3 Summer Desserts (Outdoor BBQ Episode)
Save RecipeHi Bold Bakers!
This week, I am delighted to get out into my garden for this episode because we are barbecuing!
I have some really fun, easy recipes for 3 Summer Desserts that you probably didn’t know could be cooked on a BBQ. They don’t require a lot of preparation, only a few ingredients and they are perfect for the whole family.
1. GRILLED CHOCOLATE BROWNIES IN AN ORANGE
I get a lot of inspiration from Pinterest so when I stumbled upon our first recipe I knew it would be perfect because it is definitely BIG & BOLD!
The orange is fragrant and and infuses the brownie as it bakes. The moisture from the orange yields an incredibly moist, soft cake. It’s definitely worth trying this out.
- 1 ¾ cups (15oz/427g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- 16 ½ oz (465g) dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1 ½ cup (12oz/337g) unsalted butter
- 2 ¼ cups (18oz/ 510g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cups (6oz/168g) packed light brown sugar
- 7 eggs at room temperature
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 oranges
-
To make the Brownies: Put the chocolate and butter in a large bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water or place in the microwave. Stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth.
-
Remove from the heat and set aside to cool a little.
-
Add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined. The mixture should be room temperature.
-
Whisk the eggs and vanilla in a jug together.
-
Add a little of the eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the remaining eggs and whisk until combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.
-
Sift the flour, salt and cocoa over the chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible. Set aside.
-
To prepare your oranges: Carefully takes a seated knife and take out the center of the orange.
-
Once you take a bit out you can go in with a spoon and scoop the rest out. You don't have to take out all of the pulp.
-
Pour the batter into your orange 3/4 of the way. Place it's lid on and wrap in tin foil
-
Place directly on the grills on medium heat (350oF/180oC) and bake for roughly 35-45 minutes.
-
Enjoy straight away with Vanilla ice cream.
Prepare these desserts up to 2 days in advance and bake off when needed.
2. FRUIT KEBABS
This next dessert only requires simple ingredients and assembly but it packs a big flavor punch.
I’m using strawberries and pound cake but you can use any fruit and cake you’d like.
- 1 loaf (shortcake,sponge cake, brioche, angel food cake)
- 1 lb pkg strawberries , washed
- 8 wooden skewers
-
Soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 2 hours. This prevents them from burning on the grill. Preheat grill, medium high setting(roughly 300oF/150oC)
-
Cut the cake into 2 inch cubes
-
Take the hull out of the strawberries
-
Thread alternating strawberries and cake on each wooden skewer.
-
Place on the grill and cook for roughly 4-5 minutes, rotating them during the cooking. They are done when the cake is toasted.
-
Serve with whipped cream or ice cream
-
Enjoy!
3. ROASTED BANANA SPLIT
I saved this dessert until last because it is my absolute favorite dessert to make on a bbq. Growing up, when we would have barbecues we would throw bananas on the grill after all of the food was cooked. They get lovely and roasted and all the natural sugars come out and give you nature’s sweet dessert!
- Whole Bananas
- Vanilla ice cream
- Your favorite ice cream sauce (Caramel sauce, chocolate, strawberry)
- toasted almonds
-
Heat a grill to about 300 degrees or as the BBQ is cooling down or dying out.
-
Put the banana in their skin straight on the bars. Close down the lid and grill for 10 minutes on each side. They will turn black on the skin and that is exactly what you want to happen.
-
Using a knife, cut out a small strip of peel from the top of your banana, leaving one end intact. Pull back the strip, and use a knife or spoon to carve a shallow "canyon" down the center of your banana.
-
Fill with ice cream and space and enjoy straight away!
Meet Gemma
Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, and I’m passionate about sharing my years of experience to show you how to make game-changing baking recipes with over-the-top results! Join more than 1 Million other Bold Bakers in the community for new video recipes every week!
Have you made a recipe? Share photos on my website or across social media with the hashtag #boldbaker.
And don't miss my NEW Bold Baking recipes and tips. Sign up for my weekly email newsletter.
Hey Gamma
The orange brownie looks heavenly..was just wondering, if I have to bake it in the oven, do I still need to wrap the oranges in foil…is there an alternative as I wouldn’t generally like to use foil wraps..
Love..
All the way from India😉
Vish
Hi there,
The foil is there to protect the skin, so I imagine that it would do rather better in the oven. I think you can bake these at 350f/180c in the oven, for about 30 minutes, but do keep an eye on them, there will be variables.
I hope you enjoy this, let us see the results,
Gemma 🙂
I have to tell you that we love the Grilled Strawberry Kebabs. Since strawberries are in season here I am always making a trip to our local farm to get some once a week. Today was my day so I had to make these tonight for dessert. I used pound cake and also made some whipped cream to dip them in. I know that this is one recipe that I will be making for years to come.
Hi,
I’m thrilled to hear that!!! You are right to use them now while they are in season.
Thanks for your lovely comment.
Gemma.
Hi, Gemma,
In my family we cook “hobo packets” — burgers cooked in tin foil in the embers of a fire. I was wondering if I could cook the orange-brownie and banana like that? (BTW, I think the brownie in an orange is SUCH a good idea! I love chocolate and orange. The other recipes are great, too, just wanted to thank you).
— Sadie
Hi Sadie,
I love this suggestion! We used to do this with bananas in the foil, a squeeze of fresh orange juice, and brown sugar, heaven!
