These Recipes Turn Grapefruit into Decadent Delights
by RYAN MILEJCZAK
The grapefruit is a common sight at the breakfast table, enjoyed straight up or with a sprinkle of sugar. And while that’s a perfectly tasty way to enjoy a grapefruit, it has far more potential than that.
In fact, grapefruit has tons of recipe potential. The flesh, juice, and even the rind can all be used to make delicious desserts with bursts of that bright, floral citrus punch that grapefruit provides.
In this article, we’ll cover a few of our favorite grapefruit desserts that let you use every part of the grapefruit.
Grapefruit Greek Yogurt Cake
Adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted
- ¼ cup grapefruit juice, plus 2 tbsp
- 1 ½ tbsp grapefruit zest
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract, plus ¼ tsp
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 and greasing a 9×5 loaf pan.
While the oven heats, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk your eggs, then whisk in yogurt, brown sugar, oil, ¼ cup grapefruit juice, zest, and 2 tsp vanilla extract. Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon, ensuring to avoid overmixing.
Spread the batter in your loaf pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Remove from the oven, remove the cake from the loaf pan, and let cool on a wire rack.
While it cools, make your glaze by whisking together remaining grapefruit juice, remaining vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar, then drizzle over your cake and let set.
Grapefruit Brulee
Adapted from Epicurious
Ingredients
- 1 grapefruit, halved
- 2 tbsp muscovado sugar such as Sugar in the Raw
- Pinch coarse sea salt
Instructions
Use a paring knife to gently loosen the segments of the fruit and remove seeds. Place cut side down on a paper towel for about 5 minutes to remove excess moisture, then liberally sprinkle sugar over top. Using a creme brulee torch or your oven broiler, melt and brown the sugar until golden brown. Sprinkle coarse sea salt over top and enjoy.
Candied Grapefruit Peel
Adapted from AllRecipes
Ingredients
- 4 whole grapefruit
- 2 ¾ cups white sugar, divided
Instructions
Begin by quartering your grapefruit and removing the rinds; you can save the flesh for another purpose. Slice rind into ¼ inch wide strips.
Add the peels to a saucepan and cover with 2 inches of water; bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Drain, then repeat 3 more times with fresh water each time.
Next, combine your boiled grapefruit rind, 1 ¾ cups sugar, and a cup of water in a saucepan over low heat. Simmer until water has all evaporated or been absorbed, about an hour.
Place remaining sugar in a large bowl and toss the peels in the sugar until coated. Let cool completely on a wire rack before enjoying.
Pink Grapefruit Dessert Bars
Adapted from Emily Fabulous
Ingredients
Crust
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temp
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup confectioners sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
- ¼ tsp salt
Filling
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup pink grapefruit juice
- 1 tbsp grapefruit zest
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 and preparing an 8×10 baking dish with parchment paper.
While the oven heats, combine crust ingredients in a mixing bowl and use a pastry cutter or fork to combine until you have a crumbly mixture. Press mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes.
While the crust bakes, prepare your filling by first combining your flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Next, beat in your eggs, followed by the juice and zest.
Remove your crust from the oven and carefully pour your filling mixture over top. Return your dish to the oven and bake until set, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire cooling rack, and let cool for an hour before transferring to the fridge to chill at least 2 more hours. Slice into 12 pieces and sprinkle with additional powdered sugar before enjoying.