Imagine sinking your teeth into a warm, caramelised piece of fruit, its juices boasting a hint of smokey flavour, or indulging in a slice of grilled cake that combines the comforting familiarity of your favourite dessert with a charred twist. This isn’t just any culinary adventure; it’s the sweet side of barbecuing that often goes unnoticed.
This article explores how the grill, typically reserved for savoury meats and vegetables, can transform traditional desserts into extraordinary, smokey delights. From fruits to cakes and beyond, we dive deep into the art of grilling desserts, offering tips, recipes, and inspiration to make your next barbecue an unforgettable sweet treat.
Why Grilled BBQ Desserts?
Before we get started on the delicious desserts you can make on the BBQ, it’s important to understand how cooking desserts on the BBQ works to create a unique flavour. While the BBQ is mainly used for searing meats and vegetables, did you know it can also roast, bake, and smoke?
When cooking desserts, the BBQ can achieve delicious results by utilising the Maillard reaction (the browning of sugars and proteins) and infusing a tasty smokey flavour.
One factor that makes BBQs an excellent choice for cooking desserts is their ability to provide indirect heat, which allows for controlled cooking. Indirect heat is fantastic for slow-roasting fruits, baking tasty pastries, and infusing a unique smokey flavour into chocolate and nuts.
Classic BBQ Dessert Recipes
Here are some classic BBQ dessert ideas that are easy and tasty to make.
Skillet brownies
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Vanilla essence
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Chocolate chips
What’s better than making traditional brownies in the oven? Grilling them on the BBQ!
Baking the brownies in a skillet over a BBQ’s hot coals generates a delicious smokey flavour.
What is the best way to make these brownies? Right after dinner, when the BBQ is still hot. The optimal temperature to grill the brownies is 180 degrees Celsius. Take the pan of brownies off the grill when they’re still moist in the middle for a fudgy centre and crispy around the edges.
Grilled pavlova with fresh berries
Ingredients
- Egg whites
- Sugar
- Cornflour
- Vinegar
- Vanilla essence
- Whipped cream
- Fresh berries
What’s more classic than a tasty pavlova? A grilled pavlova!
While it may seem strange to bake a pavlova on a BBQ, it actually comes out tasting better than you could ever imagine. Place the pavlova mix into a heatproof dish and grill it indirectly on the BBQ until it’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Once you’ve taken it off the grill, top it off with whipped cream and berries.
Grilled lamingtons
Ingredients
- Lamingtons
- Chocolate icing
- Desiccated coconut
Are you looking to eat some lamingtons with a BBQ twist? Briefly place the pan of lamingtons over the grill to get a smokey flavour. Afterwards, dip them in chocolate icing and cover them in coconut.
Grilled banana split
Ingredients
- Bananas
- Chocolate chips
- Marshmallows
- Crushed nuts
- Ice cream
For a banana split dessert with a twist, split the bananas down the middle (leaving the skin on), stuff them with chocolate chips and marshmallows, and grill them until the chocolate melts. Take the bananas off the grill and serve with ice cream and crushed nuts on top. Enjoy the delicious smokey flavour of the banana.
Grilled caramelised pineapple
Ingredients
- Pineapple slices
- Brown sugar
- Ice cream or whipped cream
Coat your pineapple slices with brown sugar (on both sides) and place them on the grill until caramelised. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream, and let your guests enjoy the smoke-infused pineapple slices.
Innovative BBQ Dessert Recipe Ideas
Looking for BBQ dessert ideas that are a little out of the ordinary? We’ve got you covered.
Grilled French toast kebabs
Ingredients
- Bread
- Eggs
- Milk
- Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Bacon
- Maple syrup
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt. Then add the bread cubes to the mixture, gently stirring to ensure each piece is well coated.
If you’re using wooden skewers, let them soak in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning.
Preheat the grill to medium heat and line it with tin foil. Place the bread cubes onto the skewers and put them onto the grill. Cook them for two to three minutes on each side.
Serve the kebabs with crispy bacon and maple syrup.
S’mores dip
Ingredients
- Plain biscuits
- Chocolate
- Marshmallows
Everyone knows that s’mores are a classic campfire treat, but did you know that you can make an alternative version on the BBQ?
Line the bottom of a skillet with chocolate pieces, then add marshmallows. Place the skillet on the BBQ and grill until the marshmallows are roasted. Serve with plain biscuits to dip into the gooey chocolatey dish that everyone will love.
Get Grilling with Home Fires
Are you looking to improve your dessert game? With a BBQ, you can dish up deliciously grilled desserts, from skillet brownies to grilled French toast kebabs!
If you’re looking for a new BBQ, look no further than Home Fires. We have a range of barbecues to suit everyone. Are you unsure what type of BBQ you’re after? Contact the team or visit us in-store; we’re happy to help and answer any questions you may have.
