4 Gluten-free and Dairy-free Desserts for Any Occasion

Long gone are the days where people regard vegan and gluten-free desserts with disdain or suspicion. With the rising popularity of both vegan and gluten-free lifestyles, the rise in scrumptious treats that meet these dietary specifications is booming. Gluten-free dairy-free desserts can be found in cafes and grocery stores across the world nowadays, but they taste even better and are way healthier when you whip them up yourself.

It doesn’t matter if you’re gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, vegan or all three, we’ve got some mouthwatering recipes that you can make with ease. Even if you don’t have any dietary restrictions, we’re sure you’re going to enjoy these 8fit sweet treats.

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Why make gluten-free, dairy-free desserts?

For some of us, eating foods with gluten or dairy isn’t an option. Food sensitivities affect roughly 32 million Americans alone, so you can imagine how high the number might be when you take the rest of the world into consideration. Ranging from mild symptoms to life-threatening reactions, those affected by certain allergies or sensitivities have to cut out certain foods altogether.

People who have a gluten intolerance, for example, are allergic to a protein found in wheat (gluten, if you hadn't already guessed). In the United States, Celiacs disease – an autoimmune disorder characterized by severe gluten intolerance – affects around 0.71 percent or more of the population. Researchers are unclear as to how many people have gluten sensitivities as opposed to Celiacs, but it's estimated at anywhere from 6 to 50 percent, depending on research sources.

Lactose intolerance may affect up to 75% of the world’s population, particularly in parts of the world where people consume less dairy, e.g., Southeast Asia. The severity of this intolerance varies from person to person – some people only have mild symptoms, while others deal with problematic gastrointestinal issues.

Thankfully, with nut milks and dairy-free ice creams reaching wider acceptance than ever before, being lactose-intolerant doesn’t have to be a pain. The same goes for being gluten-free – our gluten-free, dairy-free desserts will show you just how much things have improved over the years.

Try these 4 gluten-free dairy-free desserts!

Apple Almond Energy Balls

10 min400 kcal

Ingredients

• ½ apple
• ¼ cup rolled oats (uncooked)
• 1 ½ tsp honey or agave syrup
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1 ½  tsp ground flax seeds
• 1 ¼ Tbsp almond butter (plain, without added sugar)
• Pinch of salt

Method

1. Wash the apple and remove the core, then grate it.
2. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or bowl. Keep a Tbsp of oats to one side for coating.
3. Roll into balls and coat with the remaining oats.
4. Enjoy immediately or, if you have time, chill in the fridge to for 30 minutes.

Note: For an easier prep, double or triple the amounts. The quantities stated in the app counts as one serving

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

5 min400 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 2 tsp raw cocoa powder
• 3 ice cubes
• 1 ¾ Tbsp peanut butter (plain, without added sugar)
• 10 peanuts

Method

1. For best results, use a frozen banana. If you don’t have time to freeze any, use the ice cubes.
2. Put all of the ingredients (except for the peanuts) in a blender or food processor and blend until it reaches the consistency of ice cream.
3. Top with peanuts and enjoy!

4 Ingredient Brownie

25 min400 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 ½ bananas
• 1 ¼ Tbsp peanut butter (plain, without added sugar)
• 2 ¾ Tbsp protein powder
• 1 tsp raw cocoa powder

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line a small baking dish or skillet with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. Peel and mash the bananas.
4. In a bowl, combine the mashed bananas and peanut butter, then whisk until fully combined.
5. Stir in protein powder and cocoa powder with a wooden spoon.
6. Pour the batter into a baking tin or tray.
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through.
8. Cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting. Enjoy or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Peanut Butter Banana Cookies

20 min400 kcal

Ingredients

• ¼  cups rolled oats (uncooked)
• 1 ½ Tbsp peanut butter (plain, without added sugar)
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350° F (175 ºC).
2. In a bowl, peel, cut and mash the banana with a fork.
3. Add the rolled oats, peanut butter, cinnamon and salt to the bowl. Mix to combine.
4. Roll the cookie dough into balls and flatten them on a baking tray covered with baking paper.
5. Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Serve and enjoy!

We recommend doubling or tripling the amount so that you have snacks ready for a few days.

Have fun making our gluten-free, dairy-free desserts and remember to always double-check your food labels to make sure they don’t contain trace amounts of either ingredient!