Nuts are off the table for many people. If you need some ideas for delicious nut-free desserts, take your pick from these!
38 Nut-Free Desserts You’ll Want to Celebrate
Updated on Jan. 31, 2022
1/38
Cinnamon Crackle Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is the compilation of many years of baking. I make these cookies for a holiday bazaar and year-round for our family. They freeze well. —Vicki Lair, Albert Lea, Minnesota
2/38
Caramel Dumplings
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family just loves these tender dumplings in the sweet, rich sauce. I love them because they turn out wonderful every time I make them, which is a lot! —Faye Johnson, Connersville, Indiana
3/38
Pumpkin Cupcakes
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a wonderful recipe I discovered and changed a bit to suit my taste. I love the flavor of pumpkin and the cinnamon makes ordinary cream cheese frosting extra special. When I made a batch for my husband to take to work, he said they disappeared in record time. —Debbie Wiggins, Longmont, Colorado
4/38
S’more Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It's a great way to savor a summer classic anytime of year. Our 4-year-old daughter likes it so much that she's requested it for her next birthday! —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
5/38
Banana Bars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These bars are always a hit at potlucks in the small rural farming community where my husband and I live. I also like to provide them for coffee hour after church. They're so moist and delicious that wherever I take them, they don't last long. —Karen Dryak, Niobrara, Nebraska
6/38
Cherry Poke Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I serve this cherry cake for holidays because it's so festive and easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
7/38
Strawberry Chocolate Trifle
Total Time
40 min
Servings
28 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I threw this dessert together when I needed something quick to take to my in-laws’. Because it’s beautiful, everyone thinks it requires a lot of effort. It’s easy. And the recipe makes a lot, making this perfect for potlucks and large gatherings. —Kristi Judkins, Morrison, Tennessee
8/38
Lemon Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This delightful lemon bar recipe is from my mother's file. I've been serving it for many years. They has a wonderful tangy flavor, and they're always a hit. The color and shape make them a nice addition to a platter of cookies. —Etta Soucy, Mesa, Arizona
9/38
Contest-Winning Moist Chocolate Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You don't have to spend a lot of time to serve an elegant and delicious dessert. Just mix up the batter in one bowl, bake and get ready for people to love this moist dark chocolate cake recipe. —Christa Hageman, Telford, Pennsylvania
10/38
Tiramisu Cheesecake Dessert
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tiramisu didn't do it for me until I tried this recipe with its luscious layers of cheesecake. It's one of my favorite desserts to make this time of year. —Christie Nelson, Taylorville, Illinois
11/38
Rhubarb Crisp
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe on a box of Quaker Oats about 20 years ago. It's quick and easier to make than pie. It's versatile, too, because you can add strawberries in spring or apples in fall. I usually pop it into the oven shortly before we sit down to eat so it's still warm for dessert! —C.E. Adams, Charlestown, New Hampshire
12/38
Swedish Creme
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This thick and creamy dessert is my interpretation of my mother’s recipe for Swedish krem. It has just a hint of almond flavor and looks spectacular with bright red berries on top. Serve it in glasses to match the occasion. —Linda Nilsen, Anoka, Minnesota
13/38
Apple Pie Oatmeal Dessert
Total Time
4 hours 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Warm and comforting oatmeal desserts bring back memories of times spent with my family around the kitchen table. I serve this dish with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream as a topper. —Carol Greer, Earlville, Illinois
14/38
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
After sampling this flavor at an ice cream stand, I kept trying to duplicate it until it was just right. This blueberry cheesecake ice cream is a hit! —Melissa Symington, Neche, North Dakota
15/38
Funnel Cake
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 cakes
From the Recipe Creator:
These are much simpler to make than doughnuts but taste just as good. They have been a regular treat of ours ever since we came across them when we lived in the Ozarks. —Mary Faith Yoder, Unity, Wisconsin
16/38
Thumbprint Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These buttery little rounds add beautiful color to a platter of treats. Fill the thumbprint in the center with any fruit preserves you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
17/38
Peach Crumble Pie
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A delightful summertime pie, this dessert is overflowing with fresh peach flavor. Each sweet slice is packed with old-fashioned appeal. The streusel topping makes this peach crumble pie a little different than the ordinary and adds homemade flair. —Sally Holbrook, Pasadena, California
18/38
Banana Bread Pudding
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I visited my grandmother in summer, I always looked forward to the comforting pudding she'd make. With its crusty golden top, custard-like inside and smooth vanilla sauce, this bread pudding is a real homespun dessert. Now I make it for my grandchildren. —Mary Detweiler, Middlefield, Ohio
