Pink Grapefruit Brûlée Recipe

Pink Grapefruit Brûlée has all the deliciousness of its creamy cousin, but with a fraction of the calories and no dairy.

When I was a kid my mother used to make these as a special treat. I grew up in a home where you only got ginger ale if you were sick, and dessert was reserved for special occasions. As a single working woman, my mother juggled her business, a gift shop in town, 2 daughters and the challenges of a 4th floor walk-up apartment. That meant every single bag of groceries had to be carried up 8 flights of stairs. Looking back, I realize what a challenge it must have been for her to schlep all of our groceries, especially those heavy grapefruits, up all those stairs to make us this treat.

Citrus fruit is so much more than a delivery system for vitamin C. They are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index score, meaning this good-for-you fruit won’t spike your blood sugar. They are also a good source of potassium and can benefit heart health, help you stay hydrated, fight colds and better absorb other nutrients. Lots to love!

I like to fiddle around with this recipe and have used coconut sugar as a substitute for the brown sugar. It was good, but did not firm up to the crisp shell of its sweeter cousin. Feel free to use less sugar to create a lighter version; and remember maple syrup is another sugar option.

This Pink Grapefruit Brûlée taste like my childhood; bringing back many fond memories. They seem especially decadent when I think of the labor of love to carry them up all of these steps to our apartment.

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Pink Grapefruit Brûlée Recipe

Pink Grapefruit Brûlée has all the deliciousness of its creamy cousin, but with a fraction of the calories and no dairy.

Course Breakfast, desserts

Keyword almond butter, berries, brown sugar, grapefruit, mint

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 2 heavy pink grapefruit well chilled
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. melted butter or extra-virgin coconut oil
• Fresh berries and sprigs of mint for garnish

Instructions

Preheat broiler and arrange oven rack to second level from the top.

1. Slice each grapefruit in half crosswise and trim the bottoms so they sit level.
2. With a sharp knife, section each grapefruit half leaving the fruit sections in the grapefruit halves.
3. Place grapefruit halves in oven-proof baking dish, cut side up.
4. Combine light brown sugar and butter in a bowl, mixing into a paste.
5. Carefully top each grapefruit half with a quarter of the butter and sugar mixture.
6. Place dish with grapefruits under broiler, rotating as necessary to caramelize sugar mixture, approximately 3 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and cool. Garnish with fresh berries and a sprig of mint.

My desserts look gorgeous on this milk glass stand.

For other healthy dessert or breakfast ideas, try my Stir Fried Pineapple and Mango or Strawberry Banana Gelato (vegan!) Recipe.

Kristen Coffield

I am a passionate advocate for food as medicine, life navigator and culinary coach. This is my space for sharing what excites, inspires and motivates me to live my best life. It began as a recipe blog for nourishing, simple, weekday meals and has become something much bigger… a guide to resilient wellness. I am excited to share my knowledge of how daily habits can cumulatively help you to live like you mean it and age like you want to.