Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit

Name: Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 2 grapefruit (See Note 1); 3 tbsp light brown sugar (See Note 2); 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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My Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit will add warmth and vibrant flavours to your breakfast. It contains just 3 ingredients and is quickly and easily made. Grilling/broiling the grapefruit caramelises the brown sugar and enhances their natural juiciness.

half a grapefruit, sitting on a pink plate with a fork on plate, garnished with three strawberry slices and some mint. A beige napkin and plate in the background.

Why we love this recipe:

You may wonder why anyone would want to cook grapefruit when a halved grapefruit is already delicious for breakfast. Well, I assure you; if you like them already, they are even better when cooked. The grilling/broiling makes them sweeter and juicier, raising them to another level of delicious.

It is so easy! Just sprinkle half a grapefruit with a little brown sugar and some powdered cinnamon. Place it under the grill/broiler for a few minutes. The sugar will bubble and caramelise, the grapefruit release its juices, they combine and melt a little into the fruit. Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit are so delicious!

This is one retro dish that has stood the test of time. It was a popular appetiser in the 60s, often served at dinner parties with a glace cherry in the centre.

Grapefruit has many health benefits. It aids digestion so it is a great way to start the day. It contains generous amounts of vitamins A and C and is a great source of health-benefiting antioxidants along with potassium and magnesium. As well, one half a grapefruit counts as one of your five-a-day!

Ingredients in this recipe:

ingredients in the recipe on a white timber background.

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Grapefruit – there are several varieties to choose from. In general, the white flesh variety is the least sweet and sweetness increases with pink and through to red varieties. Any variety will work for the Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit.

Brown sugar – we use light brown sugar which caramelises beautifully under the grill.

Cinnamon – adds a gentle, sweetly spicy note.

Step by Step Instructions:

the four steps required to make this recipe.

1. To begin, pre-heat your grill/broiler and place your oven rack close to the top of the oven. Cut the grapefruit in half crossways. Using a small, sharp paring knife or a grapefruit knife cut around the edge of the fruit to loosen the fruit from the pith.

2. With the same knife, cut through grapefruit segments to release them, but don’t cut all the way through the skin.

3. Place the grapefruit halves onto a foil-lined baking tray. If the halved fruit does not sit flat, remove a small amount of peel from the base. Top each grapefruit half with some brown sugar. Sprinkle each piece of fruit with a little powdered cinnamon.

4. Put the baking tray in the oven under the grill/broiler. Grill for approximately 7 minutes or until the sugar has caramelised and is golden brown. Grills/broilers vary a lot so keep an eye on the grapefruit to make sure that they don’t burn. Cool for a minute before serving to avoid being burnt by the hot sugar.

Tips for Success and FAQs:

I recommend that you loosen the grapefruit segments before grilling them. It is easier than trying to remove the segments from hot fruit.

To make cleaning up easier I suggest that you line your baking tray with aluminium foil.

How should I choose grapefruit?

Look for round, smooth fruit that is plump and firm, with a light sheen. Avoid any with bruises. Choose those that feel heavy for their size as they will be the juiciest. The fruits that are puffy or soft or pointed at the stem end tend to be of inferior quality.

Are there alternatives to brown sugar?

Yes, the grapefruit are delicious with honey or maple syrup.

half a grapefruit, sitting on a pink plate with a fork on plate, garnished with three strawberry slices and some mint. A beige napkin on the left and plate on the right with three more grapefruit halves. two forks sit next to this plate. photo taken on a marble background.

More delicious recipes for you to try:

Our Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit is a fantastic addition to a breakfast spread. Here are some more of our favourite ideas:

Whether you are new to eating grapefruit, or a lover of it like us, be sure to try this delicious Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Alex xx