Ice Cream is the perfect gluten-free dessert! It is naturally gluten-free and easy to dress up with delicious toppings for every occasion, from fancy holiday dinner parties to backyard ice cream socials on hot summer days, and kid-friendly ice cream buffets!
For those of us with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or another medical reason for having a gluten-free diet every ingredient must be safe, starting with the ice cream.
To that end, I've compiled a list of gluten-free ice cream brands. The list includes decadent options from Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's to the more affordable Breyers Ice Cream. Breyers is my ice cream brand of choice when looking for reasonably-priced classic ice cream flavors for a crowd.
Once you've found your perfect ice cream, you're ready to dive into this ultimate list of toppings for a completely gluten-free treat.
Your ice cream will be next level with this collection of fresh ingredients, simple recipes, and even ready-made toppings you can pick up at the grocery store or online. I've clearly noted (Recipe) next to the recipes on the list and added product links for specific gluten-free toppings.
Even your gluten-loving guests will be impressed at your next ice cream party!
Some of the links on this post are affiliate links. To learn more, visit our Disclosures.
Fresh Fruit & Sauces
Fruit is one of my favorite ice cream toppings. Try a tiny scoop of ice cream with an abundance of in-season fruit. This fruit-heavy dessert is a perfect fruit-and-cream combo that rivals any gluten-filled dessert.
- Fresh Strawberry Slices
- Homemade Strawberry Sauce (Recipe) or Hershey's Strawberry Syrup (labeled gluten-free)
- Fresh Peaches or Caramelized Peaches (Recipe)
- Raspberry Sauce (Recipe)
- Mangos
- Caramel Apple Topping (Recipe)
- Banana Split
- Melon Balls
- Maraschino Cherries: most contain unspecified "natural flavors" so look for gluten-free on the label, like these maraschino cherries sold on Amazon).
- Passion Fruit Coulis (Recipe)
- Mixed Fresh Berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries & blueberries. For the 4th of July, serve simple vanilla ice cream topped with strawberries and blueberries.
- Pineapple & Coconut
- Dried Cranberries: Ocean Spray Craisins are labeled gluten-free.
- Cranberry Sauce (Recipe): put those Thanksgiving leftovers to good use!
- Cherries Jubilee (Recipe): This recipe is made with whiskey or bourbon. Distilled spirits are considered gluten-free, even if made with a gluten-containing grain because the distillation process leaves behind the gluten protein. You could also choose a variety of bourbon or whiskey made with corn, sorghum, or millet. Check for flavorings added after distillation, as those may contain gluten.
Flowers & Spices
These floral and spice toppings are elegant, simple options to add to your ice cream. They are creative ingredients you can combine to invent unique combos... like lavender and honey on lemonade sorbet or pumpkin spice syrup with sprinkled cinnamon and candied ginger on butter pecan ice cream.
- Lavender: sprinkle on top, a little goes a long way
- Rose Petals
- Mint Leaves
- Chili Powder or Cayenne Pepper for some kick!
- Creme de Menthe Syrup
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg
- Candied Ginger or Ground Ginger
- Pumpkin Spice Syrup (Recipe)
Decadent Sauces & Creamed Toppings
This section is for serious ice cream connoisseurs. You want your ice cream rich and decadent. There are no limits here. Mix, match, drizzle, and swirl these toppings for a dessert you'll dream about later.
- Maple Whipped Cream (Recipe)
- Peanut Butter
- Almond Butter
- Homemade Magic Shell (2-Ingredient Recipe): This so-easy recipe can be made with a variety of Nestle's gluten-free morsels, creating a Dark, Milk, or White Chocolate Magic Shell... or even a Chocolate Peanut Butter Magic Shell! Note, store-bought Magic Shell has no gluten ingredients but is not tested.
- Reddi-Wip
- Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip (3-Ingredient Recipe)
- Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup (labeled gluten-free)
- Hershey's Caramel Syrup (labeled gluten-free)
- Gluten-Free Caramel Sauce from Trader Joe's (labeled gluten-free)
- Dairy-Free Salted Caramel Sauce (Recipe): the perfect topping for one of Ben & Jerry's Certified Gluten-Free, Non-Dairy Flavors.
- Nutella
- Honey
- Hot Fudge Sauce (Recipe)
- Marshmallow Sauce (Recipe)
- Marshmallow Fluff
Candy & Chocolate
Satisfy your sweet tooth with candy mix-ins. Pick up your favorite candy at the store or use up leftover holiday candy from Easter, Halloween, or Christmas.
