This post is in partnership with Tillamook. All opinions are my own. How long it takes: 10 minutes on the grill. Equipment you’ll need: your grill, plus an ice cream scoop for serving. Servings: 6
Best Grilled Pineapple with Ice Cream
The last thing you want to do in the summer is bake a cake, am I right? Okay, if we’re being honest, I don’t particularly care for baking cake any time of the year. However, in the summer especially, I’m always looking for quick and easy desserts that won’t heat up my kitchen and won’t take long to make. Grilled pineapple is absolutely perfect on nights when you already have the grill fired up for a BBQ. It’s ready to go for dessert, too! This easy summer dessert idea uses simple ingredients and tastes amazing. I’m also sharing some tips to expand on this recipe and make it more of an ice cream social or party occasion. Don’t miss those!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Dessert Recipe
Quick. Just 10 minutes on the grill is all it takes to prepare this easy dessert. There’s no need to heat up the house! Flavorful. Grilling pineapple brings out such mouthwatering, sweet flavors in the fruit. It’s an indulgent dessert while keeping things light and summery. Serious Hawaiian holiday vibes! Caramel toffee crunch ice cream. I top my grilled pineapple with my new favorite flavor from Tillamook ice cream. It’s filled with big ribbons of soft sweet caramel and plenty of toffee, nutty, and cookie crunch. And it’s absolutely perfect with the sweet, slightly smoky grilled pineapple.
What You’ll Need
This recipe is so simple that it almost feels strange to call it a recipe. Yet simple recipes are best when you have quality ingredients! Below is a short overview. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts and recipe details.
Pineapple: It all starts with a sweet, ripe, bright yellow pineapple. The natural sugars of the pineapple caramelize and become even sweeter when you grill it. Ice Cream: We’re topping our grilled pineapple with sweet, creamy Tillamook Ice Cream. I’m obsessed. This grilled pineapple recipe tastes incredible topped with their caramel toffee crunch ice cream. It’s ultra-creamy, rich, and smooth.
Which Ice Cream Should I Use?
Technically, you can top your chargrilled pineapple with any ice cream flavor of your choosing. Tillamook uses premium ingredients, so it’s not a surprise that the end product is premium ice cream. Plus, they’ve been making it since 1947 so they have it mastered at this point! I love the combination of grilled pineapple with their Caramel Toffee Crunch. PS: Good news, fellow Michiganders! You can buy Tillamook Ice Cream in Michigan now. Tillamook is a farmer-owned dairy brand based in Oregon (you might be familiar with their spectacular Cheddar), and this is the first time you can buy it in Michigan. It’s great news for us!
How to Grill Pineapple
This summertime dessert comes together in minutes on a hot grill. Here’s how to grill your pineapple slices:
Prep. While the grill preheats, brush both sides of your pineapple slices with melted coconut oil. This helps to keep the slices from sticking. Grill the pineapple slices for 4-5 minutes per side. They’re ready when grill marks appear and the pineapple is hot throughout and caramelized on both sides. Serve right away topped with scoops of Tillamook Caramel Toffee Crunch Ice Cream, plus a drizzle of caramel sauce if you’d like. See below for more ideas.
Ways to Serve Grilled Pineapple
These grilled pineapple slices are fantastic topped with a scoop of Tillamook ice cream. The flavor you see in the photos is called caramel toffee crunch. I love some crunch in my ice cream and this flavor is loaded with it: pecans, almonds, bits of chocolate, bits of toffee, and cookies. It’s so good, you guys. Of course, this pineapple recipe would also be delicious topped with good old-fashioned no-churn vanilla bean ice cream. I drizzled these with homemade caramel sauce to really drive that caramel flavor home. Making your own caramel sauce is so easy. For a grown-up twist, try my bourbon caramel sauce. The ice cream itself is loaded with caramel, too, so no matter what, you’re going to love this.
Easy Topping Ideas
This dessert is so versatile. Why stop at ice cream and caramel sauce, when the topping possibilities are endless?
Creative toppings. Roasted strawberries or cherries, potato chips (love that salty-sweet combo!), espresso, pretzels, or flaky sea salt (I like Maldon). Classic toppings. A must for traditionalists! Homemade hot fudge is easy and is always a big hit. Whipped cream, chopped nuts, and chocolate chips are other great classic topping ideas.
Tips for Success
Nothing says summer like a backyard ice cream social! This grilled pineapple with ice cream is the ultimate addition. In honor of National Ice Cream Month, here are some tips for a rollicking good ice cream party:
Give your guests some variety. Offer the basics when it comes to toppings, but also offer some unique items, like this grilled pineapple. To make serving a little easier, you could also dice up your grilled pineapple and use it as a topping. Keep your ice cream from melting. If it’s a hot day, make sure you keep your ice cream in tubs of ice and only bring it out when you’re ready to serve. Scoop your ice cream in advance and place scoops on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in the freezer. When you’re ready to serve, all you need to do is grill the pineapple and top it with ice cream that’s already scooped.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead?
Fridge: You can grill pineapple slices just before serving, or you can grill them ahead and store the grilled pineapple airtight in the fridge for 3-4 days. Enjoy slices cold or reheat them on the grill or in the microwave for serving. Freezer: You can freeze grilled pineapple in a pinch. However, frozen pineapple will be much softer once it’s defrosted. Store the grilled pineapple airtight and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw slices in the fridge before reheating.
This content and recipe is in partnership with Tillamook. I was compensated for my time but all opinions are, as always, my own. Thank you for supporting Rachel Cooks by reading about brands we use and love in our own home. Sponsored posts like these help me cover some of the expenses involved with keeping this site free for you to use!
