Go Back

Bloomin' Grilled Apples

Bloomin' grilled apples are cut into thin vertical slices, then fanned open so they grill caramelized with cinnamon butter. The result is a blooming apple shape that’s tender and sticky-sweet, served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apples
  • 4 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
Cinnamon Butter
  • 4 tbsp butter, melted
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
Serving
  • 1 vanilla ice cream

Method
 

Prep the apples
  1. Cut thin slices into the apples from top to bottom, stopping just short of cutting all the way through so the apple stays intact. This creates a fanned-open shape that will bloom on the grill.
  2. Mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until the cinnamon is evenly distributed. Look for a thick, glossy mixture with visible cinnamon flecks.
  3. Fan the apple slices open slightly and brush the cinnamon butter mixture over the cut surfaces. Aim to coat the inner gaps so they caramelize as they grill.
Grill until caramelized
  1. Wrap the bottom of each apple in foil, leaving the top exposed so the fruit can brown. Keep the foil snug at the base to prevent burning and dripping.
  2. Grill over medium heat for 12-15 minutes until the apples are tender and caramelized. You should see the top edges darken and the cinnamon-brown sugar syrup bubble and set.
Serve
  1. Serve the bloomin' grilled apples warm with vanilla ice cream. Spoon any caramelized juices over the ice cream for extra coating.

Notes

For clean slices that still bloom, keep the knife steady and don’t cut through the bottom; if the apples are very firm, let them sit at room temperature for 5 minutes first. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; rewarm on a grill or in a skillet over low heat until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the apple texture can soften too much after thawing. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat butter and swap to a sugar-free brown-sugar substitute.