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Bloomin' Grilled Apples

Bloomin' grilled apples are carved into a fan shape, brushed with cinnamon butter, then grilled until tender and caramelized. This bloomin'-onion-style dessert turns sliced apples into a melty, cinnamon-sugar centerpiece ready for vanilla ice cream.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Grilled apple blooms
  • 4 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) Use apples that hold their shape when grilled.
  • 4 tbsp butter, melted Melt before mixing so it brushes easily into the slices.
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar Stirs with butter and cinnamon to form a caramel glaze.
  • 2 tsp cinnamon For warm, sweet spice throughout the apples.
  • 1 vanilla ice cream for serving Serve immediately while apples are warm and caramelized.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Slice and season
  1. Cut thin slices into the apples from top to bottom without cutting all the way through, keeping the bottoms intact like a blooming fan.
  2. Mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until thick and evenly combined.
  3. Fan the apple slices open slightly and brush all over with the cinnamon butter mixture, letting glaze fall into the crevices.
Foil-wrap and grill
  1. Wrap the bottom of each apple in foil, leaving the top exposed so the slices can caramelize.
  2. Grill over medium heat for 12-15 minutes until the apples are tender and caramelized, with visible cinnamon-sugar browning on the cut edges.
Serve
  1. Serve the bloomin' grilled apples warm with vanilla ice cream right away for a melty contrast.

Notes

For the cleanest “bloom,” keep slices thin and space them evenly while leaving the core uncut. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; rewarm gently so the apples don’t dry out. Freezing is not recommended because the grilled texture can soften too much. For a lighter dessert, use plant-based butter in the cinnamon glaze (ice cream can also be swapped for a dairy-free version).