Barbecues aren't just for burgers and steaks. As a BBQ enthusiast with years of grilling experience, I've discovered that once the main course flames die down, the residual heat is perfect for crafting irresistible desserts. Impress your guests, save energy, and delight everyone with these 18 quick, foolproof recipes.
Grilling fruit unlocks caramelized sweetness without derailing your diet. Halve ripe peaches, grill until charred, and serve with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon sugar, or a splash of rum sauce for a tropical twist.
Perfect as the grill cools. Slice bananas lengthwise in their skins, stuff with chocolate, mini marshmallows, and slivered almonds. Wrap and grill until gooey—a hit with kids and adults alike. Full recipe available.
Sweet pizza on the grill? Absolutely. Spread pizza dough with ricotta, top with cherries (soaked in kirsch optional) and chocolate shavings. Grill for a warm, bubbly treat. Experiment with banana-chocolate, strawberry-white chocolate, pear-caramel, or apple-cinnamon.
Peel and slice pineapple, brush with honey and spices, then grill over medium heat for 15 minutes. Pair with coconut sorbet for a refreshing, expert-approved finish. Pro tip: Ripen pineapple faster with this trick.
Bake a simple yogurt cake, slice thickly, and toast on the cooling grill. Top with warm cherry compote (or seasonal fruit) and whipped cream. Pro tip: Turn fruit scraps into compote to save money and reduce waste.
Over embers, skewer bananas, marshmallows, and yogurt cake cubes. Melt chocolate in a heat-safe dish for dipping. Toast skewers fireside for an unforgettable evening. Pro tip: Perfect melting technique here.
Toss pre-made donuts on the rack for a smoky, crispy upgrade. A game-changer you have to try.
In a cast-iron skillet, layer cubed seasonal fruit with sugar and flour, top with pie crust, and grill until golden. Simple, custardy perfection.
Halve bananas lengthwise, grill, and top with ice cream scoops. Classic reinvented. Full recipe here. Pro tip: Easy banana-peeling hack.
Cube pound cake into 4cm pieces, alternate with strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, pears, or grapes on skewers. Grill and serve with whipped cream.
Hollow orange halves, fill 3/4 with vanilla cupcake batter, and grill in coals or foil. Test doneness with a knife. Use a muffin tin for even baking.
Line cast-iron skillet with shortcrust pastry, spread blueberry jelly, add 600g fresh blueberries. Grill 10-15 minutes. Recipe here. Pro tip: Grow endless blueberries with these methods.
Foil packets make it hands-off. Follow the recipe—it bakes while you dine.
Use dying embers for giant cookies (25 minutes) or small ones. Swap oven for grill with your go-to recipe. Details here.
Versatile for dessert, breakfast, or snacks. Halve grapefruits, loosen segments, sprinkle sugar-vanilla or cinnamon, grill 10 minutes. Recipe here.
Two shortcrust sheets, foil, 500g halved strawberries, 50g sugar, 2 tbsp cornstarch. Layer, seal as turnover, grill 35 minutes.
Shortcrust bases in foil molds, one marshmallow, chocolate chips, and a square. Grill minutes for nostalgic bliss.
On the plancha, toast brioche for a luxurious grilled dessert.
Which of these grill desserts have you tried? Share your favorites and results in the comments—we'd love to hear!
