Dessert probably isn’t the first course you think of when it comes to what to slap on the backyard barbecue. But cooking fruit over an open flame can bring out a delicious smoky, naturally caramelized flavor from the fruit. Try a few of our grilled fruit recipes and your guests just might be slathering over a pineapple steak at your next outdoor feast.

For the best results, be sure to clean and lightly oil the grates of your barbecue grill before grilling your fruit. Try your grilled fruit topped with vanilla or coconut milk ice cream for an extra delicious treat. Substitute coconut oil for butter in the recipes to make the grilled fruits a vegan delight.

1. Grilled Pineapple Spears

Serves 4, about 12-15 spears

Ingredients

1 pineapple, cut into 1-inch spears
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup sucanat or brown sugar

Method

Toss pineapple spears in butter and then in sucanat/brown sugar. 

Grill over high heat for about 3 minutes per side (12-15 minutes total), or until lightly caramelized on each side. 

2. Grilled Peach Halves

Serves 4, 8 halves

Ingredients

4 peaches, halved and pitted
1/4 cup butter, melted

Method

Brush peaches with butter on their pitted sides. Grill for 10-15 minutes, until caramelized, turning every few minutes.

3. Grilled Cinnamon Apples

Serves 4, 8 halves

Ingredients

4 apples, cored and halved
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons sucanat or brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Method

Brush apples with butter. Mix remaining ingredients and sprinkle over the cut halves of apples.

Grill for 10-15 minutes over medium-high heat, until caramelized, turning every few minutes.

4. Barbecue Fruit Salad Kabobs

Serves 4, 8 kabobs

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1 teaspoon lime juice
2 peaches, peeled, pitted and quartered
4 kiwis, peeled and quartered
2 bananas, peeled and cut into four pieces each
8 strawberries, hulled
8 wooden skewers, soaked in water

Method

Whisk together butter, honey and lime juice.

Thread fruit pieces onto each skewer. Place skewers on a foil-covered grill over medium-high heat. Drizzle half honey-butter mixture over fruit and cook for about 5 minutes, flip and drizzle remaining honey-butter mixture over fruit. Grill for another 5 minutes.

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Image: DavidReber

The post Barbecue for Dessert? 4 Grilled Fruit Recipes appeared first on organicauthority.com - Organic Living.