20+ Gluten Free & Paleo Holiday Deserts
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The holidays are not complete without an abundance of baked treats. The problem is they are usually laden with sugar and gluten but I have a special list here for you for over 23 delicious desserts that are all gluten free, mostly grain free and refined sugar free!
Cookies & Treats
Grain Free Italian Spritz Cookies
You won’t have to miss out on Holiday Spritz Cookies while on a grain-free diet with this recipe. The addition of cassava flour helps create a dough that is thick and dry enough and it won’t stick to a cookie press when you pipe out your favorite shapes. Plus, you can decorate them as you would other kinds of festive cookies with natural food colorings and your choice of chocolate.
Grain Free Orange Almond Cookies
These Grain Free Orange Almond Cookies have the festive flavor of orange minus the usual gluten that comes with holiday baking. Almond flour is an excellent substitute to wheat flour because it provides a nutty taste and crunchy texture. If you don’t usually enjoy gluten-free desserts for their texture, these cookies will be a wonderful option for you because whipped egg whites give the cookies a light mouthfeel in addition to binding the cookies together.
Pumpkin Spice Paleo Donuts
Missing the Pumpkin Spice Lattes? Bring back the flavors and wow your holiday guests with Pumpkin Spice Paleo Donuts? This delicious recipe will get your tastebuds ready for fall with the addition of Great Lakes Wellness Chai Collagen Powder that gives it a perfect spicy flavor. Donuts make a wonderful pre-or-post feast treat for diners of all ages or a breakfast for your guests staying for the week.
Paleo Chocolate Mousse
This Paleo Chocolate Mousse is rich in flavor and naturally sweetened! A Paleo-friendly dessert is made with avocados, maple syrup, and organic Great Lakes Gelatin MCT Powder. The dessert comes together quickly through the use of your food processor! With a little vanilla extract and sea salt to help balance out the chocolatey sweetness, you and your guests will swoon over this chocolate mousse. Your guests won’t even know it’s Paleo-friendly or made from avocados and you won't have to use your oven for this dessert either making it much easier than making a pie.
Grain Free Banana Fritters
These fluffy Grain Free Banana Fritters have the robust taste of banana and crispy, golden edges. Using cassava flour rather than all-purpose makes these grain-free and suitable to serve to almost anyone. While you can enjoy these any day they make a perfect companion to the Pumpkin Spice Donuts.
Pavlova
Pavlova is among the simplest, yet most elegant desserts to make, consisting of egg whites, sugar, cream and fruit. White sugar is commonly added to build the structure, but maple sugar works just as well producing a crispy and chewy meringue. Serve with your favorite berries or whatever is in season this winter where you live.
Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies
These delicious nut butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are flourless and gluten-free! Naturally sweet, these cookies will satisfy any sugar craving you might have. Make a batch for friends and family and another one for Santa this holiday season!
Pili Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pili nuts are one of my go-to nuts to snack on. They have a rich, creamy and buttery texture that make these Pili Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies to die for. Due to the richness, you can usually only eat one at a time, which is helpful to not overdue it on indulgences. Make sure to use code TRAILTOHEALTH for 10% off your order at EatPiliNuts.com.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Chocolate Covered Strawberries seem like an indulgence but when you see how easy they are to make you will want them all the time. Using sugar-free chocolate chips makes these a healthier treat than traditional chocolate strawberries. Serve with any of the cookies and ice cream recipes for a full holiday dessert spread sure to please even the pickiest eaters!
Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream
Ice cream lovers can rejoice with this healthy version of Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream.This easy recipe includes just five ingredients you may already have a home meaning you won’t require any specialty foods to make it. Once you have mastered this, you can even try mixing in some favorites like dark chocolate chips or toasted walnuts for the ultimate sweet treat.
Date Sweetened Whipped Cream
Dates are a healthy replacement for traditional white sugar, because they provide sweetness while also being a good source of fibre. They also have a delicious molasses or caramel-like taste which adds a lot more complexity to desserts than white sugar. Here, date syrup is added to Fresh Cream which gives it a perfectly molasses undertone, and can be dolloped on anything from fresh red berries to pavlova to winter hot cocoa.
