When you fire up the grill for a summer get-together, burgers, hot dogs, and steaks are the expected stars of the show. But what about dessert? Instead of heating your kitchen oven on a hot day, you can use your grill to bake perfectly golden, delicious cookies. This surprisingly simple method uses indirect heat to turn your BBQ into an outdoor convection oven, creating a treat that will delight and impress your guests.
How to Grill Cookies: The Ultimate Guide to Surprising BBQ Dessert
Here’s a step-by-step guide to mastering the art of grilling cookies.
Why Grill Cookies?
- Keeps the Heat Outside: No need to turn on your indoor oven on a hot summer day.
- The "Wow" Factor: It's a fun and unexpected culinary trick that will amaze your family and friends.
- Perfectly Baked: The convection-style heat circulation results in evenly baked, fantastic cookies.
Essential Equipment:
- Gas Grill with multiple burners
- Grill Brush (preferably brass bristles)
- Standard metal pie tin
- Baking sheet (that fits on your grill with the lid closed)
- Oven thermometer (if your grill's built-in gauge is unreliable)
- Timer
Ingredients:
- 1 package of your favorite refrigerated, pre-portioned cookie dough (Chocolate chip is a classic choice!) (You can also use your homemade cookie dough, portioned into balls.)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Prep Your Grill (The "Oven")
First, you must start with a clean grill. Turn all burners to high and let the mixture heat for a few minutes. Use a grill brush to scrape off any leftover food residue from the grates thoroughly. After all, you don't want your chocolate chip cookies to have a hint of last night's grilled salmon or burgers!
Step 2: Set Up for Indirect Heat
This is the most crucial step. You will be baking with indirect heat, not grilling directly over a flame.
- Turn off all the burners except for one on the far side of your grill.
- Close the lid and preheat the grill to 350°F (175°C). Use the temperature gauge on your grill lid or, for better accuracy, place an oven thermometer on the grate on the unlit side to monitor the temperature. Adjust the single lit burner as needed to maintain a steady 350°F.
Step 3: Create the Baking Platform
To ensure even baking and prevent the bottoms from burning, you'll create a platform that allows hot air to circulate the cookies, just like in an oven.
- Place an empty metal pie tin upside down on the side of the grill that is not lit.
- Arrange your cookie dough on a baking sheet according to the package directions.
- Place the cookie sheet directly on top of the upside-down pie tin. This elevated setup is the secret to perfect grilled cookies.
Step 4: Bake, Monitor, and Enjoy!
- Close the grill lid and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set. Baking time will vary based on your grill and the type of cookie.
- Use a timer! Since your grill doesn't have a built-in timer, it's essential to set one manually.
- Keep a close eye on the grill's temperature gauge and adjust the flame as needed to maintain a consistent 350°F.
- Once baked, carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the grill. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Baking cookies on the grill is a fun, easy, and impressive way to cap off any barbecue or summer cookout. By using the indirect heat method and creating a simple baking platform, you can produce beautiful, evenly baked cookies without needing to turn on your kitchen oven. So next time you're grilling, save room for dessert and get ready to amaze your guests with this clever culinary trick!
