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Did you know you can make a pie on the grill? Pie for dessert, no oven needed.
Sometimes I just wish I could turn my oven off all summer long. I’m envious when my friends say “I haven’t turned on my oven in a month, it’s so hot! Who wants to bake cookies when it’s 100°??” I cry silently, agreeing with them but knowing that I have no choice and PG&E makes a lot of money off me all summer long. Until now, that is.
Did you guys know you can make dessert on the BBQ? That a grill is not just for steak and corn and pizza?
And that grilling a pie outdoors is not only possible but that it’s so easy? And you don’t have to turn on your oven at all? And that today I’m going to teach you how to grill a pie?
You guys are so lucky. 🙂
We are huge BBQ lovers in my house. We grill dinner several times per week. We’re even planning to grill the contents of our local Costco before the kitchen remodel so that we have dinners for 6 weeks. But, other than dessert pizza a few years ago, I’ve never attempted to grill dessert…until now.
We’ve been needing a new grill for a long time. Our old one has been with us for years and finally the ignition broke. For the last year or so Mel has been turning on the gas and lighting it with a lighter and a prayer that he keeps his eyebrows. I’d just started researching BBQs when I saw Lisa post about the Hamilton Beach Quick Assembly Gas Grill. I love all my Hamilton Beach products (especially the coffee maker) so I was thrilled when they said I could review one for them.
Father’s Day gift, check!
This Quick Assembly Grill is the perfect size for us. It has 4 burners in the main BBQ area plus a 5th burner on the side. With that side burner and the large grilling area we can make an entire dinner (with leftovers) outdoors. The best part about this grill is that it is, in fact, fast to assemble. Mel and I are not very handy people so simple assembly was key. It took us a little longer than 10 minutes but we got it done way faster than if we’d been shipped a box of parts!
The best part about this grill? It can be used to make DESSERT! Like PIE!
Want to learn how to grill pie? Let’s get started!
The only special equipment you need to grill a pie (besides the grill, obviously) are 2 disposable foil pans. I guess you could use a metal pie tin (not glass or porcelain) but putting those on the BBQ can ruin them over time. Foil is much easier and clean-up is a breeze.
You can use 9″ foil pie plates or 9″ square foil baking pans. You need two, one for the pie and one to prop the pie up on the grill. These foil pans can be purchased at any grocery store and usually come in multi-packs.
I made a mixed berry peach pie, but you can use any berries or filling you like. I used frozen blueberries and peaches and fresh raspberries. I’m cleaning out my freezers so I wanted to use up the half bags of frozen fruit. Feel free to use all frozen or all fresh in any combination of fruit. You need about 3 cups of fruit, fresh or frozen.
Note about frozen fruit: be sure to let it thaw before making your pie. Frozen fruit has a lot of extra water and will cause your pie to be more juicy. Let it thaw and drain it well.
This pie isn’t a traditional pie shape; it’s more of a free-form pie or galette. It’s rustic, and that’s very “in” these days. To form the pie you unroll a pie crust (or use homemade), place the fruit mixture in the center, and then fold the edges up over the filling. Do this in your foil pie plate or pan.
The grill will take some time to preheat, just like an oven. Try to remember to preheat it while you’re making the pie. The optimal grill temperature is about 350° to 400°, so heat as many burners as needed for that temperature. It can cook at a lower temp if needed, but it’ll take longer to bake.
Place one pan upside down on the preheated grill. Put the pan with the pie in it on top, as shown here. Close the lid of the BBQ and then go wait inside your blissfully cool house. Your oven isn’t on so chances are it’s still nice and cool in there. 🙂
After about 20-30 minutes, depending on the heat of your grill and how consistently it stays at temperature, the pie is done! Be sure to check it after about 10-15 minutes and then every 5 minutes or so after that. You con’t want a burned pie!
Let it cool before slicing and serve with ice cream. Grilled Berry Pie and Ice Cream…the perfect summer dessert. Especially when I don’t have to turn on my oven!
I cannot wait to see what other desserts I can grill on the BBQ. Cookies? Cake? Muffins? I’m going to try it all. Especially since I’m not afraid to use our new grill. It turns on with the twist of a knob, which is a huge improvement on our old one.
My husband loved his Father’s Day Gift…but I think I might like it just as much. Who knew I’d like to BBQ too??!!
Have you ever grilled dessert? What should I try next?
Grilled Berry Peach Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust from a pack of two or you can use a homemade crust
- 3 cups berries fresh or frozen, see note
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar plus more for sprinkling
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon
- Zest of 1/2 a lemon about 1 teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon heavy whipping cream
- 2 disposable foil pie pans or square baking pans
Instructions
- Preheat grill to as close to 350°F as you can get it.
- Place berries in a large bowl. Sprinkle with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and zest. Toss with your hands.
- Unroll pie crust and place it in a disposable foil pie plate (or a disposable foil square pan). Place fruit in the center and fold up the edges to form the crust. Brush the edges with heavy whipping cream and sprinkle with granulated sugar (optional).
- Place a second foil pie plate or square baking pan upside down on the grill. Place the pie (in its pan) on top of the inverted pan and close the lid to the grill. Cook until the crust is cooked through, from 20-30 minutes depending on how hot your grill is. Check it at 15 minutes and then every few minutes after to make sure it doesn’t burn.
- Carefully remove pie from grill. Cool before slicing. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream!
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Grilled Pizza
Berry Crisp with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble
Sweets from friends:
Grilled Pineapple Recipe by CenterCutCook
Grilled Banana S’mores Boats by Sweet Treats and More
Grilled Apple Crisp by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
As part of the Hamilton Beach ambassador program I was given a grill to review at no cost. All opinions are 100% my own. We really did need a new grill and I love this one – I wouldn’t share products with you I didn’t love and use!
I live in Canada and had to buy a new BBQ last year. Canadian Tire sells a Paderno BBQ/Oven. Works like a regular BBQ or switch the dial and set the desired temperature.
We have baked cookies, muffins and tarts. We’ve even baked Butter Tarts. All have turned out as if we used our indoor oven.
We really like this BBQ/Oven.
Would it be possible to use canned pie filling. I canned apples for pie filling and thought I could use them for this recipe.
Yes you can!
Made this for the first time while camping and…wow! So delicious and super easy to throw together (even in a small trailer). Used a portable gas grill to bake it and it came out perfect and smelled heavenly! I’ve made it many times since and it turns out great every time. Sometimes I’ll add a couple small pats of butter, sometimes a dash of cinnamon and/or a splash of vanilla extract. If I don’t have cornstarch on hand I’ve substituted flour (2 Tbsp flour to 1 Tbsp cornstarch) and the pie still turns out with no noticeable difference. Without a doubt, it is our favorite dessert to make while camping. Thank you Dorothy Kern for sharing this wonderful recipe!
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