Taste Test: The Best Gluten-Free Desserts in Philly

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake
Super-rich but never heavy, this 100 percent organic vanilla cupcake is topped with sugar-cookie-flavored icing and a Hershey’s kiss. The genius part? There’s a surprise cookie dough chunk hidden in the middle. $3.25 at Sweet Christine’s Bakery, 132 West State Street, Kennett Square, 610-444-5542.

Pistachio Espresso Cookie
Here’s one cookie a gluten-free Goldilocks would approve of: It’s thin but moist and sweet but not too sweet, thanks to the coconut in the batter and a drizzle of bitter dark chocolate on top. In other words, it’s juuuuust right. $3.25 at Pure Sweets (for delivery).

Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut
A mug of fresh-pressed apple cider is all we needed to wash down this melt-in-your-mouth doughnut. So soft and cakey, we think this treat might actually be heaven-sent. Bonus: It’s also dairy-free, egg-free and soy-free to boot. $3 at Sweet Freedom Bakery, 1424 South Street, Center City, 215-545-1899.

Iced Lemon Cupcake
Yes, it’s more muffin than cupcake, but our discerning tasters loved it anyway. Fluffy, lemony cake topped with a not-too-tart lemon drizzle
makes for the perfect dessert. Who needs chocolate, anyway? $3.50 at Main Line Baking Co., 75 East Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, 215-292-4200.

>> This article first appeared in the 2013 edition of Be Well Philly. Get your free copy here.

Photographs by Claudia Gavin