Grilled Pineapple Parfaits with Coconut Ice Cream
On May 26, 2025
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Bring the islands to your backyard with these Grilled Pineapple Parfaits, topped with coconut ice cream, and a coconut-macadamia nut crumble.
Grilled Pineapple Parfaits with Coconut Ice Cream
When you’re craving something sweet that screams summer, but don’t have hours to prep, these Grilled Pineapple Parfaits are your answer. In just 20 minutes, you’ll transform simple pineapple into slices of caramelized heaven. Then, you’ll pile them high with creamy coconut ice cream, homemade whipped cream, and toasted coconut-macadamia crumble. The contrast of warm, juicy fruit against cool, creamy toppings creates pure island magic.
If you’re ready to make this indulgent, island-inspired dessert right in your own backyard, let’s get started.
Why grilled pineapple?
Sweet, tart, and refreshing, pineapple brings plenty of flavor and texture all on its own. Grilling your pineapple in a glaze gives it a sugary, caramelized exterior while locking in all the tropical, juicy goodness. Plus, the gorgeous char marks from the grill grates contrast the golden chunks of tangy fruit in a beautiful way. So, the real question is: why not grilled pineapple?
Ingredients for Grilled Pineapple Parfaits
The thing that makes this dessert truly one-of-a-kind is the way the cool and crunchy toppings contrast the warm, juicy pineapple slices. Here’s everything you need to make the dish:
- Pineapple: You want to use a whole pineapple. Look for a fresh pineapple that’s golden-yellow in color and smells sweet at the base.
- Caramelized glaze: A 2:1 mixture of brown sugar and maple syrup creates a thick, sticky hug for your pineapple slices to help develop a caramelized exterior. Check out this Grilled Pineapple recipe if you want to learn more. You can also substitute the brown sugar for some signature Sweet Rub if you want to add some salty, savory notes.
- Cool, creamy toppings: Nothing goes with warm, juicy pineapple quite like some cold coconut ice cream. If you want to up the creamy levels and cool factor, double down with this Homemade Whipped Cream.
- Island-Inspired Crumble: Finish things off with a crumble topping that’s 50% crushed macadamia nuts, 50% shredded coconut, and 100% toasted gold.
How to Make Grilled Pineapple Parfaits
Alright, now that you’re salivating, it’s time to learn how you can make these Grilled Pineapple Parfaits in just a few, easy steps:
- Preheat the grill. Set your favorite grill to 350 degrees F. A charcoal grill will provide the best char marks and caramelization, but you can also make this on a gas grill.
- Max brown sugar glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and maple syrup until lightly mixed. You want a grainy syrup to coat your pineapple slices.
- Slice and glaze pineapple. Use a sharp knife to cut the top, bottom and sides off your pineapple. Then, cut the pineapple into round, ¾-inch slices. You can do this with your knife, or use a pineapple slicer for uniform rings. Use a spoon to put a dollop of the brown sugar mixture on each pineapple slice. Use the back of the spoon to evenly distribute the mixture over both sides of the pineapple.
- Grill pineapple. Place on the grill grates, then cook for 4-8 minutes per side. You’re looking for your pineapple slices to develop some crispy char marks and heat through, but you want to keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- Toast the coconut and macadamia nuts. Place the shredded coconut and macadamia nuts on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Place on the grill and toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.
- Assemble the parfaits. Place 2 slices of grilled pineapple in each serving dish, then top with the coconut ice cream, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of the toasted coconut and macadamia nuts. Enjoy, and try to remember to share with the people you love.
Susie’s Pineapple Parfait Pro Tips
If you do nothing more than follow the recipe card at the end of this post, you’ll have an incredible dessert to show off at your next gathering:
- Oil the grates: Before you heat your grill up, rub a little cooking oil on the grates using a paper towel. Avocado oil is a great option because it won’t affect flavor. This trick will help your pineapple slices stick in your memory instead of to your grill.
- Get fancy: If you want to turn your grilled pineapple parfaits into a beautiful, handheld dessert, simply chop the pineapple coarsely after grilling, then layer in a parfait dish with your toppings.
- Give it the BBQ “rub”: If you want to add some salty, savory notes and a touch of heat to your dessert, swap out the brown sugar for some of my signature Sweet Rub. It’s got a brown-sugar base, so you don’t have to sacrifice the caramelization for the added flavor.
More Grilled Dessert Recipes
These Grilled Pineapple Parfaits will transport you off to a remote island getaway. If you’ve still got a sweet tooth when you return, check out the Hey Grill Hey App. It’s loaded with dozens of backyard recipes perfect for any cookout or potluck. Here are some popular recipes to try next:
Simple Grilled Pineapple Parfait Recipe
Follow the recipe card below, then enjoy these Grilled Pineapple Parfaits with the people you love. After you make them, come on back to leave a 5-star rating with a comment about how you enjoyed yours.
For more recipes, tips, and grilling inspiration, make sure to follow my Instagram and Facebook pages, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Grilled Pineapple Parfaits with Coconut Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 whole pineapple fresh, top, bottom, and skin removed
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
Toppings
- ½ gallon coconut ice cream
- 2 cups whipped cream
Toasted Topping (optional)
- ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut toasted
- ½ cup crushed macadamia nuts toasted
Instructions
- Preheat the grill. Set your grill to 350 degrees F.
- Max brown sugar glaze. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and maple syrup.¼ cup brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- Slice and glaze pineapple. Slice the pineapple into ¾ -nch thick round slices (about 12 slices). Use a spoon to put a dollop of the brown sugar mixture on each pineapple slice. Use the back of the spoon to evenly distribute the mixture over both sides of the pineapple.1 whole pineapple
- Grill the pineapple. Place on the grill grates and cook for 4-8 minutes per side or until you have nice char marks from the grates and the pineapple is heated through.
- Toast the coconut and macadamia nuts. Place the shredded coconut and macadamia nuts on a foil-lined baking sheet. Add to the grill and toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.½ cup shredded sweetened coconut, ½ cup crushed macadamia nuts
- Chop the pineapple. (Optional) Transfer to a serving platter and chop coarsely. Transfer to a bowl with all of the juices from the cutting board.
- Assemble the parfaits and enjoy. Place 2 slices of grilled pineapple in each serving dish, then top with the coconut ice cream, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of the toasted coconut and macadamia nuts. If you chopped your pineapple, you can layer the chunks, ice cream, and whipped cream in parfait dishes. Serve immediately.½ gallon coconut ice cream, 2 cups whipped cream
Notes
- Make your own following the recipe here
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
