Why Most Gluten Free Desserts Aren’t Actually Healthy — And What to Eat Instead

If you’ve ever picked up a gluten-free cookie thinking you’re making a healthier choice, only to feel bloated, foggy, or just disappointed by the taste — you’re not alone.

More people than ever are turning to gluten free desserts hoping to feel better, manage autoimmune conditions, support their gut, or simply cut back on processed ingredients. But here’s the catch: gluten free doesn’t always mean healthy.

Let’s unpack why that is — and how to find gluten free desserts that actually nourish you.

So… What’s Actually in Most Gluten Free Desserts?

Flip the package over on most store-bought gluten free desserts, and here’s what you’ll often find:

• Refined sugar as the first or second ingredient
• Starches and fillers like potato starch, tapioca starch, or corn flour
• Gums like xanthan or guar gum (used to mimic gluten’s texture)
• Preservatives for shelf life
• Cheap oils like canola or soybean oil
• Soy or dairy lurking in unexpected forms

These additives can cause just as much trouble — bloating, inflammation, blood sugar spikes — as gluten itself. And for anyone dealing with autoimmune conditions, IBS, or food sensitivities, that matters.

Why Gluten Free Doesn’t Automatically Mean Healthier

"Gluten free" is often treated as a health halo — but the reality is, many products remove the gluten and add in something just as problematic.

Let’s break down a few common swaps and their problems:

What Makes a Truly Clean Gluten Free Dessert?

If you're trying to eat clean or follow a diet like paleo, AIP, SCD, or Whole30 — you probably know the frustration of seeing “gluten free” on a label, only to find a bunch of junk ingredients inside.

Here’s what to look for instead:

Made with real, whole ingredients (like almond flour, coconut, dates, bananas)
Free from gums, soy, preservatives, and refined oils
Naturally sweetened (with things like fruit or coconut sugar — or no sweetener at all)
No grains or dairy if you’re sensitive
Simple, recognizable ingredient list

So… What Can You Eat Instead?

That’s the real question, right? If 90% of gluten free desserts are full of junk, what do you actually eat?

Here are some truly clean, gluten free dessert options that check all the boxes:

• Almond flour banana bread — naturally sweet from bananas
• Lemon coconut cake — refreshing, grain-free, and dairy-free
• Chocolate coconut cake — rich and fudgy without refined sugar
• Raw cashew cacao bites — energy-boosting, snackable, and AIP-friendly
• Almond cookies — crisp and chewy, made without gums or oils

These are the kinds of treats made at sincerely, BY PARYANI. We started baking clean, gluten free desserts in our own kitchen after an autoimmune diagnosis made us rethink everything we were eating — and now we ship them nationwide.