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NYC's 7 Best Bake Shops For Gluten-Free Desserts

Living a gluten-free lifestyle can be a challenge, particularly when it comes to desserts. The dietary restriction, however, doesn't mean you have to swear off baked goods - especially if you live in New York City. We hit the streets to find the city's best gluten-free treats, sweets and desserts. By Sherry Mazzocchi.

See Also: NYC's 9 Best Cupcakes

Clementine Bakery Cookies
(credit: Clementine Bakery)

More: NYC's 7 Best Cinnamon Rolls

Say goodbye to dry, overly-manufactured imposter desserts. Between Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy lies a sweet vegan and organic shop which makes the sometimes tedious gluten-free lifestyle easy. From moist chocolate brownies to seasonal pumpkin cheesecake, Clementine Bakery offers a wide array of goodies. Ordering a cake or pie has never been easier for those that have Celiac disease - simply check the "gluten free" box on the order form, and let the wheat-free wizards at Clementine do the rest.

Frosting-filled chocolate chip cookies at Peacefoods
Frosting-filled chocolate chip cookies at Peacefoods (image courtesy Peacefoods)

See: NYC's 5 Best Dairy-Free Ice Cream Shops

This elegant, upscale vegan bakery and cafe earns the respect of city residents living the vegan lifestyle. With one glance at the bakery counter, gluten-free folks will also rejoice. We recommend the chocolate chocolate chip cookie, peanut butter chocolate cheesecake or the grasshopper sandwich (two gluten-free cookies bonded together with delicious mint filling).

Raspberry pinwheel cookies
Pip's Place raspberry pinwheel cookies are a family favorite (photo: Sherry Mazzocchi)

Pip's Place

1729-31 1st Ave
New York, NY 10128
(212) 360-6400
pipsplacenyc.com/

Pip's is the brainchild of Denise Cummings, a local mom who loves to bake - but was forced to make a change when her daughter Olivia was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Cummings was forced to relearn all the recipes she once loved to whip up - most of them handed down from her mother and grandmother - so Olivia could enjoy baked goods again. She took her efforts one step further and opened Pip's Place, which is a nod to Olivia's nickname. Everything here, including the fruity granola, is gluten-free and baked fresh right in the shop. Gleaming glass cases showcase chocolate chip cookies, raisin scones and gingersnaps. Fudgy brownies and sticky pecan buns also beckon.

Tu-Lu's Pumpkin Cheesecake & Cupcake
(credit: Tu-Lu's Bakery)

More: New York City's 6 Best Apple Treats

Tu-Lu's motto is "We wholeheartedly believe in gluten freedom for all!" Visitors to this charming bakery often have trouble deciding over the red velvet cake with vanilla cream cheese icing or the chocolate cake with the chocolate ganache. Luckily, the featured cupcake flavor only changes once a week, making sweet decisions a little easier.

BabyCakes emulates that old time look
(courtesy: BabyCakes)

Related: NYC's 6 Best Pumpkin Treats

BabyCakes is the city's premier gluten-free bakery. Instead of wheat, dairy and eggs, they use all-natural, organic and non-chemical sweeteners. The customers contemplating whether they should have the salted caramel chocolate dip donut aren't missing out on delicious flavors.

Desserts are chillin' at Mozzarelli's
(image courtesy of Mozzarelli)

See More: NYC's 5 Best Peanut Butter Treats

New Yorkers think of Mozzarelli's for yummy wheat-free pizza, but they also offer a great selection of gluten-free desserts. Individual slices of pumpkin spice, peanut butter-chocolate and raspberry cheesecakes are available. They also offer several varieties of cookies--including black and whites, biscottis and those fancy Italian cookies made of chocolate and raspberry jam. Yum.

Sprinkles Cupcake
(credit: Sprinkle's Facebook Page)

This Upper East Side bakery boasts a supremely popular red velvet cupcake. For those with a gluten intolerance, there's also a just-as-delicious Celiac-friendly twist. The treat is made with gluten free flour and topped with Sprinkles' original cream cheese frosting.

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