Grilled Desserts

These two recipes first appeared in the July / August 2013 issue of Culinaire Magazine courtesy Stephanie Arsenault

Sure, grilling isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking about summer desserts (often these thoughts involve fresh fruit pies, gelato, and the ever present s’more), but believe it or not, it’s one of the easiest, tastiest options out there.

Grilling nearly anything adds a smoky flavour and tell-tale crunch of something cooked on a barbecue or over a campfire. Both features are synonymous with summer, and are a special, unexpected treat when applied to dessert. Fruit, in particular, cooks especially well.

Naturally, we all want to hit up the local farmer’s market and grab a few baskets of cherries, handfuls of berries, and bags of peaches and eat them right away. This is normal. But think of the flavours of those fruits when they’re cooked! They’re sweeter, more intense, and just a little bit juicier; that’s what separates regular fruit from a fruit dessert: it’s the cooking. You can bake them in tarts, stew them and spoon them over a whipped cream-laden shortcake, but grilling offers a unique change to the everyday.

• Try soaking pineapple slices in rum and brown sugar and then grilling them until they’re nice and caramelized.

• Grill slices of watermelon and garnish with lime juice and fresh mint.

• Core an apple, fill the centre with a mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and bourbon, wrap it up tightly in tinfoil, and then cook for about 20 minutes, or until the apple is tender.

• Top any of these tasty treats with a nice heap of sweetened whipped cream or your favourite ice cream and you’ll have yourself an easy grilled dessert.