites, slowly and carefully stirring from bottom to top.
• Pour the mixture into the mold. To avoid air bubbles, tap the mixture gently against the marble. Then, we can put it in the oven for 45 minutes.
• After this time, remove it from the heat and let it cool a little before unmolding.

This basic cake can be served as is, since the addition of the orange gives it a very special flavor.

However, if you want to make a more complete cake, you can fill or cover it with melted chocolate, homemade pastry cream, jam, fresh fruit, etc.

4. Yogurt and fruit popsicles

This is a very cool dessert that’s ideal for a summer lunch or a hot day. These are a perfect option for coeliacs, but also a healthier version of the classic creamy ice creams.

Ingredients

• 2 Greek yogurts (250 grams).
• 250 grams of strawberries and blackberries (or any red fruit, to taste).

Preparation

• Wash the fruits well and separate the leaves from the strawberries. Cut into small and irregular pieces.
• Pour the yogurt into a bowl and carefully add the fruit. Mix everything a little so that it’s evenly distributed.
• Then, put the ice cream in molds to make popsicles and leave them in the freezer for at least 4 hours.

5. Gluten-free chocolate brownies

For the sweet tooth and for all lovers of this classic dessert of American pastries, you can not miss a juicy brownie.

Ingredients

• 225 grams of dark chocolate for melting
• 150 grams of sugar
• 85 grams of butter
• 2 eggs
• 5 grams of cocoa powder
• 30 grams of rice flour
• 140 grams of chopped walnuts

Preparation

• We begin the preparation of the dessert by melting the butter and the chocolate in a saucepan.
• On the other hand, beat the eggs and the sugar with a whisk and then add the melted chocolate. When both ingredients are integrated, add the flour and cocoa powder. Finally, pour in the walnuts.
• Now, transfer this dough to a square mold lined with parchment paper. We introduce it in the oven at 180 degrees for 20 minutes.
• After this time, remove from the heat and it’s ready to eat.

A way to obtain an original dessert for celiacs with a delicious contrast is to serve the brownie warm with a scoop of ice cream or fruit sorbet.

6. Tarta de Santiago

Unlike most cakes and biscuits, the Spanish tarta de Santiago doesn’t require replacing wheat flour with gluten-free flour, since it’s made in the traditional way with ground almonds.

Ingredients

• 250 grams of ground Marcona almonds (or almond flour)
• 250 grams of sugar
• Half a spoonful of cinnamon powder (5 grams)
• 5 eggs
• The grated peel of half a lemon
• A little butter
• 50 grams of powdered sugar

Preparation

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Then put the sugar in a bowl and mix with the lemon zest (only the yellow part of the skin).
• In a large bowl, add the eggs and add the sugar. Beat with the help of an electric whisk, so that everything is well integrated. The dough should have a light whitish color.
• Now, we integrate little by little the almond flour. In this case, to make the mixture, it’s best to use a manual whisk.
• Grease with butter a low mold of about 28 centimeters in diameter. Put the dough in it and let it bake in the oven for 30 minutes, with heat up and down. After this time, remove and let the cake cool completely before unmolding.
• Finally, decorate with powdered sugar on top.

What else to keep in mind when making desserts for celiacs

We have already mentioned that, in order to offer completely safe products, we must buy ingredients that do not contain gluten or traces.

But, in the kitchen, other guidelines must be followed, since cross-contamination is also dangerous for coeliacs.

As indicated by the Association of Coeliacs of Catalonia, it’s advisable to keep the ingredients in separate cabinets or on specific shelves and always well packaged.

In addition, everything that may have previously come into contact with gluten should be washed thoroughly: hands, cloths, surfaces, and utensils.

Finally, and in a more culinary field, we must bear in mind that gluten-free flours do not rise in the same way. For this reason, it’s not usually recommended to change one for another if it has not been tested before.

The best thing to do is to follow recipes like the ones we have presented, which are already formulated with gluten-free flour and ingredients.

Make desserts suitable for celiacs easily at home

Choosing a dish to finish a meal gluten-free does not have to be something restrictive or tasteless.

With the ideas we have just offered, we have seen that there are many desserts for celiacs that can be made and that it’s not necessary to have much experience.

And remember that not everything ends with the ingredients. Therefore, if this is one of the first times you cook gluten-free and you have doubts, consult a professional or someone who has more experience and can advise you.