Eating a gluten-free diet can be difficult, especially when it comes to dessert. When you think about the sheer number of sweet treats made with flour it might seem hopeless that you'll ever be able to enjoy dessert again. The good news, however, is that fruit is naturally gluten-free and makes a great ending to a delicious meal. The following recipes are easy to execute, don't require any strange ingredients, are fast and taste delicious.
Chocolate Dipped Fruit Platter
Not only does this dessert feature chocolate, but it's simple to prepare and comes together quickly. This dessert is perfect for serving after any type of meal, but works especially well in the summer because you won't have to turn on the oven.
Ingredients:
- Assorted fruit, cut into chunks
- 4 gluten-free chocolate bars, melted
Directions:
- Dip the ends of each piece of fruit in the melted chocolate.
- Place the fruit on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
- Once all the fruit is dipped, place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator so the chocolate can set.
Serves: 8 to 10
You can use virtually any type of fruit you have on hand. Strawberries, pineapple chunks, kiwi slices, apple slices, orange segments, mango chunks and banana slices all work really well and taste great paired with chocolate.
When you choose the chocolate, be sure you read the label to ensure that you're getting a bar that contains no dangerous ingredients. Some chocolate bars are not gluten-free due to the presence of malt or other ingredients that contain gluten byproducts.
Gluten-Free Fruit Pizza
Traditional versions of fruit pizza are not safe for a gluten-free diet. However, with some simple and careful modifications, you can create one that is completely safe to eat. Fruit pizza is a great ending to a barbecue meal and is an elegant addition to a buffet at your next party.
Ingredients:
- 12 prepared gluten-free sugar cookies (or you can make your favorite homemade version)
- 12 tablespoons light cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- Strawberries, kiwis and bananas, diced into small pieces
- Apricot jam, warmed until runny
Directions:
- Whip the cream cheese with the sugar.
- Spread each cookie with about a tablespoon of the mixture.
- Layer each cookie with a mixture of the diced fruit.
- Drizzle with the warmed apricot jam just before serving.
Serves: 12
This is an entirely customizable dessert. Mix and match your favorite fruits, based on what's in season or on sale, to create new taste combinations. You can also use other types of gluten-free cookies. Try chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin to shake things up.
Stuffed Apples
This is the perfect recipe for a crisp, fall day. The apples are on sale and at their peak so you know it's going to be delicious. You're going to love the way the baking apples make your house smell too.
Serve this dessert at a harvest party or as a surprise weeknight treat when the weather cools down.
Ingredients:
- 4 large apples (Granny Smith work great)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup gluten-free oats, toasted
- Caramel sauce, to taste
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut each apple in half.
- Remove the seeds with a corer, leaving a cavity in each.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon and oats.
- Fill the cavity in each apple with the sugar mixture, dividing it evenly among the apple halves.
- Bake the apples on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes, or until slightly softened.
- Drizzle each apple half with caramel sauce and serve.
You can serve this delicious dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can also sub out other fruits, such as pears, plums or peaches. You will have to modify the baking times, so watch softer fruits closely because they will not take as long to cook.
Delightful Desserts
There is no reason to think you can't eat dessert on a gluten-free diet. It will be harder, especially when dining out, but it can be done. The great thing about fresh fruit as the base for your dessert is that it contains a plethora of nutrients that your body needs to be healthy. Of course, a heaping bowl of fresh diced fruit is always a tasty option too.
Living gluten-free requires preparation and planning, but you don't have to forgo sweet treats to make it work. Enjoy your gluten-free lifestyle!
