5 Amazing Desserts You Can Grill Outdoors

Who doesn’t love a great grill?

Eating outside provides a chance to bring all of your friends and family together.

Are you making the most of your grill, though? We all know a grill can give a great taste to burgers, ribs, chops and sausages.

I have put together a selection of my favorite grilled desserts for you and, believe me, there is something for everyone. The kids will love my new twist on the classic banana split, and who could resist a s’mores pie?

For the grown-ups, I have a delicious stone-fruit pizza, as well as individual baked apples.

There is also a novel strawberry shortcake kebab recipe that will not only taste amazing, but it will wow everyone at your next gathering.

Banana Split

BBQ Banana Split

Let’s start with a classic here.

The banana split can be given a delicious upgrade by grilling the bananas before assembly.

Then you can still add all of your favorite toppings for a great dessert.

You will need:

  • 6 large bananas
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • Utensils
    2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • Utensils
    Chocolate sauce
  • Utensils
    Sprinkles
  • Utensils
    Maraschino cherries

To grill the bananas, you need to start by mixing the honey, sugar and cinnamon together. Peel the bananas and slice them lengthwise. Brush them with the honey mixture on both sides.

Grill the bananas for around two to three minutes on each side, over a low-to-medium heat. Place the grilled bananas in bowls and top with chocolate sauce, sprinkles, cherries and cream or ice cream.

Baked Apple

BBQ Apples

Many fruits are easy to grill, and the results usually taste delicious.

However, a baked apple is a sure-fire winner which can easily be customized to suit individual tastes.

For example, the dried-fruit filling may be soaked in brandy or a similar liqueur before using. Only for the grown-ups, though.

You will need:

  • 6 large apples
  • 2 slices white bread
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • Utensils
    1 cup raisins or dried fruit
  • Utensils
    1 cup nuts of any kind, but I particularly like walnuts or pecans
  • Utensils
    2 tablespoons butter
  • Utensils
    Aluminium foil

To make your baked apples, you need to start by removing the cores of the apples.

This can be done using a knife or a special tool for coring. You need to have a hole in the center of your apples that is large enough to fill with fruit and nuts.

At this point you should also score the apples around the widest part of them.

This is to prevent them from bursting while cooking.

After this, you need to cut six small pieces of white bread from the two slices. Use these pieces to plug the holes at the bottom of the apples. Trust me, the bread pieces will taste amazing from the sugar and apple juices which are released during grilling.

Now it is time to fill your apples as you choose. Mix a generous spoonful of brown sugar, along with your choice of fruit, nuts and spices, and fill the center hole with the mix.

Wrap each apple in aluminium foil and place them on the grill. Grill over a medium-to- high heat for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are soft.

Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs

Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs

A new twist on the all-time favorite.

This dessert is really easy to throw together. All that is required is some sponge cake, strawberries, and a few items from your pantry.

You will need:

  • 1 angel food cake, weighing around 1 pound
  • 32 large strawberries, around 2 pounds
  • ½ cup creme fraiche
  • Utensils
    ½ cup whipping cream
  • Utensils
    1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Utensils
    2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • Utensils
    6 tablespoons strawberry jam

To make the strawberry shortcake kebabs, you first need to hull the strawberries. It is important to make a slight hollow in each one.

Next you need to beat the whipping cream and creme fraiche together. Add in the sugar and lemon zest as the mixture begins to stiffen. Ensure all of the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is able to hold its shape.

Chill the cream mixture while you prepare the angel food cake. You need to cut the cake into slices, measuring 1.5 inches wide. Then cut these into square chunks. You will need 32 pieces for your kebabs.

To cook the kebabs, ensure that your grill is at a medium-to-low heat. Using a tin tray, heat the strawberry jam until it is bubbling. Use a pastry brush to coat all surfaces of the hulled strawberries, including the inside hollow.

Now it’s time to assemble the kebabs. Using two skewers at a time, thread one piece of cake on and then add a berry. Do this again and your first kebab is done. Repeat this process until you have 16 kebabs with two cakes and two berries on each.

Grill the kebabs over a medium-to-low heat.

They should take around three to four minutes each side. When they are finished, serve them with the chilled cream mixture.

There is no need to soak the wooden skewers before cooking. This is normally done to prevent burning but this recipe doesn’t require much time to cook. All components of this recipe can be made ahead of time, then just grill the kebabs when you are ready.

Stone Fruit Dessert Pizza

BBQ Pizza

Pineapple isn’t the only fruit that can go on a pizza.

For a more sophisticated dessert, try this stone-fruit pizza with delicious summer fruits. I’m sure it will still go down well with the kids, young and old.

You will need:

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 10.5 ounces plain flour
  • 2 sticks of butter
  • Utensils
    5 ounces caster sugar
  • Utensils
    2 teaspoons vanilla essence
  • Utensils
    4 tablespoons honey
  • Utensils
    8 ounces ricotta cheese
  • Utensils
    3 peaches
  • Utensils
    3 plums
  • Utensils
    1 pound cherries

To make your pizza, start by making the sweet pizza dough.

Mix the flour and sugar together, and then make a small well in the center of this. Add in the egg, butter and vanilla. Mix well to combine all of the ingredients.

Knead the dough using your hands, and then place it onto a board to roll it out. Your pizza base should be around half an inch thick.

Grill the pizza base over a medium-to-high heat for five to seven minutes on each side. When it is hot and crispy, remove the base from the grill.

While the pizza base is grilling, you can prepare the fruits for the topping. Wash and cut the peaches and plums into quarters. Then slice these pieces evenly. Wash the cherries, remove the stones and then slice them into quarters.

When the pizza base has finished grilling, brush it with half of the honey. Arrange the fruit pieces on top of this and drizzle them with the remaining honey.

Finally, put the ricotta cheese on top of the fruit. You may like to do this by dotting small spoonfuls of it around the pizza.

Return the pizza to the grill and allow it to cook for a further 10 to 12 minutes. It should be piping hot and the ricotta should have melted and spread.

Then just slice and serve your pizza.

This recipe makes enough to serve six to eight people.

S’mores Pie

S'mores Pie

If a pizza on the grill wasn’t enough, check out this one.

You can make individual pies on the grill, and this s’mores variation will impress your whole neighborhood.

The trick with this recipe is to cook the pie crusts first. Then you add in all of the marshmallows and chocolate for a short time at the end of grilling.

You will need:

  • 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter
  • Utensils
    14 ounces milk or dark chocolate
  • Utensils
    mini marshmallows
  • Utensils
    8 small foil pie dishes

To make the pie crusts, mix the graham cracker crumbs with the sugar and melted butter. When these ingredients are thoroughly combined, divide the mixture into eight parts. Press the mixture into the foil pie dishes using your fingers or a spoon.

Grill the pie crusts over a medium heat until they are crisp and hard. While they are grilling, divide the chocolate into eight parts and break into small pieces.

After you have removed the pie crusts from the heat, fill each one with chocolate and then sprinkle mini-marshmallows on top. Return the pies to the grill and heat them until the chocolate and marshmallows are melted.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the BBQ isn’t just for grilling meat and vegetables. 

There is a whole range of desserts that you can prepare and cook quickly and easily on your grill.

All you have to do is choose a recipe or two and gather up the ingredients.

You’ll quickly be on your way to a sweet and satisfying concoction.

It doesn’t matter if you want fruity flavors, delicious chocolate, or something in between. I guarantee there is an amazing dessert on this list that will tickle everyone’s taste buds.

About the Author William Clay

William Clay is a BBQ enthusiast dedicated to sharing his grilling (and overall cooking) expertise with FireFoodChef's readers.