9 Great Desserts to Make on the Grill

Grilled S'mores Pie
Grilled S'mores Pie. Photo:

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee

Whether you know the pleasure of sugar-kissed grilled delights or have only ever experienced a charred treat in s'more form, this collection of grilled dessert recipes is precisely the place to set your sweet tooth aflame. "Just as a chicken benefits from the unique 'charred' flavor of charcoal, so do fruit and pastry," recipe developer and cookbook author Paula Disbrowe points out. From the familiar flavor of s'mores as a pie variation to grilled pound cake and skillet brownies, these desserts on the grill are a treat.

01 of 09

Skillet Brownies on the Grill

Skillet Brownies on the Grill
Victor Protasio

These brownies take on a deliciously smoky flavor on the grill from "baking" in a skillet set over hot coals. After you're done grilling dinner, prepare to make brownies by adding a few more lumps of charcoal to maintain a grill temperature of around 350°F. Pull the skillet brownies when they're still a bit moist in the middle for a fudgy center and smoky brownie "bark" around the edges.

02 of 09

Grill-Baked Apple Galette

Grill Baked Apple Galette Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

"Fruit galettes have long been my go-to desserts," says food writer Paula Disbrowe. "Baking galettes on the grill is easier than it sounds, particularly when you think about working your grill as an oven (e.g. grill-roasted chicken). Just as a chicken benefits from the unique 'charred' flavor of charcoal, so do fruit and pastry."

03 of 09

Grilled S’mores Pie

Grilled S'mores Pie
Grilled S'mores Pie.

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee

This decadent pie with a chocolate ganache filling is topped with gooey toasted marshmallows, giving you all the flavors of s’mores but in a pie cooked on a grill.

04 of 09

Grilled Lemon Pound Cake with Peaches and Cream

Grilled Lemon Pound Cake with Peaches and Cream
© Con Poulos

Chef Bryan Calvert loves the versatility of his super-moist lemon pound cake: He uses it to make everything from French toast to a stuffing for baked apples. In the summer, he grills it until crisp and toasty, then tops it with warm, tender grilled peaches and whipped cream.

05 of 09

Skillet Graham Cake with Peaches and Blueberries

Skillet Graham Cake with Peaches and Blueberries
John Kernick

Chicago chef Stephanie Izard’s skillet cake, baked on the grill, gets amazing flavor from graham crackers mixed into the batter and in the crumbly streusel topping. It can also be baked in a 300°F oven for the same amount of time.

06 of 09

Grilled Fruit with Honeyed Lemon Thyme Vinegar

Grilled Fruit with Honeyed Lemon Thyme Vinegar
© Con Poulos

For this super-simple summer dessert, chef Dan Barber infuses honey with lemon thyme vinegar, then drizzles it over grilled summer fruit.

07 of 09

Cherry-Vanilla Clafoutis

Cherry Vanilla Clafoutis
Victor Protasio

Baking clafoutis on the grill lends a delicious and unexpected smokiness to the simple French dessert, while whole-wheat flour provides a nutty kick to this otherwise classic recipe.

08 of 09

Summer Pavlova with Fresh and Grilled Berries

Summer Pavlova with Fresh and Grilled Berries
© Con Poulos

Instead of piling this pillowy Pavlova with just fresh berries, former F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple grills some of the berries in a packet, so they get deliciously juicy.

09 of 09

Grilled Doughnuts with Blueberry Sauce

Grilled Doughnuts with Blueberry Sauce
Eva Kolenko

Something extraordinary happens to a day-old doughnut when you cook it on the grill: It becomes incredibly tender on the inside and nicely crisp on the outside. This technique works for other leftover breads and pastries, too, such as challah, pound cake, or cinnamon buns.

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