Recipes

23 Fruity, Nutty, Buttery, and Sweet Desserts for Chocolate-Haters

Brownie-haters of the world, unite. These non-chocolate desserts are just for you.
Image may contain Food Creme Dessert Cream and Ice Cream
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott

Life as a chocolate-hater can be tough. You'll never willingly eat a molten cake, despite their presence at just about every restaurant and catered party. Plus, you have to endure a lifetime of people asking whether you really hate brownies. (Yes. You do.) From lemon bars to vanilla crème brûlée, these desserts are just for you.

  • Image may contain Food Creme Dessert Cream Ice Cream Drink Milk and Beverage
    Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    1/23

    Tapioca Pearl Pudding

    This textured pudding was inspired by ice cream and gets its concentrated dairy flavor from milk powder, which adds richness without fat. And look: No chocolate!

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  • Alex Lau
    2/23

    Gluten-Free Lemon Bars

    The toasted coconut in the crust lends flavor and texture and complements the curd filling.

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  • Image may contain Creme Cream Food Dessert Ice Cream and Cake
    Jeremy Liebman
    9/23

    Banana Meringue Pudding

    To check if your meringue is stiff, lift the beaters out of the bowl and upend them: The peaks should stick straight up. And make a big batch—this nostalgic dessert always goes quickly.

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  • Image may contain Food Dessert Cake Plant and Pie
    Gentl & Hyers
    10/23

    Sour Cherry Pie

    Adding almond flour to the pastry dough makes for a super-tender, toasty-looking crust.

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  • Image may contain Food Creme Dessert Cream Dish and Meal
    Max Kelly
    13/23

    Burmese Semolina Cake

    Semolina flour is ground from durum wheat and is usually used to make pasta; toasting it deepens its flavor, and its fine grain yields a tender, custardy cake.

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  • Image may contain Plant Fruit Food Strawberry Cream Dessert Creme Burger Blueberry Confectionery and Sweets
    Peden + Munk
    14/23

    Strawberry-Basil Shortcakes

    We love the combination of gently cooked and raw strawberries in this not-too-sweet version of the classic dessert.

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  • Image may contain Food
    Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    15/23

    Caramelized-Honey Brûlée

    If you don’t have a kitchen torch, time to treat yourself. They’re inexpensive and super fun to use—and you can’t make this dessert without one.

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  • Image may contain Human Person Cutlery Fork Food Dessert Plant Confectionery Sweets Biscuit and Cookie
    Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    16/23

    Black Sesame Carrot Cake

    Call all your vegan friends! This incredibly moist, expertly spiced carrot cake is worth throwing a party for.

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  • Image may contain Creme Cream Food Dessert and Ice Cream
    19/23

    True Vanilla Ice Cream

    There's nothing, um, vanilla about our homemade version of the classic. Of course, it also makes a great base for your favorite flavor upgrades. Anything but chocolate!

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  • Image may contain Cutlery Fork Creme Ice Cream Cream Food Dessert Dish Meal and Plant
    20/23

    Malted Walnut Pie

    Adding barley malt syrup offers a rounder, less-sweet note in this take on pecan pie.

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Senior Associate Web Editor. When she’s not torturing herself by grinding coffee beans by hand and making her own butter, Rochelle writes about cooking techniques and seasonal eating for bonappetit.com. She comes to BA by way of a small farm in Central New York, where she worked as a farmhand ... Read More
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