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Bloomin' Grilled Apples

Bloomin' grilled apples are sliced top-to-bottom, fanned open, and brushed with cinnamon butter so they caramelize on the grill. Serve these tender, caramelized cinnamon apples warm with vanilla ice cream for a showy dessert.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apples
  • 4 large apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) Use firm apples for clean slicing and caramelized edges.
  • 4 tbsp butter Melted for brushing.
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar For caramelization.
  • 2 tsp cinnamon Mixed into the butter coating.
  • 1 vanilla ice cream for serving Serve alongside while warm.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep the apples
  1. Cut thin slices into the apples from top to bottom without cutting all the way through, leaving the core intact. Keep the slices evenly spaced so the apples can fan open cleanly.
  2. Set up a sheet pan lined with foil and pre-cut four pieces of foil for wrapping the bottoms of the apples, leaving tops exposed. This prevents sticking and keeps the bases tender on the grill.
Make cinnamon butter and fan apples
  1. Mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl until the mixture looks evenly combined. The cinnamon sugar should be well dispersed through the butter.
  2. Fan the apple slices open slightly and brush each apple with the cinnamon butter mixture. Brush into the gaps so the exposed surfaces get coated.
Wrap and grill
  1. Wrap the bottom of each apple in foil, leaving the top exposed and fanned open. Press the foil snugly around the base so it doesn’t loosen on the grill.
  2. Grill over medium heat for 12-15 minutes until the apples are tender and caramelized. Flip the apples carefully once halfway if needed for even browning, and watch for glossy caramel pooling at the edges.
Serve
  1. Serve the bloomin' grilled apples warm with vanilla ice cream. Spoon the melted cinnamon butter-caramel over the ice cream if you want extra topping.

Notes

Pro tip: Slice evenly and don’t cut all the way through—this keeps the “bloom” intact as the apples soften. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 2 days; rewarm on a sheet pan in a 350°F oven for 5-8 minutes until hot. Freezing is not recommended due to texture changes. For a dairy-free swap, use melted vegan butter in place of butter.