Keto and Co Brownies
These Brownies offer the perfect low-carb treat with no added sugar. Keto and Co created the best fudge brownie mix that is gluten-free, safe for diabetics, and only 1.1 g net carbs per serving. This mix is so easy because you just have to combine it with eggs and butter before baking into the fudgiest brownies you will ever eat.
R-Bar Sundae
I am very excited to team with R-Bar Energy to bring you a guilt free dessert. R bars are great and most of the flavors have 3 ingredients or less. For a cool contrast to warm desserts, try a R-Bar Sundae with the ice cream and whipped cream above! This is one of the most easy desserts you can make.
Breads & Muffins
Banana Nut Bread
Paleo Banana Bread is a perfect way to save overripe bananas, but when you want to switch things up, this spiced banana nut bread will fit the bill perfectly. It is Grain-Free by using cassava flour and it gets a spicy twist from warming cinnamon and nutmeg.
Blueberry Lemon Loaf
This Blueberry Lemon Loaf is a combination of fresh blueberries and tart lemon making it a beautiful bread for your holiday table. The coconut glaze is unique because it uses maple syrup for sweetness rather than powdered sugar and the coconut butter gives the glaze its creaminess, as well as its coconut taste. It will make a perfect breakfast bread for your out of town guests this week.
Paleo Blueberry Muffin
These Blueberry Muffins are gluten-free with an underlying almond taste, and are delicious for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Although they do not use traditional flour, they have a wonderful, cake-like texture. They are so easy, you will be able to make them all week long, but they are also special enough you may want to include them with a special winter holiday brunch.
Pumpkin Muffins
Pumpkin spice is all the rage during the holidays and now you can have a healthy spiced Pumpkin Muffin to satisfy your sweet tooth. These muffins use almond flour, which gives them a slightly denser texture and nuttier flavor than traditional wheat flour. A generous amount of eggs, pumpkin puree, and coconut oil ensures they are still moist and fluffy though and a coconut-based glaze on top adds extra richness as well as a pretty garnish.
Pies & Cakes
Almond Flour Pie Crust
Whether you require a gluten-free sweet or savory pie crust, this Almond Flour Pie Crust will fit the bill perfectly. By adding a few dessert-friendly ingredients like maple sugar, cinnamon, or vanilla, this crust can be a base for all of your favorite fruit or cream fillings. Omitting those, however, will allow you to use this crust for savory tarts or quiche.
Paleo Pecan Pie
With an Almond Flour Pie Crust, even those eating a gluten-free diet can enjoy the delights of pie laden with toasted Pecans. Consider dolloping this with some freshly whipped cream or coconut cream for an extra decadent touch. Save solo or in partnership with the Paleo Pumpkin Pie below at the end of your holiday dinner.
Paleo Pumpkin Pie
This Pumpkin Pie recipe has all the flair of traditional pumpkin pie, but with a healthy, dairy-free and paleo twist. The filling sets while still being creamy and has some spiciness from the addition of pumpkin spice and cinnamon. The additions of coconut milk and a paleo pie crust make this the perfect pie to bring to a get-together because everyone will be able to enjoy it.
Apple Bundt Cake
This Apple Bundt Cake is a classic ring-style cake great for serving large crowds or having on hand for the holidays. It contains a double dose of apples in the form of apple sauce and grated fresh apples which both serve to make the cake moist and fluffy and give it plenty of fruity taste. For easy removal, make sure you grease your pan very well, but in the case of tears, don’t worry, as the glaze will cover them up.
Flourless Orange Almond Cake with Berries
This fluffy Flourless Orange Almond Cake with Berries is a burst of freshness. The combination of citrus notes and almonds is heavenly, making it a not-too-rich end to any meal. Serve this for all your special dinners including winter festivities.
Grain Free Apple Galette
This Grain Free Apple Galette is a delicious dessert everyone will enjoy because it has the signature flaky crust of apple pie without the gluten. Ice cream, as always, is the perfect accompaniment to freshly baked pies like this one.
