24 Easy Dairy-Free Desserts

These decadent dairy-free desserts are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Kids and adults alike are guaranteed to find something from this list that they love.

Whether you are vegan or cannot consume dairy because of diet restrictions, these top selections will ensure that you don’t feel like you are missing out one bit.

From chocolate to cheesecake, ice cream, and pudding they’re excellent for anyone who has special dietary needs but doesn’t want to sacrifice indulgence.

Here are 24 dairy-free dessert recipes that work well for simple meals at home or for a crowd at your next event!

1.   Dairy-Free Ice Cream

Who doesn’t like ice cream?? Not only is this dairy-free, but it also contains no eggs!

The whole coconut milk helps keep this ice cream rich and creamy and it’s perfect for making sundaes on a hot summer day.

It’s also a great choice to serve others who may have multiple food allergies.

Tip– When purchasing xanthan gum, make sure to buy brands that are gluten-free certified so that this will be a trigger-free treat almost anyone can enjoy! Fruit toppings and sprinkles add some fun to this delicious dessert.

2.   Dairy-free Chocolate Cake

This seriously chocolate cake is rich, indulgent and one of the best dairy-free desserts to serve for a party! Its fudgy flavor and delicious frosting will be a hit and it even has gluten-free substitutions for those with food sensitivities.

It also freezes well, so you can make cupcakes in advance for your big day or bake the cake and freeze individual slices for those late-night cravings.

For a completely vegan version, use the chia egg substitution, it works great!

3.   Dairy-Free Chocolate Pudding

If you were a child growing up before and during the 80s, you’ll appreciate this old-fashioned treat.

As lactose-free desserts go, this one rivals the traditional recipe you likely grew up enjoying after school!

The cornstarch thickens the pudding while the soy milk makes it ultra-creamy.

While most people will completely cool the pudding in the refrigerator before eating, it’s also great served warm on a cold night. Want to take it up a notch?

Top with dairy-free whipped cream and nuts!

4.   Easy, Dairy-Free Lemon Bars

With their sweet, nutty crust and citrus zing, these easy dairy-free desserts will become a frequent go-to for gatherings.

Lemon bars are classic tea-time treats and perfect for serving larger crowds because you can make so many in just one batch.

They won’t last long though! Fun substitutions include swapping out regular lemons for the fragrant Meyer lemons, and even other citrus fruits like mandarin orange juice!

Make sure to let the bars fully set before slicing and dust with powdered sugar right before serving.

5.   Vegan Banana Pudding

If you are looking for decadent dessert pudding ideas, the homemade banana pudding should be on your list!

This recipe combines 2 types of plant-based milk and cornstarch to achieve the right consistency like the classic we all know and love.

Sliced bananas, crushed vegan vanilla wafers, and vegan whipped cream get layered to make a lovely after-dinner dessert that families will love.

Pro tip- if you are using a vegan pudding mix instead of making this from scratch, avoid soy milk and opt for another vegan milk instead.

6.   Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Pudding

This pumpkin pie pudding gives you all the flavor of your favorite holiday pie without the crust! Cinnamon, vanilla, and maple sugar give just the right amount of spice and sweetness while coconut milk gives it its dreamy, creamy texture.

An added bonus is that you can make this dessert several days in advance. Simply store in an airtight container and serve chilled on the day of your festivities.

Top with dairy-free whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon for presentation!

7.   Dairy-Free Gooey Brownies Recipe

Whether you like them fresh out of the oven or like to wait till they are cooled, these dairy-free brownies are gooey and divine!

This is a good basic recipe that you can switch up for variations too. (Hint- try adding cinnamon and clove with a touch of cayenne for a Mayan flair!)

This recipe also freezes well, so if you have a special event, like a graduation party, coming up, you make them in advance and freeze for up to 3 months!

8.   Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

When adding to your collection of desserts without dairy, don’t forget chocolate chip cookies! Make sure to buy dairy/allergen-free chocolate chips to make sure these will be truly lactose-free.