- Betty Crocker Sprinkles: always check the label. Most, not all, are labeled gluten-free. Sprinkles are an easy way to dress up your ice cream with vibrant colors to match your party theme or the season.
- Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
- Reese's Minis Peanut Butter Cups or full-size Reese's Peanut Butter Cups chopped into small pieces. Most Reese's varieties are labeled gluten-free, except seasonal shaped.
- Reese's Pieces (labeled gluten-free)
- Nestle Chocolate Chips: Many are labeled gluten-free (always check the package) including Milk, Dark & White Chocolate, Semi-Sweet Mini Morsels, Chunks, and Chocolate-Peanut Butter.
- Candy Canes: many brands of candy canes contain unspecified natural flavors, which in the US can mean undeclared barley. Yum Earth Mini Candy Canes (labeled) and Spangler Mini Candy Canes are gluten-free (according to the manufacturer's website)
- Butterfinger Bits
- Mike & Ike: These colorful candies are a sweet addition to a build-your-own-sundae bar at kids' parties.
- Marshmallow Peeps: You aren't limited to the colorful Easter chicks & bunnies, look for Halloween pumpkins, Christmas snowmen & more. Always check the label for gluten-free.
- Skittles (now labeled gluten-free!)
- Candy Conversation Hearts: Sweethearts Conversation Hearts are gluten-free, according to the manufacturer.
- York Peppermint Patties: Hershey will note gluten-free on the package. Recently, even seasonal shapes of these chocolate-covered mints have been labeled gluten-free!
- Mini Marshmallows: Target's Good & Gather Marshmallows are labeled gluten-free!
- Gummy Bears & Worms: Albanese makes gluten-free gummy bears and gluten-free gummy worms in a variety of traditional and unique flavors.
For candy inspiration, visit this comprehensive post on Gluten-Free Halloween Candy with a free printable list or check out these other seasonal candy lists: Gluten-Free Valentine’s Candy Tips & Free Printable, Gluten-Free Easter Candy, and Gluten-Free Christmas Candy.
Crunchy Nuts & Toppings
These sweet and salty toppings add the perfect crunch to your frozen dessert.
Tip! Check the label before purchasing nuts. While nuts are naturally gluten-free, many are packaged on the same lines as gluten-containing ingredients. I purchase gluten-free nuts from Nuts.com. Be sure to select products specifically from the gluten-free category on Nuts.com.
- Candied Bacon Pecans (Recipe): you're welcome!
- Snyder's Gluten-Free Pretzels
- Glutino Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Glutino Yogurt Covered Pretzels
- Pistachios: I recommend no shells, roasted and salted Wonderful Pistachios, which are labeled gluten-free.
- Peanuts
- Fruity Pebbles: Did you know this popular kids' cereal is labeled gluten-free?
- Chocolate Almond Quinoa Crispies (Recipe)
- Toasted Walnuts (Recipe)
- Heath English Toffee Bits
- Gluten-Free Graham Crackers: There are so many options, including Pamela's Gluten-Free Honey Graham Crackers, Simple Mills Honey Cinnamon Sweet Thins, and Annie's Gluten-Free Bunny Grahams. The bunny grahams are adorable for Easter.
- Chocolate Covered Pecans (Recipe)
Crumbled Baked Goods
The possibilities are endless! If you can bake it, you can crumble or cut it into a delectable ice cream topping.
- Gluten-Free Oreos
- Gluten-Free Gingersnaps (Recipe)
- Goodie Girls Mint Slims: This Girl Scout Thin Mints knock-off is practically perfect!
- Sugar Cookies (Recipe): My family recipe for soft, cut-out, sugar cookies.
- Tate’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Tate's also makes gluten-free Ginger Zinger and Lemon Cookies, along with gluten-containing cookies. Check the label and be sure you picked up the gluten-free versions!
- Schar Hazelnut Wafers or Glutino Lemon Wafers: no need to crumble these up. Simply tuck them into the corner of your ice cream for a classic embellishment.
- Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls: You'll love this recipe for soft, gooey Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls that are every bit as delicious as the gluten-filled ones you remember!
- Sweet Loren's Cookie Dough: While you could bake these certified-gluten-free, vegan, chewy cookies before adding them to ice cream, I recommend simply chopping up the raw dough for gluten-free cookie dough ice cream. While regular raw cookie dough is generally off-limits, look for the words "safe to eat" on the front of Sweet Loren's packaging. Check out these flavors: Gingerbread, Chocolate Mint, Sugar, Chocolate Chunk, Pumpkin Spice, Fudgy Brownie, and Oatmeal Cranberry.
