Grilled Pina Colada Sundaes

Pina coladas are an indulgent tropical vacation in a glass. I’ll make them at home as a treat any time I’m in the mood, but I really love serving them up for a crowd at a party or cookout. These Grilled Pina Colada Sundaes are a twist on this classic drink that is a great way to finish off any summer barbecue. The sundaes are made with fresh grilled pineapple and creamy coconut ice cream,

You’ll want to start with a whole, fresh pineapple – especially if you’re planning to make enough for a crowd. Cut the pineapple into 1/2-inch thick round slices, then place directly on the grill. Cook at low heat for 2-4 minutes per side, until there are nice grill marks and the pineapple appears juicy. The pineapple will be juicy when you start, of course, but the heat of the grill will draw out even more. If your pineapple is not quite ripe yet, then plan for an extra minute or two to allow some of the sugars in the fruit to caramelize.

Once the pineapple is grilled, transfer it to a cutting board and cut off the outer skin. The reason I cut it off after is that it is so much easier to grill the pineapple in big slices than it is to peel the whole pineapple and move more slippery slices around! Then, cut away the fruit of the pineapple, leaving the core behind. If you have a pineapple corer, feel free to core the pineapple in advance.

To assemble the sundaes, pile grilled fruit in dessert bowls and top with a big scoop of coconut ice cream. I actually used homemade coconut frozen yogurt in this sundae, but your favorite coconut ice cream will do nicely. To give this a real pina colada finish – if you’re an adult who is a fan of the cocktails like I am – drizzle 1/2 ounce of rum over the top of each sundae before serving. Dark rum is great, but I really like Plantation Pineapple Rum for even more pineapple flavor. If you’re not drinking, drizzle a bit of caramel onto the ice cream before serving instead.

Grilled Pina Colada Sundaes
1 whole, fresh pineapple
2 pints coconut ice cream
1/2 oz rum per sundae
caramel sauce

Remove the fronds from the pineapple (save for garnish, if desired).
Cut pineapple into 1/3-1/2 inch rounds, discarding the very top and bottom of the pineapple.
Preheat your grill to medium-low heat. Grill pineapple slices for 2-4 minutes per side, until nice grill marks appear and the pineapple is juicy and slightly caramelized.
Transfer pineapple to a cutting board and remove the outer skin of the pineapple. Cut up the grilled fruit into 1/2-1 inch chunks.
Pile fruit into dessert bowls and top each with a large scoop of coconut ice cream. Drizzle with 1/2-oz of rum, if desired, and a little caramel sauce.
Leftover grilled pineapple can be refrigerated for later use.

Makes 8-10 sundaes, depending on the size of the pineapple