Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and that means love is in the air. If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you might wonder how to best celebrate the special occasion without gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.
In this post, I share 13 sweet gluten-free dessert recipes that perfectly honor your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day.
Plus, if your sweetheart suffers from celiac disease, gluten intolerance, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or other food allergies, they will appreciate these beautiful gluten-free dessert options made with simple ingredients, including store-bought gluten-free flour blends and fresh fruits.
Most recipes on this list come with dairy-free options and are relatively easy to make (except for the French macarons, which are never “easy” to make).
(1) Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream
One of my favorite Valentine’s Day treats is my Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream. The cupcakes are moist and tender, and the creamy raspberry buttercream makes the entire cupcake look even more beautiful.
Chocolate has long been associated with love and romance. Maybe it’s because our brain releases endorphins and serotonin after eating this mood-boosting treat.
(2) Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Another cupcake that evokes romance and love is my Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes. These delicious and tender cupcakes are topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting and will impress your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day and beyond.
(3) Gluten-Free Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
While I’m on a roll sharing recipes in the red and pink hue, don’t forget these simple Gluten-Free Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies. These small cookies look beautiful and are buttery and soft.
(4) Gluten-Free Raspberry Bars
Another “red” recipe is for these tasty Gluten-Free Raspberry Bars, which offer layers of shortbread crust, a sweet raspberry filling made with fresh raspberries, and a sweet crumb topping. Delicious!
(5) Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
Now that I’ve gotten red and pink hues out of my system, I’m ready to move on to these bright and beautiful Gluten-Free Lemon Bars. This delicious and vibrant recipe will bring sunshine to your loved ones this Valentine’s Day. And lemon bars are among my favorite non-chocolate desserts!
(6) Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
If your sweetheart loves cookies, make him or her this giant Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake and decorate it with pink and red sprinkles and frosting. You could even shape the giant cookie into a heart shape for Valentine’s Day.
I load my cookie cake with chocolate chips to make it sweet and delicious! If you’re going for a specific color scheme, you could use white chocolate chips instead.
(7) French Macarons
Did you know that authentic French macarons are made with only gluten-free ingredients, with the primary ingredient being almond flour? Of course, today, when buying French macarons, you must be careful of cross-contamination and the introduction of non-traditional ingredients.
If you’re up for the task, I recommend making my gluten-free French macarons. I fill mine with chocolate ganache, but you could easily swap the ganache for the raspberry buttercream from my chocolate cupcake recipe above.
(8) Gluten-Free Whoopie Pies
Making “whoopie” is a euphemism for making love, and if you’re hoping to hop in the sheets with your sweetheart, make these Gluten-Free Whoopie Pies to drop a hint.
My whoopie pies are filled with pumpkin buttercream, but again, you could use the raspberry buttercream recipe from my chocolate cupcakes (see #1 above) instead.
(9) Gooey Chocolate Pudding Cake
My Gluten-Free Pudding Cake doesn’t contain packaged pudding. Instead, it’s made with gluten-free oat flour and melted chocolate. It tastes like a chocolate lava cake with gooey chocolate oozing everywhere.
My photo isn’t that great, but I assure you, this is a chocolate lover’s dream! Serve it warm and top with vanilla ice cream for an indulgent and enjoyable treat.
(10) Cookies & Cream Chocolate Pudding Cups
Speaking of pudding, these Cookies and Cream Chocolate Pudding Cups are made with layers of homemade chocolate pudding and crushed sandwich cookies (i.e., gluten-free Oreos). To make the pudding from scratch, you need cocoa powder, cornstarch, milk, and a few other simple ingredients.
Want to make this dessert extra special? Use dark chocolate mousse instead of chocolate pudding.
(11) Almond Flour Chocolate Cake
If you’re following a grain-free diet, you might enjoy my warm and moist Almond Flour Chocolate Cake covered with creamy chocolate buttercream. This cake is super moist, and the chocolate buttercream is light and fluffy.
(12) Peanut Butter Brownies
If your sweetheart loves peanut butter, he or she will love these Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Brownies. The brownies are moist and chewy, with deep chocolate flavors and swirls of smooth peanut butter in every bite.
(13) Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcake
While raspberries and chocolate are my jam on Valentine’s Day, I also love a good strawberry dessert. My Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcake offers a delicious way to enjoy fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and a slightly sweetened cake.
Sweet Treats for Your Sweetheart
Will you be mine? When you make any of these 13 gluten-free desserts for Valentine’s Day, you’ll earn major points with your gluten-challenged sweetheart.
Which one of these delicious desserts are you most excited to make? Please leave a comment to share.
Leave a Comment