Potatoes are lovely baked like this too, but they take time. I am going to try your ‘hobo packets’.
Damper bread, made in the outback in Australia is a great skillet bread/foil bread too, I really need to experiment with this one!
Gemma 🙂
Hi Gemma,
Can I use chocolate cake mix for the orange campfire brownie? I know it won’t taste like brownies, but would they bake properly if I use chocolate cake mix?
Also, as I am making in the grill, I wanted to know if I would get a smoky flavor in the brownies or not. And how do I determine when the grill is 180°C or 350°F?
Hi Elizabeth,
This is a connundrum!
I really do not know the answer to this. I think you would need to use a closed pan/skillet for this. This is how bread was made in the old days in Ireland and other places. The iron pot would be placed in the hot coals, the lid would then be covered with the coals too, to give surround heat to the food. It is a skill which is lost to a degree. I do not know how you would do this for a more delicate bake, I am sorry, I would not like to guess as it may go terribly wrong.
Gemma 🙂
Should I substitute eggs in this recipe.
Hi there,
Did you check out my egg substitute chart here on my website? this may help.
Any recipe which has a high egg content is more difficult to find substitutes for. Brownies are a challenge, though I have a recipe from a bold baker which I am going to try out when I get a chance. Do try this using the chart, I shall be interested to know how it works for you,
Gemma 🙂
Hi Gemma ,
I love to watch all yours video!
I just watched Orange brownies Strawberry Kabab Girlled banana with vanilla Ice Cream.
Oh my goodness is so delicious!
I m going to make all 3 items on 4th of July my backyard barbecue party??
Can’t wait to make it n will post the pic . I love all yours fruits Popsicle Ice cream and so many things to make .
Thank you so much for sharing awesome and amazing recipes.
Hi Indira,
Omg I love that orange. I’m planning on making it again Live on Facebook on Thursday. I have to put together my 4th of July menu now.
Looking forward to seeing your pictures 🙂
Gemma.
These look so good! Can I use boxed Brownie mix instead in the orange ( short on time ) or not worth it?
Hi Joanne,
Yes! I prefer to make from scratch, but you could try this,
Gemma 🙂
can you put cake in the Orange instead of the brownie and can you use any fruit instead of of an orange
Hi Koala,
It is worth experimenting with any and all options to make recipes your own,
Gemma 🙂
Can you make a smoothies video?
It’s on my list, stay tuned 🙂
Gemma, I can’t have chocolate due to health reasons, so could I bake a Blondie brownie in the Orange instead and follow your cooking instructions from there?
Hi Lynn,
Absolutely you can do the exact same time and temp. however just fill it around 2/3 up because so of the brownies I have seen have spilled out the top. 🙂
Hi gemma amazing recipies .I was wondering if you could do a special recipie for my mum her birthday is coming up on 5 august.If you want to know a specific flavour ill let you know.Thankyou.
Ps i love you
Hi, Why don’t you make your mum her very own flavor of ice cream? Make the flavos she loves and make a homemade labels and put in a nice tub. That is pretty awesome if you ask me 🙂
Hi Gema can I make chocolate brownie with orange flavor ?
Sure 🙂
The orange is GENIUS! I need to try this ASAP. You are so creative and unique XD Love youxoxo
Thanks 🙂
You are so unique and creative, it’s unreal. I NEED that banana split in my life!!
Love you xoxo
Aw, thanks so much Fiona. I really appreciate it 🙂
Hi Gemma I try the grilled brownie for my family today and they LOVE it so much!! But there’s one thing I am a little bit curious about.. why you barely blink your eyes in the video? How could you do that? (No offense just really curious :-D)
Lots of practice! 🙂
You are amazing I am tring every thing…. I am a creative baker and you have given me the best ideas I am in love with every… keep up the GREAT WORK!!!! 🙂
Aw, thank you so much for your sweet comment Stacey. I really appreciate it. Stay tuned for more! 🙂
where is the smore’s recipie
Hi,
This video is awesome as always.
I love you.Everything you make is so interesting and easy to make.
I absolutely love the grilled banana split.It looks so delish.
I cant wait for more videos. 🙂
xoxo,
Igal
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it 🙂
Hi Gemma,
My mom is hosting a 4th of July party and this looks absolutely perfect! I’m sure that everybody coming will fall in love with the brownie inside of an orange– its so perfect because I heard that a cake inside of an orange is called a campfire cake, so a brownie inside is just a campfire brownie? Idk– anyway thank you so much for the recipie!
-K
P.s. Is there any way I can send you pictures of our recreations even though I don’t have a Instagram/Twitter/Facebook?
That is absolutely fantastic Katie!!! really great. It is called a campfire cake but because i did it on the BBQ I didn’t say campfire.
I would love yo see your pictures. You can send them to and late it Katies Brownies so I see it
I made the strawberry shortcake kabobs today and they were delicious!! Will definitely try the other two! 🙂
Thanks so much Lauren, really glad you liked my BBQ video. The brownie is just insane 🙂
i love all of your recipes Gemma!! Can’t wait to try it out. 🙂
Thanks so much, really glad you liked This video. I had a lot of fun making it 🙂
I don’t know which one to try first? Probably the banana on the grill! Happy 4th!
You can always try them all, Lisa. Happy 4th to you! 🙂