The 5 Easiest Grilled Fourth of July Desserts

The 5 Easiest Grilled Fourth of July Desserts

Grilled desserts are a terrific way to add a special, summer-specific touch to a Fourth of July barbecue. Most of us already have our grills fired up for Christmas Day, much-anticipated Thanksgiving Dinners, and Fourth of July barbecues of course, so it only makes sense to throw your holiday desserts on there, too!


You may have never thought to grill your dessert before, but summer is a time for experimentation and adventure. To help you start exploring the world of BBQ desserts, we put together the 5 easiest grilled Fourth of July desserts that will satisfy your sweet tooth and impress your fellow BBQ lovers.

We know the perfect barbecue includes way more than dessert, so we also put together a complete 4th of July BBQ bash menu! For everything from a loaded street corn recipe to the most classically American dessert you’ve ever seen, download your complete 4th of July barbecue menu now.

Festive Grilled Desserts for the Fourth of July

  1. Grilled Banana Boats

  2. Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream

  3. Grilled Pineapple Pound Cake

  4. Grilled Berry Cobbler

The Easiest (and Tastiest) Grilled Desserts

This Fourth of July, celebrate with one or more of these festive and delicious grilled desserts. They’re sweet, refreshing, and reminiscent of simpler times. Best of all, most of these fruits will be in season for the freshest, most flavorful holiday dessert. 

Photo by matthew Feeney on Unsplash

Grilled Banana Boats

These grilled bananas are a delicious twist on the classic summer s’more, except you won’t have to deal with the hot, smokey campfire or messy burnt marshmallows. 


Ingredients: 

  • 6 large, ripe bananas in the peel

  • 6 tablespoons of chocolate chips

  • 6 tablespoons of mini marshmallows

  • 2 tablespoons of chopped pecans

  • 1 can of whipped cream

 

Directions: 

  1. Cut 6, 12-inch sheets of heavy-duty tinfoil.

  2. Heat the grill to about 350° F.

  3. Make a lengthwise cut along the inside curve of each banana with a sharp knife. Do not cut the banana all the way through. 

  4. Open a slit in the banana to make a pocket. 

  5. Crimp and shape the foil pieces around the bananas to make little boats. 

  6. Fill the pocket in each banana with 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons of marshmallows, and ½ teaspoon of pecans. 

  7. Seal the foil around the banana, leaving about 2 to 3 inches of headspace. 

  8. Place on the grill and close the lid. 

  9. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

  10. Remove from the grill and serve immediately, topping with whipped cream if desired.

Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream

Nothing says summertime like fresh peaches, and thankfully peaches are in season during the summer. Pair your grilled peaches with some vanilla ice cream for a cool treat on a hot Fourth of July day. 


Ingredients: 

  • 4 ripe peaches, cut in half with the pits removed 

  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 

  • Vanilla ice cream

  • Honey 

  • Flaky sea salt

 

Directions: 

  1. Start the grill and heat to about 400º F. 

  2. Brush the peaches with oil. 

  3. Place peach on the grill, cut-side down. 

  4. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

  5. Flip peaches over so that the skin side is down.

  6. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes longer.

  7. Remove from the grill and serve with vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. 

Grilled Pineapple Pound Cake

This grilled pineapple dessert is bound to make waves for any tropical fruit lovers present at your Fourth of July barbecue.


Ingredients: 

  • 1 pineapple, sliced into rings

  • 4 tablespoons of butter, melted

  • ¼ cup of brown sugar

  • 1 premade pound cake

  • Vanilla ice cream

  • Caramel ice cream topping 

 

Directions: 

  1. Preheat the grill to about 250º F.

  2. Stir the butter and brown sugar together in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.

  3. Baste pineapple slices with the butter and brown sugar mixture. 

  4. Place pineapple rings on the grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side.

  5. Let the rings cool for a few minutes after removing them from the grill. 

  6. Set the grilled pineapple rings over slices of pound cake and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

  7. Drizzle with the caramel sauce.

Grilled Fruit Skewers 

When you have a hodgepodge of fresh fruit on your hands, these fruit skewers are an excellent healthy option for a festive Fourth of July dessert. For those looking to stay slim this summer, the good news is that there are actually many health benefits of grilling your food.


Ingredients:

  • ½ cup of pure maple syrup

  • ¼ teaspoon of ground cumin

  • ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon

  • ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper

  • 4 cups of fruit chunks, including pineapple, peaches, bananas, or any other fresh fruit you have on hand that can be skewered. 

 

Directions:

  1. Preheat your grill to about 400º F.

  2. Soak bamboo skewers in a bowl of water.

  3. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. For best results, add the fruit last. 

  4. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until the fruit is chilled. 

  5. Thread fruit pieces onto the skewers, alternating which fruits you use. 

  6. Place skewers on the grill directly over high heat for 1.5 minutes on each side. 

  7. Once browned and caramelized, remove from heat and serve warm. 


Pro tip: Try out our Kick Ash Basket Heat Resistant Gloves to make turning skewers easy and safe!

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Grilled Berry Cobbler

Speaking of healthy-ish desserts, this mixed berry dish will add some antioxidants to your Fourth of July feast. Fresh blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries combined with vanilla ice cream make the perfect red, white, and blue dessert that will top off any Fourth of July barbecue. If possible, serve this festive dessert on the grill right before a firework show to ensure an awesome Fourth of July party.


Ingredients:

  • 2 cans of premade biscuit dough

  • 1 cup of sugar

  • ½ cup of flour

  • ½ tablespoon of cinnamon

  • ¼ teaspoon of salt

  • 1½ cups of fresh blueberries

  • 1½ cups of fresh strawberries

  • 1½ cups of fresh blackberries

  • 1½ cups of fresh raspberries 

  • 3 tablespoons of cornstarch

  • Vanilla ice cream 

 

Directions: 

  1. Preheat your grill to 350° F.

  2. Cut biscuits into half inch pieces and place in a bowl. 

  3. Add the flour, cinnamon, salt, and half of the sugar to the pieces of dough and mix well. 

  4. In a foil pan or grill-proof pan, add all the fresh berries, the remaining sugar, and the cornstarch. Mix well. 

  5. Add the pan to the grill and allow it to cook until the fruits start to release their juices. 

  6. Cover the fruit with the biscuit dough mixture in an even layer. 

  7. Tightly cover the pan with foil and close the grill. 

  8. Cook for 20 minutes. 

  9. Remove the foil from the pan, close the grill lid, and cook for 10 more minutes, or until the dough is cooked through. 

  10. Remove from the grill and serve each piece of cobbler with a scoop of ice cream. 

Fourth of July Desserts

The Fourth of July is the perfect time to celebrate our country’s history and independence, and most people spend it making memories with family and friends. If your Fourth of July tradition includes firing up the grill, be sure to add one of these easy and delicious grilled desserts to your holiday menu.