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    Home » Breakfast and Brunch » Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit

    Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit

    Published: Aug 23, 2020 · Modified: Sep 22, 2020 by Alexandra Cook

    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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    pin for grapefruit

    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!

    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.

    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:

    • Bacon and Egg Galettes
    • Overnight Oats with Apple and Sultanas
    • Gluten-Free Zucchini Muffins
    • Pea and Mint Frittata
    • Strawberry Banana Smoothie
    • Oat and Yoghurt Pancakes

    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

    Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit

    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.
    5 from 49 votes
    Print Pin Review
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: International
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 88kcal
    Author: Alexandra Cook – It’s Not Complicated Recipes

    Ingredients

    • 2 grapefruit See Note 1
    • 3 tablespoon light brown sugar See Note 2
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional

    Recipe Measurements:

    For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat your grill/broiler to its highest setting 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.
    • With the same knife, cut through grapefruit segments to release them, but don’t cut all the way through the skin.
    • 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 3 teaspoons of light brown sugar. Use more or less to suit your taste.
    • Sprinkle each piece of fruit with a little powdered cinnamon if using.
    • 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.
    • Transfer to individual serving plates, garnish with a mint sprig if you wish.

    Notes

    1. If you like to eat grapefruit and you take medication, please talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the possible interactions with any of the medicines you take.
    2. The Australian tablespoon is 20 ml or 4 teaspoons. In many other countries, the tablespoon is 15 ml or 3 teaspoons. You may have to adjust your measurements accordingly.
    3. Please note, the nutritional information is based on ½ grapefruit per person.

    Nutrition Estimate:

    Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 185mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Please rate and leave a comment!
    Nutritional Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.

    pin for grapefruit

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    376 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tara

      November 08, 2020 at 1:18 pm

      5 stars
      Really easy and so delicious!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        November 08, 2020 at 1:18 pm

        Thank you, Tara!

        Reply
    2. Phoebe

      October 08, 2020 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      I had no idea cinnamon and grapefruit could taste so good together!! This was such a simple, easy recipe and I had all the ingredients at home so decided to try it and I’m so glad I did! My daughter who’s not usually a fan of grapefruit said this was the best way to serve it! I’m running out to buy more grapefruit so I can make it again this week. 🙂

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        October 12, 2020 at 5:46 pm

        Hello Phoebe, I am so pleased that you and your daughter enjoyed our very easy Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit. It really is a lovely way to start the day. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Marina

      October 01, 2020 at 3:45 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe, thank you.
      Marina

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        October 03, 2020 at 4:13 pm

        Thank you, Marina!

        Reply
    4. Sue

      October 01, 2020 at 12:43 am

      5 stars
      LOVE grapefruit, and this is my new favourite way to enjoy it.

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        October 02, 2020 at 3:16 pm

        That is great, Sue!

        Reply
    5. Maggie

      September 26, 2020 at 7:51 pm

      5 stars
      Incredibly delicious!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        October 02, 2020 at 2:23 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    6. Taleen

      September 25, 2020 at 2:35 am

      5 stars
      Love how easy this is, and it’s so pretty, too, not to mention delicious!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        November 05, 2020 at 5:16 pm

        Hi Taleen, thank you for letting me know that you enjoyed the Cinnamon Grilled Grapefruit. It really is a lovely way to start the day. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Rachi

      August 29, 2020 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t get enough of this! Such an easy recipe and so nice. We served for a brunch platter yesterday and they were the first to be eaten!

      Reply
      • Alexandra

        August 30, 2020 at 6:26 pm

        Aww, thank you, Rachi! Really happy this was so popular!

        Reply
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    Hello!

    I’m Alex.

    I am a full-time blogger, passionate foodie and writer who loves to travel.

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