24 Irresistible Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Desserts for an Inclusive Feast

Hosting Thanksgiving this year and navigating dietary restrictions like gluten and dairy sensitivities? You’re in luck! Just because you’re avoiding gluten and dairy doesn’t mean your holiday dessert table has to be anything less than spectacular. We’ve compiled a list of 24 absolutely delicious gluten-free and dairy-free Thanksgiving desserts that are sure to impress every guest, regardless of their dietary needs. In fact, these treats are so good, you could probably serve them to even the most traditional eaters, and they wouldn’t guess they’re missing anything! While gluten and dairy are often prime staples in classic dessert baking, the culinary world has evolved, offering incredible ways and innovative ingredients to substitute, ensuring you can still enjoy a truly satisfactory and memorable holiday experience—something genuinely to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

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Essential FAQs for Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Desserts

Before diving into these mouth-watering recipes, let’s cover some fundamental tips and frequently asked questions to ensure your baking journey is a resounding success. This foundational knowledge is especially helpful if you’re new to baking without gluten and dairy, setting you up for a stress-free and delicious holiday.

Plan Ahead for a Smooth Thanksgiving Bake!

Successful holiday baking, especially when accommodating dietary restrictions, begins with meticulous planning. Some specialty ingredients for these dairy-free and gluten-free recipes can sometimes be challenging to locate or may become scarce as the big holidays draw nearer. To avoid any last-minute panic or ingredient shortages, it’s always a smart move to ensure your pantry, fridge, and freezer are well-stocked well before the holiday season kicks into full swing. This proactive approach allows you to leisurely select and create your desired dessert without any unforeseen problems or delays. Here are some essential baking staples I always like to keep on hand for my gluten-free and dairy-free options:

High-quality all-purpose gluten-free flour blend (ensure it contains xanthan gum, or add it separately if not included)
Versatile coconut oil (great for baking and adding richness)
Butter-flavored shortening, such as Crisco (a fantastic dairy-free alternative for flakiness)
Dairy-free butter sticks (I highly recommend Earth Balance Buttery Sticks and Country Crock Plant Butter in Olive Oil for their excellent performance)
Granulated white sugar
Light or dark brown sugar
Fresh eggs (if the recipe isn’t strictly vegan)
Country Crock Plant Cream (an excellent substitute for heavy whipping cream)
So Delicious CocoWhip (a ready-to-use whipped topping)
Cans of full-fat coconut cream (chilled for thickening)
Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (a reliable dairy-free cream cheese alternative)
Aromatic spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, and allspice
Your preferred gluten-free graham crackers (we find Schar to be a great choice for crusts)
Certified gluten-free oats (for crumbles, pies, and bars)
Baking soda and baking powder (essential leavening agents)
Unsweetened cocoa powder
At least one (or two!) cans of pure pumpkin puree
Pure maple syrup
Nonstick cooking spray
High-quality dairy-free chocolate chips
Oat flour (easily made at home by blending gluten-free oats in a blender or food processor)
Frozen berries (for tarts, cobblers, and pies)
And, of course, don’t forget some delicious dairy-free vanilla ice cream to top your warm pies! Brands like So Delicious, Oatly, NadaMoo!, and Frönen offer fantastic options.

Embracing Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts

A wonderful benefit of many dairy-free recipes is their natural overlap with vegan options. Since dairy is a common animal product, eliminating it often means a recipe is already plant-based. While all vegan recipes are dairy-free, not all dairy-free recipes are vegan (some may still contain eggs, for instance). For those catering to both dairy-free and vegan guests, it’s always a good practice to carefully read through each recipe’s ingredient list to ensure it aligns with both dietary preferences. Many of the dessert options featured in this list are completely plant-based, offering delicious choices for everyone at your Thanksgiving table.

