The grill is a friendly and warm moment, much appreciated on sunny days.
Whether with friends or family, the success of a barbecue depends on the quality of the meat and the side dishes. But what about desserts?
Often overlooked, desserts are the final touch that brings a delicious meal to a close.
To help you make your barbecue a success, here is a selection of 7 gourmet and refreshing dessert ideas that will delight your guests’ taste buds and enhance your meal.
1. Fresh fruit skewers
To start this list, what better than fresh fruit skewers?
Light and refreshing fruit skewers are an ideal choice to accompany a barbecue.
They offer a wide variety of flavors and colors, and allow you to add a sweet touch without being too heavy.
To prepare your skewers, simply select seasonal fruits, cut them into pieces and thread them onto wooden skewers. Here are some ideas for combinations to put together your spears:
- Strawberries, kiwi and pineapple
- Melon, watermelon and raspberry
- Blueberries, bananas and apricots
- Peaches, nectarines and grapes
Don’t hesitate to play with colors and textures to create spears as beautiful as they are good. For even more indulgence, you can accompany your fruit skewers with a chocolate sauce or a red fruit coulis.
2. Seasonal fruit pie
The fruit tart is a timeless classic that will delight lovers of gourmet desserts.
Choose seasonal fruits to compose a generous pie full of flavor.
You can choose shortcrust pastry, shortcrust pastry or puff pastry, depending on your preferences. Here are some fruit pie ideas to inspire your creativity:
- Strawberry and rhubarb tart, on a pastry cream base
- Peach and almond tart with a light almond cream
- Blueberry tart with mascarpone cream
- Apricot and honey tart, on a shortcrust pastry base
You can also add a touch of imagination by making a thin fruit tart with crispy puff pastry. Don’t forget to sprinkle your pie with powdered sugar, for an aesthetic and gourmet finish.
3. Tiramisu with red fruits
Tiramisu is an Italian dessert prized for its sweetness and creamy texture.
To bring a fruity and tart note, choose a tiramisu with red fruits.
Start by preparing a mascarpone cream, mix the cheese with sugar, eggs and a little liquid cream. Dip the biscuits with a spoon into a syrup of red fruits and arrange them at the bottom of a dish.
Cover with mascarpone cream, then add a layer of red fruits (strawberries, raspberries, currants…). Repeat the operation until all the ingredients are used up, finish with a layer of cream.
Leave to rest in the fridge for a few hours so that the tiramisu sets well. When serving, garnish with fresh red fruit and sprinkle with icing sugar.
4. Exotic fruit salad
An exotic fruit salad is a refreshing, light and colorful option to accompany a barbecue.
Choose exotic fruits such as pineapple, mango, papaya, kiwi, coconut or pomegranate. Cut them into small pieces and mix them in a salad bowl.
To bring a touch of originality, add a few fresh mint leaves, vanilla or lime zest. Let the fruit salad rest in the fridge for at least an hour so that the flavors blend well.
To give your fruit salad an even more exotic touch, you can add a splash of rum or coconut liqueur, being careful not to add too much to keep the dessert light.
5. Verrines of cream and fruit
Verrines are elegant desserts that are easy to prepare and can be turned down endlessly.
Prepare a light cream by mixing cream cheese, sugar and a little liquid cream. You can flavor your cream with vanilla, orange blossom or even rose water. Spread the cream in verrines, then add a layer of fresh fruit cut into small pieces (red fruits, peaches, apricots, kiwi, etc.).
Finish with a layer of cream and store the verrines in the fridge until serving. You can decorate your verrines with mint leaves, chocolate shavings or almonds.
6. Cottage cheese and fruit cake
Cottage cheesecake is a light and airy dessert that goes well with fresh fruit.
Prepare a cake batter by mixing cottage cheese, sugar, eggs, flour and a little baking powder.
Add fresh fruit cut into pieces (apricots, peaches, cherries, blueberries, etc.) and pour the mixture into a previously greased and floured cake tin. Bake the cake at 180°C for approximately 40 minutes, until it is golden brown and a knife comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool before removing and serving, accompanied by a red fruit coulis or some custard.
7. Fruit and chocolate shortbread
To end this list on a high note, here’s an idea for a gourmet and crunchy dessert: fruit and chocolate shortbread.
Prepare a shortcrust pastry by mixing flour, sugar, butter and an egg. Roll out the dough on a floured work surface and cut out circles with a cookie cutter. Bake the shortbread in the oven at 180°C for about 15 minutes until golden.
Let them cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile, melt dark, milk or white chocolate in a bain-marie. Dip one side of the biscuits into the melted chocolate, then place them on a sheet of baking paper. Before the chocolate hardens, place pieces of fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, pineapple, etc.) on the chocolate.
Let the shortbread rest in the fridge for a few minutes so that the chocolate hardens.
Desserts are an important element to accompany and sublimate a barbecue. They make it possible to end the meal on a sweet and refreshing note, while bringing a touch of gluttony and coziness.
Do not hesitate to vary the pleasures by offering several of these dessert ideas to your guests, to satisfy every taste and desire. With these 7 suggestions, your barbecue will be a real success and your guests will be happy to share this gourmet and warm moment with you.
