Serves: 5
When it comes to dessert, there are three kinds of eaters. The Gotta-Haves never pass up an opportunity to indulge their sweet tooth. For them, dinner ends when the dessert forks are safely tucked into the dishwasher. The Why-Nots will eat dessert when it's offered, but will only occasionally venture into the kitchen to concoct something special. In restaurants, however, they might gamely beckon the dessert cart. And then there are the Not-for-Mes. They rarely if ever partake, whether driven by guilt or lack of interest in the sweet stuff. Frankly, we find this last group a bit puzzling. After all, when it comes to expanding your gastronomic horizons, dessert is sweet country indeed. Explore it and live a little!
A casual outdoor gathering is a great place to start. Maybe the best thing about a post-barbecue dessert is that here simple can reign supreme. It just has to be sweet and satisfying, not a work of art. Witness the incredible magnetism of a chilled watermelon. And let's face it. While we all admire pastry chefs--those dessert-makers of the highest order-we rarely emulate them because petits fours and caramel cages are not the stuff of cookouts.
But there will be times when a carton of Häagen Dazs® and a plate of chocolate chip cookies just won't do. When that hankering for something sweet demands something fresh, exciting, different. Or even-and maybe especially-a classic ending done exactly right.
That's where this chapter comes in. Imagine sinking your teeth into sweet vanilla pastry cream as flakes of delicate pie crust shower your chin. Feel the ripe berries bursting between your teeth, their juices gushing into your mouth. Or take a walk on the comfy side. How about a chewy bite of mocha-tinged brownie, crowned with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate sauce? These, and more, are all within easy reach of even the humblest abilities. And you'd be surprised at how many desserts you can prepare on the grill.
Dessert on the grill? You bet your sweet molasses. With fruit-based treats ranging from grilled bananas and strawberries to cakes and puddings baked right on the grill, you can keep the fire going and wow them one more time with your outdoor cooking wizardry. Or, if your perfect reward for a dinner well done is a dessert you just have to retrieve from indoors, we've got some make-ahead finales, too. And if it's nostalgia you crave, we've also got some stunning takes on childhood classics such as ice cream sandwiches, S'mores, and the sweetheart of summer, the frozen fruit pop.
Anything you choose will be well received when you serve it up with panache. Believe it or not, there is an art to that. Start by considering your audience. Are the kids going to be impressed with homemade pie crust, or will they be just as happy with a bag of marshmallows and a couple of sticks? If you can get off easy, why slave away?
Which brings up another point: Know your limitations. If you're whipping up a grilled dinner for twelve, the make-ahead route could be your best bet. And don't be afraid to cheat. Take the easy route and serve up Dovebars®, a fancy box of chocolates, or a big bowl of mixed candy. Sometimes an easy or wacky dessert will do more to enliven the conversation than an elaborate cake and coffee.
Lastly, go for contrast. If dinner was heavy--say, ribs and beans--lighten up at dessert with grilled pineapple drizzled with honey. If dinner was light--such as grilled fish and salad--you can lean toward the rich with a chocolate cupcake smothered in peanut butter frosting. Or some such wonder.
Most of all, remember that we all have the right to enjoy a sweet indulgence every now and then. Exercise your right to dessert!
From Weber’s Big Book of Grilling. Copyright © 2001 Weber-Stephen Products Co. All rights reserved. First published by Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, California.
This *Desserts recipe is from the Weber's Big Book of Grilling Cookbook. Download this Cookbook today.
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