Choosing the Right Gluten-Free Flour for Baking Success

One of the most common questions in gluten-free baking is about flour. For convenience and reliable results, I generally find that using an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend is far easier and more consistent than attempting to create your own blend from scratch. These pre-mixed blends are carefully formulated to mimic the structure and texture of traditional wheat flour. However, the golden rule of baking always applies: for the absolute best results, always follow the specific directions of the written recipe. Substituting ingredients, especially flours, can significantly alter the outcome, and you certainly don’t want a less-than-perfect pie to showcase on Thanksgiving day!

It’s crucial to understand that you cannot simply substitute a single gluten-free flour, like almond flour or coconut flour, for an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. This is a question I get asked all the time, and the answer is consistently no. Wheat flour has a unique protein structure (gluten) that provides elasticity and structure. To replicate this without gluten, it typically takes a combination of multiple gluten-free grains and starches—such as rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, and sometimes sorghum or millet flour—along with a binder like xanthan gum, to achieve a similar texture and binding capacity. I’m not biased toward any particular brand; I often use readily available options, even the Walmart brand. As long as the base of the blend is primarily rice, potato, and tapioca starches (with some sorghum being perfectly acceptable), I find it usually works exceptionally well for a wide range of baking needs.

Mastering Dairy-Free Swaps for Classic Thanksgiving Desserts

Navigating dairy-free baking has become much easier thanks to the impressive range of substitute products available today. For most dairy components, there are now decent swaps you can *usually* use directly, often in a 1:1 ratio. However, as with gluten-free flour, always refer to the specific recipe instructions. Using the exact dairy-free alternatives called for in a recipe that was specifically developed as dairy-free will consistently yield the best results.

Dairy-Free Butter Sticks: Brands like Earth Balance Buttery Sticks are fantastic and can typically swap 1:1 for regular dairy butter in most recipes, providing a similar fat content and richness crucial for texture.
Whipped Topping: CocoWhip by So Delicious is a superb store-bought alternative to frozen whipped topping. It’s light, airy, and tastes great on pies, cobblers, or even by itself.
Heavy Whipping Cream: Country Crock Plant Cream is an excellent substitute for heavy whipping cream. It whips up beautifully, holds its shape, and adds that desired creamy texture to sauces, fillings, and mousses.
Cream Cheese & Sour Cream: Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese and their sour cream alternatives are solid choices. Be aware that they can be a bit more watery than their dairy counterparts. However, their flavor is remarkably close, and most well-written dairy-free recipes (like my chocolate cheesecake!) will account for and help you work around any minor texture differences.
Dairy-Free Milk: This category can be a bit of a “landmine,” as everyone has their favorite based on factors like sugar content, taste, aftertaste, and individual allergies. Generally, most dairy-free milks can be substituted in and out without major problems, though the fat content can affect richness. Personally, my favorite is rice milk. While it’s thinner than some other options, it tends to have a neutral flavor that doesn’t leave an aftertaste or compete with other flavors in your dessert. That said, to each their own—almond, oat, soy, and cashew milks are also popular and work well depending on the recipe and personal preference.
Dairy-Free Ice Cream: Dairy-free ice cream tends to be a bit more icy and less creamy than traditional ice cream. Many varieties are made with coconut milk or almond milk, which might impart a slight aftertaste. However, they absolutely hit the spot when you’re craving something cool and melty over a warm slice of pie or cobbler. With so many brands and flavors available, you’re sure to find one that pleases your palate.

Ensure You Have the Right Baking Tools!