19/38
Apple Butter Cake Roll
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a new take on a pumpkin roll. Her spicy gingerbread cake might make you think back fondly to Christmas at Grandma's! —Debbie White, Williamson, West Virginia
20/38
White Chocolate Fruit Tart
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It takes a little time to make, but this tart is absolutely marvelous, especially in summer when fresh fruit is in abundance. —Claire Darby, New Castle, Delaware
21/38
Pumpkin Mousse
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you've had your fill of pumpkin pie, this cool and creamy pumpkin mousse is perfect for you. Its light and fluffy texture won't make you feel "stuffed" after your favorite turkey dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
22/38
Chocolate Malted Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips and chunks, these are the best cookies I've ever tasted … and with six kids, I've made a lot of cookies over the years! —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
23/38
Berry-Topped White Cupcakes
Total Time
50 min
Servings
22 cupcakes
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests just love these yummy white cupcakes that are topped with a cream cheese frosting. The strawberry-blueberry garnish makes them the perfect treat for a patriotic-themed party on Memorial Day or Fourth of July. —Judy Kenninger, Brownsburg, Indiana
24/38
Lemon Icebox Pie
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You will detect a definite lemonade flavor in this refreshing pie. High and fluffy, this dessert has a creamy smooth consistency. —Cheryl Wilt, Eglon, West Virginia
25/38
Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a chocolate lover, and this treat has satisfied my cravings many times. No one guesses the brownies are light because their chewy texture and rich chocolate taste can't be beat. —Heidi Johnson, Worland, Wyoming
26/38
Blueberry Zucchini Squares
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I saw a bar recipe using apple and lemon zest on a muffin mix. I tried it from scratch with shredded zucchini and fresh blueberries instead. It’s a nifty combo. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
27/38
Apple Crisp
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I live in apple country, and making a delicious apple crisp is one way to use the fruit. This treat doesn’t take a lot of time to assemble. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin
28/38
Lemon Ricotta Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This lemon ricotta cake recipe is a family gem that was passed down from my grandmother and mother. Garnished with shaved lemon zest, the moist four-layer cake is the perfect dessert when you want to impress. —Nanette Slaughter, Sammamish, Washington
29/38
Layered Mocha Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In my search for the perfect mocha cheesecake, I ended up combining a few of my favorite recipes to create this delicious version. It’s as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
30/38
Kentucky Butter Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this Kentucky butter cake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida
31/38
Brownie Mix Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate chips and brownie mix cookies pack a rich chocolate taste while remaining simple to make. Rolling the dough in powdered sugar gives them their inviting crackled appearance. —Ellen Govertsen, Wheaton, Illinois
32/38
Cappuccino Mousse Trifle
Total Time
35 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
"This is the easiest trifle I've ever made, yet it looks like I spent time on it," says Tracy Bergland, Prior Lake, Minnesota. "I like to pipe whipped topping around the edge of the bowl, grate chocolate in the center and sprinkle with cinnamon. It gets rave reviews."
33/38
Sour Cream Apple Pie
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A cool, creamy version of the original, this delicious dessert is the perfect finish to a satisfying summer meal. Its crumbly topping and smooth apple filling are crowd-pleasers! Be prepared to serve seconds. —Sharon Bickett, Chester, South Carolina
34/38
Frozen Mocha Marbled Loaf
Total Time
15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This showstopping marbled dessert seems fancy, but it's really simple to prepare ahead of time and pop in the freezer. Frosty slices have a creamy blend of chocolate and coffee that's delightful anytime of year. —Cheryl Martinetto, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
35/38
Contest-Winning Chocolate Angel Food Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I take this different kind of angel food cake to church bake sales, it goes before I can get it on the table!—Mary Ann Iverson, Woodville, Wisconsin
36/38
Sugar Cream Pie
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I absolutely love Indiana sugar cream pie; especially the one that my grandma made for me. Here, we serve it warm or chilled and call it "Hoosier" sugar cream pie. —Laura Kipper, Westfield, Indiana
37/38
Flan de Queso
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A small slice of this impressively rich, creamy, caramel flan dessert goes a long way. What a delightful finish for a special meal or holiday celebration. —Pat Forete, Miami, Florida
38/38
Hot Fudge Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a wonderful way to top off a great meal—a rich chocolaty cake that's not overly sweet. Mom served it with a scoop of ice cream or cream poured over. I'd always have room for a serving of Hot Fudge Cake.
—Vera Reid, Laramie, Wyoming
