Who said you cannot have delicious desserts if you have food sensitivities such as gluten and dairy or if you follow the Paleo or AIP diet. Yes, we can overdo it with sweets, but I believe that desserts have a place in a healthy diet, because deprivation is not going to make you healthier. So enjoy these delicious gluten-free holiday desserts without suffering the consequences. All recipes are Paleo and many are AIP elimination phase compliant
Wanna get more holiday and special occasion recipes? Get my AIP/Paleo holiday cookbook, including a full Thanksgiving spread and desserts for any special occasion.
Apple Cider Donuts (AIP, Paleo)
These apple cider donuts are the ultimate delicious holiday dessert. They are sweet, cakey, and full of all the fall flavors such as apple and cinnamon. The recipe is easy to make and will be your new favorite weekend treat. These donuts are gluten and dairy-free, Paleo and AIP.
Crispy Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies (Paleo)
These crispy chocolate hazelnut cookies are the bomb. They are thin and crispy and combined with the chocolate and hazelnut flavor make for an irresistible treat. And what’s even better, they are paleo-friendly, gluten and dairy-free. If you are on the AIP and have been able to reintroduce almonds, cocoa powder, and hazelnuts then you can enjoy these as well.
Gingerbread Squares (AIP, Paleo)
Whenever I bring these gingerbread squares they are gone within minutes. You will never guess that they are grain-free, gluten, dairy, and nut-free. They are so incredibly delicious and a must for the holiday season.
Soft Honey Gingerbread Cookies (Molasses free)
These soft honey gingerbread cookies are everything and you have to try them ASAP. They are soft, fluffy, slightly chewy, and full of flavor from spices such as cloves, ginger, and cinnamon. They are not only the perfect holiday treat, but also gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free, Paleo and AIP.
Delicious Apple Crisp (AIP, Paleo)
This delicious apple crisp recipe is the perfect fall/holiday dessert. It is perfect to bring with you to a holiday gathering. The recipe is dairy, gluten, and refined sugar-free, paleo, and AIP-friendly.
Grain-free Linzer Cookies (Paleo)
These traditional grain-free Linzer cookies are fun to make, delicious, beautiful to look at, simple, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo.
Baked Apples (AIP, Paleo)
These delicious baked apples are the perfect winter dessert and a super delicious low-sugar treat. They are easy to make and gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, and AIP-friendly.
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes with Chocolate Sauce (Paleo)
These pumpkin spice pancakes with chocolate sauce will be a hit for the holiday season. They are not only delicious but dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo.
Crepes with Cranberry Sauce or Chocolate Sauce (AIP, Paleo)
These crepes are soft, delicious, and easy to make for the next time you crave something special. It is gluten and dairy-free, Paleo and AIP. Use this crepe recipe with my homemade cranberry sauce or homemade chocolate sauce. The chocolate sauce is not AIP elimination phase compliant.
How to use this list
Every recipe above is gluten-free, dairy-free and Paleo. The ones marked AIP are elimination phase compliant as written: gingerbread squares, soft honey gingerbread cookies, apple crisp, baked apples, apple cider donuts and the crepes with cranberry sauce. The chocolate hazelnut cookies, the Linzer cookies and the pumpkin spice pancakes need nuts, eggs or cocoa, so save those for after you have reintroduced them.
For Thanksgiving I would pick one warm dessert and one cold one: the apple crisp straight from the oven and a plate of gingerbread squares that were baked the day before. For the Christmas cookie tin, the Linzer cookies and the honey gingerbread cookies are the two that disappear first, and both keep for a week.
What can you make ahead?
- Up to a week ahead: gingerbread squares, honey gingerbread cookies, Linzer cookies, chocolate hazelnut cookies. Airtight tin, room temperature.
- The day before: apple crisp (reheat at 350°F for 15 minutes), the cranberry sauce for the crepes, the chocolate sauce.
- On the day: baked apples, apple cider donuts and the crepes and pancakes themselves. They are quick, and they are best warm.
Holiday desserts FAQ
What dessert can you eat on the AIP at Thanksgiving?
More than you think. Fruit-based desserts are the easiest: apple crisp with a coconut and tigernut topping, baked apples filled with cranberry sauce, crepes made from cassava flour. Spiced baked goods work too as long as the spices are AIP (cinnamon, ginger, cloves are fine; nutmeg and allspice are seed-based and are not). All six AIP recipes on this list follow those rules.
Are these desserts all dairy-free and gluten-free?
Yes, every one. There is no wheat, no rice, no oats and no dairy anywhere in this list. The flours are cassava, tigernut, coconut and arrowroot, and the fat is coconut oil or lard.
What do you sweeten Paleo holiday desserts with?
Honey, maple syrup, dates and the fruit itself. No refined sugar and no artificial sweeteners. Most of these recipes use less sweetener than you would expect because roasted apples, plums and cranberries bring their own.
Do you have a pumpkin pie?
In the cookbook. My holiday book ENJOY has a full Thanksgiving menu including an AIP pumpkin pie, plus desserts for every special occasion.
More for the holiday table
For the rest of the meal, see my AIP Thanksgiving side dishes (stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and roasted vegetables) and the herb-roasted chicken for a smaller table. And if you want dessert ideas for the rest of the year, my big list of gluten and dairy free desserts has seventeen more.
Now I would love to hear from you. Try the recipe and let me know what you think in the comment section below. And as always, don’t forget to tag me in your food pictures on Instagram. Happy cooking! ~Annika