To successfully conquer any dairy-free and gluten-free dessert recipe, having the right tools at your disposal is just as important as having the right ingredients. These basic baking essentials will make your holiday baking experience much smoother and more enjoyable:

Large Mixing Bowls: Essential for combining ingredients without spills. Having a few different sizes is ideal.
Handheld Electric Beaters: Perfect for whipping, creaming, and blending. Even better if you have a powerful stand mixer for heavier doughs and long mixing times.
Spatulas: Both rubber and offset spatulas are indispensable for scraping bowls clean, folding ingredients, and spreading batters or frostings.
Measuring Cups & Spoons: Accuracy is key in baking, especially with gluten-free and dairy-free recipes where ingredient ratios can be more sensitive.
A Variety of Baking Containers:
- Muffin tins (for cupcakes, muffins, or mini pies)
- Pie tin (a standard 9-inch pie plate is versatile)
- 13×9 inch pan (for sheet cakes, bars, and crisps)
- Square baking pan (for brownies, smaller cakes, or bars)
Prep & Storage Essentials:
- Plastic wrap (for covering doughs and chilling desserts)
- Aluminum foil (for covering dishes during baking or storage)
- Parchment paper (for lining pans to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup)

Your Ultimate List of Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free Holiday Desserts:

And now, for what you’ve been eagerly awaiting! Below is our curated list of sensational dairy-free and gluten-free Thanksgiving desserts. Each recipe is designed to bring joy and deliciousness to your holiday table without compromising on flavor or texture. You can easily access the full recipe by clicking on either the title below the picture or directly on the image itself. Just imagine: last year was the final time you’ll endure a boring Thanksgiving dessert spread. It’s time to branch out, try some exciting new recipes, and I’m absolutely certain you’ll be thrilled with the results. Please note that the majority of these fantastic recipes are my own creations, so I can personally vouch for their deliciousness and reliability. The last 10 entries, however, come from talented blogging friends whose commitment to amazing, allergy-friendly desserts I deeply trust. Their names are clearly indicated next to their contributions, so you’ll know when you’re being redirected to another wonderful site.

Gluten and Dairy Free Triple Chocolate Pie

Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Crumble (I truly believe this is even better than the classic pumpkin pie! The ginger snap crust is absolutely BOMB.)

Gluten Free Dairy Free Frozen Raspberry Pie

Ina Garten Apple Tart (Gluten-Free & Vegan Adaptation)

Strawberry Chocolate Galette (Allergy-Friendly)

Allergy-Friendly No-Bake Strawberry Jello Pie

Allergy-Friendly Peach Pie

Gluten-Free Vegan Lemon Cream Pie Bars

Allergy-Friendly Pumpkin Mousse Pie (a wonderfully light and fun twist on the traditional pumpkin pie)

Black Bottom Oatmeal Pie (Nut-Free Pecan Pie Alternative)

Decadent Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Peppermint Pie

Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Frosting

Allergy-Friendly Cherry Cobbler

Gluten-Free Pecan Pie by Allergy Free Alaska

Gluten-Free Apple Pie (complete with a perfectly flaky crust!) by Allergy Free Alaska

Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Cobbler by The Roasted Root

Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake by Vegetarian Mama

VeganGluten-Free Pecan Pie by Vegetarian Mama

Vegan Caramel Pecan Cheesecake by Texan Erin

Gluten-Free Vegan Mini Apple Pies with Caramel by Texan Erin

Easy Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie by Mama Knows Gluten Free

Gluten-Free Crustless Pumpkin Pie (Dairy-Free) by Meaningful Eats

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Coconut Cream Pie by Meaningful Eats

**I genuinely hope that no matter which delightful dessert you choose from this collection, you and your entire family have a wonderfully tasty, joyful, and memorable Thanksgiving celebration!**

Looking for guidance on what to serve for the actual Thanksgiving meal, beyond just the dessert? Be sure to explore my incredibly popular COMPLETE THANKSGIVING MEAL PLAN FOR FOOD ALLERGIES! It provides a comprehensive guide to crafting an entire, delicious feast with plenty of inclusive options for everyone.

DON’T FORGET TO PIN THIS GUIDE TO YOUR THANKSGIVING BOARDS, SO YOU CAN EASILY FIND THESE RECIPES LATER. WHILE YOU’RE THERE—BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER DIETARY SPECIFIC PINS AND BOARDS for more allergy-friendly inspiration!