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Grapefruit Brulee

Surprise yourself by loving this healthy dessert– Grapefruit Brulee fancies up a fruit to make it fit for an unexpected dessert. 
Bruleed grapefruit on a wood board with brulee torch in background

Watch out—I’ve learned to use a kitchen torch! After a bit of struggle trying to fill the torch with butane, I think I have it worked out now…at least for the time being.

I have never been a fan of playing with fire. Lighting matches on a birthday cake is enough drama for me, and for that task I use a long automatic lighter that has no chance of burning my fingers like a match might if I take too long.  I received the kitchen torch for my birthday some months ago but only purchased the butane last week.

A friend mentioned that she wanted to try a grapefruit brulee and I thought that was a great idea.

Much healthier than the 4 crème brulees that were chilled in my refrigerator, that is for sure!

How to make Bruleed Grapefruit:

  1. Cut the fruit and remove the seeds out,
  2. Sprinkle with sugar and let the torch do its work.

I take most anything that Alton Brown says as the trusted and tested kitchen truth, so when I found his easy steps for making a grapefruit brulee I thought I’d share it here with you.

In my quest to start my days with a healthier twist, this bruleed grapefruit lets me think healthy while still cracking through a shell of sugar—perfection! You could make this a breakfast grapefruit or a dessert.

Yes, obviously the healthier version is to skip sugar all together but this grapefruit brulee does the trick of straddling the line for dessert between healthy and decadent!

Yield: 2 servings

Grapefruit Brulee

Overhead photo of grapefruit brulee

Quick and easy, this bruleed grapefruit can be for breakfast or for dessert!

Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 4 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 grapefruit
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • a pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Cut the grapefruit in half and remove as many seeds as possible.
  2. Sprinkle the sugar over the cut halves. Use the kitchen torch to heat the sugar. It will bubble quickly and then move the torch in small circles until all of the sugar is melted.
  3. Add a dash of salt to finish it off and enjoy!

Notes

Practice with your kitchen torch and move it side to side quickly, not letting the flame settle in any one place for very long so that you don't burn the sugar.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

half a grapefruit

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 76Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 66mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 2gSugar: 15gProtein: 1g

This data is provided by Nutritionix and is an estimate only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Overhead photo of grapefruit brulee
Kitchen Tools You’ll Use to Make this Recipe:
Kitchen Torch
Grapefruit Spoons (obviously not necessary but they make grapefruit feel like a special occasion)
 
Pin with me!
Two photos of grapefruit brulee with text title overlay
 

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Add more fruit into your life with these ideas:

Holly @ abakershouse.com

Monday 25th of March 2013

You are right-- the flat top would be great for a large batch. At my house I was making single servings just for me-- my boys are not grapefruit fans!

Kate@Diethood

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

I love my torch!! :) I am about to go and use it on a grapefruit! Thanks, Holly!! :)

Holly @ abakershouse.com

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

Thanks, Kate! I will have to find more recipes that use a kitchen torch. now that I've figured it out I want to keep going! Have a great day!

Sarah

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

OH MY GOODNESS! This is like foodie torture! That grapefruit looks amazing!!! Pinning to try as soon as I can get my hands on a torch!

Holly @ abakershouse.com

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

Thanks, Sarah! You are so sweet. I think I was leaving a comment on your facebook note at the same time you were writing me this comment here last night. Any progress with fixing your oven? Hope so!

Rachel Ring

Monday 11th of February 2013

My grandmother used to make these for me in the toaster oven (I think the broiler like Karen said) - I always thought it was so strange, but loved every moment of it - YUM!!

Holly @ abakershouse.com

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

Yes, it is a little strange-- topping a perfectly nice fruit with a layer of sugar-- but it makes eating the grapefruit that much more fun. Thanks for your comment!

Karen Harris

Monday 11th of February 2013

My mother-in-law used to make these in her oven under the broiler. When I was first married I didn't like grapefruit so I would always pass, then as time went on I tried them and grew to love them. Now I wish I had all those delicious grapefruits back that I didn't eat. Thanks for the reminder Holly!

Holly @ abakershouse.com

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

I will have to try this with the broiler too. It wouldn't be as dramatic but when it is just me eating breakfast on my own, who needs drama? Thanks for sharing your grapefruit memory.

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