These Grilled Pineapple Donut Sundaes are the perfect treat for your summer barbecue! Filled with rum, brown sugar and delicious flavor, they will be your fave warm weather dessert!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
Drop your email below, and this delicious recipe will slide right into your inbox! Plus, you’ll get all the latest updates and goodies from Grandbaby Cakes.
Highlights of the Best Grilled Pineapple Donut Sundae
Cuisine Inspiration: Tropical Fusion
Primary Cooking Method: Grilling
Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Indulgent
Key Flavor: Sweet and Smoky
Skill Level: Pretty Easy but there is some grilling
How to Grill Pineapple
- Pick the Perfect Pineapple: Choose a ripe one; it should have a sweet aroma at its base, golden-brown skin, and should give a little under gentle pressure.
- Prep and Preheat: Cut the pineapple into even rings or wedges, and preheat your grill to a medium-high setting to ensure you get those gorgeous grill marks and a quick caramelization.
- Keep it Quick and Attentive: Grill each side for about 2-3 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning. The goal is to achieve nice grill marks while bringing out the pineapple’s natural sweetness.
Key Ingredients
For the Pineapple:
- Unsalted Butter: Bringing the rich, creamy goodness to caramelize our pineapple slices
- Dark Brown Sugar: A molasses-y sweet sensation that’ll give irresistible sticky glaze.
- Rum: A boozy kick to infuse the pineapple with some serious flavor.
- Fresh Orange Juice: a citrus twist that balances out the sweetness.
- Ground Cinnamon: Just a dash to spice things up and add that warm, aromatic charm.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of pure vanilla goodness to deepen the flavors
- Salt: A pinch to wake up all the flavors
- Fresh Pineapple Rings: The star of the show
For Serving:
- Fresh Glazed Donuts: Soft, sweet, and ready to take this dessert to the next level of yum.
- Vanilla or Coconut Ice Cream
How to Make Grilled Pineapple Donut Sundaes
For the Pineapple:
- Create the Sauce: In a medium pan, mix together butter, brown sugar, rum, orange juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Heat it up until everything melts.
- Simmer and Reduce: Bring the concoction to a simmer and let it reduce by a third.
- Marinate the Pineapple: Place those fresh pineapple rings in a dish, and drench them in three-fourths of your sauce. Save the rest for later! Let them soak up the goodness for 20 minutes, flipping at the halfway point.
- Grill Prep: Make it non-stick with a spray or a brush of oil.
- Grill Time for Pineapple: Grill each pineapple slice for 5-7 minutes on each side. Look out for those gorgeous grill marks and tender vibes. Feel free to baste with the soaking sauce for extra flavor.
For the Doughnuts:
- Doughnut Grill Action: Spruce up the grill with another spray or oiling. Lay those doughnuts on the grill, but keep a sharp eye; they’re quick to toast! Grill each side for about 20-40 seconds.
- Serve Them Warm: These babies are best enjoyed right off the grill.
Build Your Sundae:
- Sundae Assembly Time: Slice a doughnut in half, stack on a pineapple slice, crown it with a scoop of ice cream, and drizzle with the remaining warm sauce.
Favorite Pineapple Desserts
- Pineapple Rum Cake
- Pineapple Coconut Cake
- Pineapple Cake
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Tropical Pineapple Punch
Grilled Pineapple Donut Sundaes Recipe
These sundaes are the perfect treat for your summer barbecue! Filled with rum, brown sugar and delicious flavor, they will be your fave warm weather dessert!
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and this recipe will arrive in your inbox! You’ll also get updates on the latest posts and more from Grandbaby Cakes.
Servings: 5 sundaes
Ingredients
For the Pineapple:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup rum
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 5 fresh pineapple rings
For Serving:
- 5 fresh glazed donuts
- Vanilla or coconut ice cream for serving
Instructions
For the Pineapple:
- Add butter, brown sugar, rum, orange juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt to a medium sized pan over medium high heat.
- Allow sauce to melt together then stir until combined. Bring sauce to simmer and allow sauce to reduce by about a ⅓.
- Add pineapple rings to a glass dish and pour ¾ of the sauce over the pineapple. Leave the rest for serving.
- Allow sauce to soak into pineapple for about 20 minutes, flipping over halfway through at 10 minutes.
- While pineapple soaks prepare your grill. Spray grill with non-stick spray or lightly brush grates with oil.
- Grill pineapple about 5-7 minutes on each side until beautiful grill marks appear and the pineapple is tender. While grilling, you can baste with additional sauce used for soaking the pineapple.
For the Doughnuts:
- Spray the grill again or add oil again. Add doughnuts to the grill and carefully watch because they can burn fast. Grill for about 20-40 seconds then flip to grill the other side. Serve immediately warm.
- To prepare sundaes, cut a donut in half, add pineapple slice and top with ice cream and leftover sauce (keep warm) and serve.
Video
Notes
Tips for Grilling Pineapple
- Pick the Perfect Pineapple: Choose a ripe one; it should have a sweet aroma at its base, golden-brown skin, and should give a little under gentle pressure.
- Prep and Preheat: Cut the pineapple into even rings or wedges, and preheat your grill to a medium-high setting to ensure you get those gorgeous grill marks and a quick caramelization.
- Keep it Quick and Attentive: Grill each side for about 2-3 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning. The goal is to achieve nice grill marks while bringing out the pineapple’s natural sweetness.
Nutrition
Calories: 456kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 114mg | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Vitamin C: 11.6mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!
pinterest 
facebook 
twitter 
email
These were so good! The grilled donuts and pineapple are a great combo, but the real star of the show is the rum sauce. Beyond delish. Thanks so much for the recipe!
This looks AMAZING! Do you have the recipe for the rum sauce?
Oh my gosh this is genius! They look amazing.
Thanks so much!
Ok these look seriously amazing!! I have to make this!
Hooray!
This is such a fun and unexpected dessert! Can’t wait to wow my friends at our next BBQ!
Wow them is right!
What a fun and fabulous treat, for sure! The grill is going anyway all summer, so dessert on the grill makes sense 🙂 Beautiful!
Guests will talk about this dessert for ages. What an amazing treat!
Hooray!!
Grilled pineapples AND donuts and ice cream? What a combination for a barbecue!
Hooray!!!