Grilled Pineapple coated in brown sugar, grilled to perfection, and topped with vanilla frozen yogurt and a walnut-graham cracker crumble.

A delightful twist on a classic sundae, featuring grilled pineapple topped with vanilla ice cream and sprinkled nuts, combining warm and cold elements for a unique dessert experience.

The Best Grilled Pineapple

It’s no secret—I’m obsessed with grilling! I fire up the grill almost daily in the summer. I’ve shared everything from the best chicken marinade to grilled steak fajitas, but never a grilled dessert—until now.

Growing up, my parents took us to a Brazilian restaurant for special occasions like birthdays. They served endless grilled meats and, my favorite, the infamous grilled pineapple. I’d fill up on that pineapple every time, so it’s finally time to recreate one of my all-time favorite treats.

Preparing the brown sugar and walnut topping, a mouthwatering addition to the dessert, adding a sweet and crunchy finish.

Ingredients

  • Pineapple: Cut into thick slices so they hold up on the grill and don’t fall apart.
  • Brown Sugar: Press it onto the pineapple evenly for the best coverage and flavor.
  • Butter: Brush it on while the pineapple is warm for the best absorption.
  • Cinnamon: A little goes a long way—start with a light sprinkle and adjust.
  • Walnut-Graham Cracker Topping: Make extra and store in an airtight container to sprinkle on yogurt, oatmeal, or other desserts!

Quick Tip

If you’re working with a whole pineapple for your grilled pineapple, here’s a great guide to cutting one.

How To Grill Pineapple

  1. Prep: Dry the slices with a paper towel so the sugar stays on.
  2. Coat: Let the pineapple sit for a few minutes so the sugar melts a bit.
  3. Grill: Leave them in place while grilling to get nice grill marks.
  4. Topping: Toast the walnuts if you want more crunch and flavor.
  5. Assemble & Serve: Serve right away—grilled pineapple tastes best warm.

Storage

Leftovers?

Let grilled pineapple cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Tip: Reheat on a grill or in a pan for the best texture, or enjoy cold over yogurt or oatmeal!

More Fruit-Filled Treats

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Grilled Pineapple Sundaes

Grilled Pineapple Sundaes make for the ultimate summer treat! Sugar-rubbed grilled pineapple slices are topped with frozen vanilla yogurt and a delicious walnut-graham cracker crumble.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

Pineapple and Frozen Yogurt
  • 1 large pineapple rind cut off and sliced into 1/2 to 3/4-inch slices
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
  • Vegetable oil or canola oil
  • 1 container vanilla frozen yogurt found near regular ice cream
Walnut Graham Cracker Topping
  • 1/2 cup walnuts divided
  • 3 sheets graham crackers crushed
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar firmly packed
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Preheat the grill to medium-high (400°F) or heat a grill pan on high. Clean the grates with a grill brush, then oil them by drenching a rolled-up paper towel in vegetable oil and, using tongs, rubbing it liberally over the grill grates. Oil the grill just before adding the pineapple.
  • Remove the rind and stem from the pineapple and cut into 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick slices (you can also remove the core as desired; I remove it after grilling). Rub brown sugar over the slices and let stand until the grill is fully heated. Place pineapple slices on the grill and cook, flipping once, until tender, golden, and lightly charred, about 2–4 minutes per side (this may vary depending on the thickness, ripeness of pineapple, and actual heat of grill). Use a wide metal spatula for easy removal and flipping pineapple slices. If you find the pineapple sticking at all, use a bit more oil on the grill grates.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper and set aside. Finely chop 1/3 cup of the walnuts and add to a large bowl. Crush the graham crackers into crumbs (using a blender or food processor or crush in a bag using a rolling pin) and add to the bowl. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla to the bowl and stir until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake for 7–10 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow to cool, then crumble and sprinkle on top of frozen vanilla yogurt. Coarsely chop the remaining few tablespoons of walnuts and add on top of the crumble.
  • Place grilled pineapple slices on plates and top each slice with a large scoop of frozen vanilla yogurt. Add the crumble on top and coarsely chopped walnuts. Enjoy immediately.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Store grilled pineapple and the walnut-graham cracker crumble separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Keep frozen yogurt in the freezer. Assemble fresh when ready to enjoy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 366mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 306IU | Vitamin C: 108mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

 

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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2 Comments

  1. Michelle says:

    This looks totally divine! I love that you did the brown sugar rub beforehand, and the walnuts on top – I never would have thought of that! Looking forward to trying this the next time I have friends over ?

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Thanks so much Michelle! ๐Ÿ™‚