- Gluten-Free Brownies: King Arthur Fudge Brownies and Krusteaz Double Chocolate Brownies are both quick and delicious brownie mixes. Bake, and then chop or break these brownies into tiny pieces to sprinkle onto your ice cream. Make it chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup for a triple chocolate treat.
- Christmas Cookies: Pick from this collection of 20+ Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie Recipes.
- Aldi's Gluten-Free Cheesecake Sampler: this delicious and affordable treat includes slices of chocolate chip, lemon swirl, strawberry swirl, and New York cheesecake. It is historically available at Aldi during Celiac Disease Awareness Month, May.
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie (Recipe): Can you think of anything better to do with leftover pie than to chop it into delicate little pieces and sprinkle it on top of ice cream?
Can't choose between cheesecake and pumpkin pie? Cut-up bites of these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars are a winning combination of the two.
Holiday & Celebration Combos
Combine the above ingredients to create the ultimate sundae customized for any holiday, kids' party, or themed celebration.
- Holiday Ice Cream: leftover cranberry sauce, chopped walnuts, and gingersnaps, over plain vanilla ice cream.
- Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream: butter pecan ice cream topped with leftover pumpkin pie, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and maple whipped cream.
- Honey-Lavender Lemonade Sorbet (perfect for Mother's Day): a sprinkle of culinary lavender and a drizzle of honey on Haagen Dazs lemon sorbet.
- White Christmas Fudge Ice Cream: pistachios, dried cranberries, white chocolate chips on vanilla ice cream.
- Hot Chocolate Ice Cream: a base of chocolate ice cream, covered with crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows or marshmallow sauce , and whipped cream.
- S'mores Ice Cream: gluten-free graham crackers, roasted marshmallows, and chocolate sauce on top of chocolate ice cream.
- Unicorn Ice Cream: Fruity Pebbles and Reddi-Wip on strawberry ice cream. Plus rainbow sprinkles because you can never have too much rainbow at a unicorn party.
- Worms-in-Dirt Ice Cream: chocolate ice cream, topped with crushed gluten-free Oreo cookies, chocolate syrup, and gummy worms.
- Valentine's Day Ice Cream: strawberry ice cream, topped with raspberry sauce, whipped cream, and a few thoughtfully selected conversation hearts or your sweetheart's favorite gluten-free Valentine's Day candy.
Mix and match to your heart's (and belly's) delight! I'd love to see your sweet creations! Post pics on Instagram or Facebook and tag @goglutenfreely.
Gluten-Free Ingredients
Double-check that your ingredients are gluten-free. I have linked to gluten-free products throughout this post, but ingredients can change at any time. Always check the product label for the most up-to-date information.
How to Serve Ice Cream?
For the ultimate ice cream sundae party, set up a buffet with ice cream scoopers and gluten-free ice cream at the first station. Then bowls of toppings and serving spoons.
Tip! If also serving glutenous add-ins, keep those items on a separate table away from the ice cream and the gluten-free toppings, to prevent gluten cross-contact. Let your gluten-free guests go first.
Bowls, Cones & Cookies!
For the prettiest appearance, copy what most restaurants do and serve ice cream in glass bowls.
Ice cream is always a hit in gluten-free cones. You'll need to stick with minimal toppings, like sprinkles. Or offer cones and bowls, so guests can dump a loaded ice cream cone upside down into a bowl full of their favorite toppings.
Place ice cream between two gluten-free cookies and roll in light toppings, like mini-chocolate chips, Heath English Toffee Bits, sprinkles, or coconut flakes. Try these combos:
- Tate’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, vanilla ice cream, and colorful sprinkles.
- Sweet Loren's Fudgy Cookies, Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, mini chocolate chips.
- Homemade gluten-free gingersnaps, Breyer's Butter Pecan Ice Cream, and chopped pecans or candied ginger.
- Sweet Loren's Sugar Cookies, Haagen Dazs Green Tea Matcha Ice Cream, crushed white chocolate chips.
Related Recipes:
These desserts are all ideally served warm with a scoop of simple vanilla ice cream on top:
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe with Homemade Crust
- Gluten-Free Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe
- Gluten-Free Apple Crisp (Dairy-Free & Oat-Free Options)
- Rustic, Gluten-Free Apple Galette
If you have an ice cream maker, try your hand at one of these Homemade Ice Cream Recipes.
