Gluten free desserts: which are suitable and which contain gluten

Natural desserts have no gluten, and prepared ones only work if they say so. Fruit, plain curd, water ices, honey and pure cocoa are suitable for celiacs according to FACE. Flans, custards, cakes or cookies depend on the brand and the label.

Here are the desserts one by one, with a photo and their risk level, sorted from suitable to those that contain gluten. If you need the basics first, start with what is gluten.

Published on November 1, 2026 with data from FACE.

Which desserts have no gluten?

Gluten free desserts are those that do not go through a factory: fresh fruit, plain fresh curd, water ices and granitas, honey and pure cocoa. According to FACE‘s classification, they are conventional foods and need no label.

Simple accompaniments also work: jams and preserves with nothing added, and dried or candied fruit. It is always worth checking the label, because FACE warns that many natural products carry a possible-traces warning. To see what else fits in your day to day, read what celiacs can eat.

Which desserts need a label check?

Dairy desserts (flans, custards, rice pudding and crema catalana), cakes, mousses and gelatin desserts are specific products in FACE’s classification. They are not gluten free by nature: depending on the recipe and the brand they may contain gluten, so they only work with the “gluten free” claim or a checked label. Dairy one by one is in which dairy products contain gluten.

The same goes for cookies, ice cream with a cone or wafer, chocolates and bonbons, powdered sugar and baking extras such as fondant or colorings. Each one is checked on its own. For bread and dough, see gluten free bread.

Which desserts contain gluten?

Sponge cakes and cakes made with wheat flour contain gluten, and so do Christmas sweets such as the Three Kings cake, polvorones and mantecados, unless they are a “gluten free” version. FACE also leaves out bulk ice cream and ice cream with a cone or wafer that contains gluten.

The gluten in a dessert usually comes from wheat flour, malt or the cone. To go through the cereals one by one, see gluten free cereals, and to see every food by category, which foods contain gluten.

Gluten free and gluten desserts, one by one

This is the complete list, sorted from suitable to not suitable desserts. Each card carries its photo and its level: green if suitable, amber if the label needs checking and red if it does not work.

Natural desserts and bases: which ones have gluten and which do not

Prepared desserts: which ones have gluten and which do not

Desserts that contain gluten: which ones have gluten and which do not

How do you choose a gluten free dessert?

To choose a gluten free dessert, follow this order:

1. Start with natural ones: fruit, curd, water ice, honey or pure cocoa need no label.
2. Look for the “gluten free” claim on any packaged dessert. It means less than 20 mg/kg.
3. Check the cone, wafer and cookie in ice creams and cakes: it is where gluten hides most.
4. Avoid bulk and unlabeled desserts.
5. If in doubt, do not eat it. It is FACE’s rule.

To see every food by category, read which foods contain gluten, and to organize the whole diet, gluten free diet: complete guide 2026.

If you also watch lactose, see gluten free and lactose free. And for other gluten free staples, rice and potatoes.

Gluten free desserts in Valencia

At Gato Blanco the whole kitchen is 100% gluten free, and that includes the desserts on the menu: the Valencia Bonita, a homemade almond tart with vanilla ice cream, the homemade brownie with walnuts, the cheesecake with a cookie base and the Gatuno waffle with cream and topping.

It is certified by ACECOVA and we hold the FACE Restauración Sin Gluten seal for 2025 and 2026, so you do not have to ask dish by dish. We have written allergen information for every dish: gluten free covers gluten, and in the kitchen we also work with dairy, egg and nuts.

We are a gluten free restaurant in Valencia in La Zaidía, 7 minutes on foot from the Serranos Towers, and an option if you are looking for a restaurant for celiacs in Valencia with the whole menu safe. You can see every dish on the gluten free menu.

Frequently asked questions

This article is informational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor or a dietitian. Product formulations change: always check the label on the package. Source: FACE (classification of foods suitable for celiacs 2021).