If you are concerned about using vegetable oil because of health or ethical reasons, try a brand that sustainably sources its ingredients or swap it out for a comparable oil, like coconut oil.

Another tip given by a reader to make the cookies store longer is to make sure that your baking soda is fresh!

9.   Dairy-Free Cupcakes

This is a great recipe for dairy-free cupcakes, but also for egg and gluten-free as well! Chelsweets explains all the ins and outs of baking allergen-free desserts including how to combine different kinds of plant milk and yogurts for great results.

She even explains how to substitute applesauce for eggs! There is also a recipe for dairy-free buttercream frosting.

These cupcakes would be great for a class event or picnic where diet restrictions might not be known ahead of time and you want to offer something to those children who might need an alternative.

10. Dairy-Free Blondies

This Blondies recipe from Taste of Kosher is the perfect cool-weather sweet with a cup of tea or coffee. Rich in that classic caramel flavor, blondies are like a brownie, and yet, not!

Like brownies, they are a great choice for crowds and can be baked and frozen for up to 3 months in advance. You can also switch out ingredients to make this an allergen-free dessert.

A tip to uplevel the recipe: try adding dairy-free butterscotch chips before baking and drizzle with caramel afterward for a truly decadent bar!

11.   Dairy-Free Chocolate Pie

This one is for all vegan chocolate lovers! As this recipe shows, being vegan doesn’t mean that you have to miss out!

Chocolate pie is a classic for holiday gatherings, but you’ll want to make this any time of the year.

This dairy, egg, and soy-free dessert is scrumptious with its silky chocolate filling and coconut whipped cream.

Keep in mind that this is not a completely allergen-free dessert due to the nut butter, but you can easily replace that with sunflower butter to make it for those who consume a more restrictive diet.

12.  Cinnamon Roll Cake

The taste of a cinnamon roll in cake form? YES! What makes this cake so special is that it is also gluten-free, but it doesn’t taste like it!

Making gluten-free desserts are challenging because gluten is often the ingredient needed most for those light and fluffy textures, but thanks to the development of gluten-free flours, it’s easy.

Cashew, almond, or coconut milk work best with this recipe to give it the gooey cinnamon roll texture that we all love, but dairy-free!

13.   Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

These dairy-free chocolate chip cookie bars are the bomb! One batch makes up to 24 servings, so it’s a great pick for larger gatherings.

A tip- adding an extra egg yolk will make them moister! Adults love these treats just as much as kids.

The beauty of these bars is that they are quicker and easier to make than individual cookies, so they are perfect for those last-minute events or guests that are less than an hour away. Simply bake, cool, and slice!

14. Dairy-Free Banana Bread

This flexible dairy-free banana bread recipe can be made in either loaf or muffin form. You can add nuts or not.

It stores for up to 4 days at room temperature (perfect for a take-along road trip treat!) and up to 3 months if frozen.

These also make great lunchbox muffin treats so make a double batch, freeze and simply pull out however many muffins you need per lunchbox on the morning of school and they will be thawed by lunchtime to be enjoyed by your children.

15.   Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie

Don’t want to sacrifice dessert for thanksgiving? This pumpkin pie has all the spices and taste of the classic, but is dairy-free!

Coconut milk ensures that the rich texture of pumpkin pie filling remains, while vegan butter makes this pie crust just as good as the ones you knew growing up!

Cinnamon, clove, allspice, and nutmeg will have your taste buds dancing and your house smelling like the holidays as it bakes!

This recipe freezes really well, so be sure to make a couple extra for when unexpected holiday guests pop over for a visit!

16.   Dairy-free Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe

With only 6 ingredients and 20-minutes of prep time, this has got to be one of the easiest dairy-free desserts to make, especially if you are short on time! And, it’s also gluten-free, no-bake, and completely vegan.

