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Bloomin' Grilled Apples

Bloomin' grilled apples are sliced, fanned open, and grilled until caramelized with a cinnamon butter coating. It’s the dessert-style, bloomin'-onion-inspired method that leaves the tops exposed for tender, browned fruit.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment 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
serve
  • 1 Vanilla ice cream

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 foil

Method
 

Prep the apples
  1. Cut thin slices into each apple from top to bottom, stopping before you cut all the way through so the apple stays intact and can open like a bloom.
  2. Wrap the bottom of each apple in foil, leaving the top exposed for even grilling.
Make the cinnamon butter
  1. Mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until it looks like a thick, pourable cinnamon butter coating.
Fan and grill
  1. Fan the apple slices open slightly and brush the inside and tops with the cinnamon butter mixture so the cinnamon sugar is visible.
  2. Grill over medium heat for 12-15 minutes, until the apples are tender and caramelized, with butter visibly melting between the slices.
Serve
  1. Serve the apples warm with vanilla ice cream right away for contrast between hot caramelized fruit and cold cream.

Notes

For best blooming and caramelization, keep the slices thin and stop each cut just short of fully separating the apple. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container up to 3 days; reheat on a grill or skillet until warm. Freeze yes/no: freeze the cooked apples for up to 2 months, then thaw and rewarm. Dietary swap: use vegan butter and choose dairy-free vanilla ice cream for a dairy-free version.