When most people think of Paleo or AIP baking, they picture dry muffins, crumbly loaves, and cookies that could double as coasters. Fair. Baking without grains, refined sugar, or dairy can feel like a chemistry experiment. But it doesn’t have to be.
Once you learn a few smart swaps (coconut or cassava flour, maple syrup, and gelatin eggs), everything changes.
These recipes show that baking can still feel cozy and satisfying without gluten or processed sugar. Each treat is grain-free, dairy-free, and naturally sweetened for real flavour and comfort.
What’s Baking This Time
- 🍌 Banana Loaf – soft, lightly sweet, perfect for meal prep.
- 🎃 Pumpkin Pie Squares – classic fall flavour in portable form.
- 🍪 Molasses Cookies – chewy, spiced, and nostalgic.
- 🧈 Shortbread – crisp and buttery without dairy.
- 🌰 Classic Cookies – simple almond flour cookies for every day.
Banana Loaf
This AIP banana bread has become one of those rare Paleo recipes that feels like a true classic. It’s soft, lightly sweet, and not at all crumbly. Something that can be tricky when baking without eggs or grains.
The secret? Using AIP egg substitutes like gelatin eggs to create structure, and slightly green bananas for natural sweetness without overpowering the texture. It’s the kind of Paleo breakfast loaf you can slice, freeze, and grab any time of day.
If you’re after an easy banana loaf recipe, this one’s it. For those who love experimenting, try a cassava flour banana bread variation. Cassava keeps the loaf moist while adding a bit of stretch, almost like gluten would.
What You Need
- ⅓ cup coconut flour
- ¼ cup arrowroot flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 bananas, slightly green
- ⅓ cup melted coconut or palm oil
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water + 1 tbsp gelatin (or 1 egg if tolerated)
How to Make
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another.
- Bloom gelatin in water for 2 minutes, heat gently, whisk until frothy.
- Combine everything, pour into a greased loaf pan.
- Bake 35–40 minutes at 350°F, until golden.
- Cool fully before slicing.
Variation: Add ¼ cup crushed pineapple and a spoonful of shredded coconut for a Hummingbird Cake-style twist.
Pumpkin Pie Squares
These AIP pumpkin pie squares taste like Thanksgiving comfort but are light enough for any weekend. They’re sweetened with maple syrup or honey, rich with coconut oil, and thickened naturally with gelatin – no grains, dairy, or refined sugar needed.
Think of them as easy pumpkin pie squares that hold together beautifully without the hassle of rolling a crust. Out of all the versions we’ve tried, this might be the best pumpkin squares for anyone following a clean-eating or anti-inflammatory diet.
And if you’re on SCD, it easily converts to an SCD pumpkin pie by swapping maple syrup for honey.
Ingredients
Crust:
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- 1 tbsp arrowroot flour
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Filling:
- 2 cups pumpkin purée
- ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- ¼ tsp cloves
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 1½ tsp gelatin + ¼ cup water
Steps
- Mix the crust ingredients, press into an 8×8 pan, and bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes.
- Blend filling until smooth, then pour over the cooled crust.
- Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
- Slice into neat squares and enjoy chilled.
Tip: These travel better than regular pumpkin pie and taste even richer the next day.
Molasses Cookies
If any cookie captures nostalgia, it’s this one. These vegan molasses cookies have that familiar gingerbread warmth, minus the grains and refined sugar. They’re soft, chewy, and beautifully spiced – exactly what you want with a cup of tea or cider.
And yes, people often ask, is molasses Paleo? The answer’s a qualified yes. Used sparingly, it adds depth and iron without spiking your blood sugar.
The best part? They’re AIP cookies easy enough for a weekday bake, no fancy tools needed.
Quick Steps
- Mix coconut flour, tapioca flour, ginger, cinnamon, and baking soda.
- Add coconut oil, applesauce, molasses, and maple syrup.
- Scoop onto parchment, flatten slightly, and bake at 325°F for 15 minutes.
- Let them cool before moving – they firm up as they rest.
Best with: tea, cider, or shared with someone who still thinks Paleo means bland.
Shortbread
Butter-free but buttery in flavour, these Paleo shortbread cookies deliver everything you love about the classic. Perfect for gifting, or just keeping a tin on hand for afternoon tea.
The secret lies in using AIP palm shortening – it gives that smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture you’d expect from butter, without the dairy. Simple, festive, and endlessly versatile.
What You’ll Need
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 2 tbsp arrowroot flour
- Pinch of sea salt
- ⅔ cup palm shortening, melted
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp water
How to Make
- Combine flours and salt.
- Add melted shortening, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Mix until dough forms, then roll between parchment sheets.
- Cut into shapes or press into a baking dish.
- Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes.
- Let cool completely before touching – they crisp as they cool. Store in a tin like the holiday classics you grew up with.
Classic Cookies
If shortbread is your holiday cookie, these are your everyday ones. Soft, chewy, and flexible, this SCD cookie recipe uses super-fine almond flour for the perfect texture. Coarser flours make cookies flat and oily – the finer grind gives lift and chew.
For variety, add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or raisins. If you’re searching for SCD cookies made with almond flour that don’t crumble or dry out, this one’s a keeper.
Step Summary
- Whisk almond flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Beat together egg, honey, vanilla, and coconut oil.
- Combine, add mix-ins, and bake at 330°F for 12–15 minutes.
- Cool 10 minutes before removing from tray.
- They firm up perfectly once cool, keeping that soft-centre magic you expect from a real cookie.
Where to Go Next
For more ideas that pair beautifully with your fresh bakes, visit our Paleo sauces & dips list – you’ll find recipes that complement both sweet and savoury dishes.