So, how in the world do you make dairy-free CHEESECAKE? The secret lies with a couple of special ingredients like dairy-free cream cheese and dairy-free double cream. Look for them in the specialty refrigerator section in your grocery store.

If you want to spruce this dessert up a little, try garnishing with fresh fruit or edible flowers.

17.  Cut Out Dairy Free Sugar Cookies

When Chrissy from Dairy-Free For Baby had a baby born with several food intolerances, she got to work developing dairy-free recipes for her son.

This recipe for cut-out dairy-free cookies is a fun treat for kids that won’t leave them feeling left out at all! She even includes a simple dairy-free icing recipe for those who like to frost their cookies.

The cookie dough freezes well and can be frozen as discs to roll out later or as a log shape to slice and bake.

18. Decadent Dairy-Free Carrot Cake

A classic Easter or Spring dessert, this Decadent Dairy-Free Carrot cake from Tasty is delicious.

Chock full of carrots, raisins, and spices, the moist cake won’t last long at your next gathering. The frosting is made using a surprising ingredient: cashews!

The cashews are soaked and then combined with the other ingredients in a food processor till smooth and creamy.

The consistency is just like dairy-based frosting and just as rich! Garnish with grated carrot and chopped walnuts for a festive look.

19.   Coffee Cake

Whether you serve this dairy-free coffee cake with your morning meal to enjoy with your cup of java or as an accompaniment to afternoon tea, this sweet vanilla dessert with cinnamon filling and crumb topping will become a regular favorite.

The crumb topping is best made with vegan butter in block form, as spreads usually have a higher water content that doesn’t work well with crumbles.

If you want more of a classic crumble, use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar.

20. Vegan Lemon Tart Recipe

Tarts are such lovely desserts for presentation. This vegan lemon tart is beautiful and packed with flavor.

It is a perfect choice for brunches or luncheons that require a more elegant fare. A touch of turmeric adds that beautiful golden color but isn’t necessary for a beautiful dessert.

And while it may look complicated, this recipe is actually really simple and only requires about 20 minutes of bake time.

Garnished with fresh strawberries and lemon slices, this gorgeous dessert will look as pretty as it tastes.

21.  Dairy-Free Truffles

If you are looking for non-dairy dessert recipes to serve with a more elegant or romantic meal, these dairy-free truffles will not disappoint!

Rich, dairy-free dark chocolate is melted and blended with coconut milk and nut butter to make these melt-in-your-mouth treats. The truffles are then rolled in garnishes like freeze-dried strawberries, shredded coconut, or sprinkles.

They will keep at room temperature for 4-5 days, but can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Just simply thaw to room temperature when you are ready to serve.

22.  Vegan Gluten-Free Applesauce Cake

This old-fashioned classic is reborn into a vegan, gluten-free option for those who cannot tolerate dairy or other triggering ingredients.

With no dairy, no gluten, and no eggs whatsoever, it is a safe dessert to serve at buffets. The raisins and applesauce make it plenty sweet and moist, while the spices add depth of flavor.

The cinnamon buttercream frosting takes it to the next level, but if you want a more simple dessert, it can be served plain or with a light dusting of powdered sugar.

23. Dairy-Free Coconut Macaroon Cookies

A truly indulgent cookie, the macaroon has been around since as early as the 1500s! This simple dairy-free macaroon recipe will delight with its rich coconut flavor.

The dough can be made and frozen up to six weeks in advance but remember that it is important to completely thaw the dough before baking.

Another storage tip is to store the baked cookies in layers between parchment paper in a metal container so they don’t stick together and remain crisp. Enjoy!

24. Gluten-Free Strawberry Crumb Bars

This strawberry crumbles bar dessert is a perfect springtime treat to take advantage of those in-season berries.

As a flexible recipe, you can easily swap out strawberries for other berries too. Make sure to allow the bars to cool completely so that they will be easier to slice.

This crumb bar is also delicious served slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!

These will store well wrapped in plastic wrap in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to two months.