Sweet & Spicy Oranges

Three ingredients and a piece of foil. That’s all it takes to turn fresh oranges into a warm, caramelized grilled dessert that tastes far more impressive than the effort involved. Orange sections sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon, wrapped in foil, and grilled until the sugar melts into a sticky, spiced syrup.

The heat from the coals does something magical to oranges. It softens the fruit and concentrates the juice while the brown sugar dissolves into a bubbling glaze that coats each section. The cinnamon blooms in the heat, filling the foil packet with a warm, sweet aroma that hits you the moment you unwrap it.

Twelve to fifteen minutes is the sweet spot. Long enough for the sugar to fully melt and the oranges to warm through, but not so long that the fruit turns mushy and loses its shape. Flipping the packet once ensures even heat on both sides.

This works as a light finish to a grilled dinner when you want something sweet without firing up the oven. Serve it straight from the foil packet, spooning the cinnamon syrup over each serving.

Pro Tips

• Use navel oranges for easy peeling and seedless sections
• Double up the foil to prevent leaks; the syrup will drip right through a single layer
• Place the packet on the cooler side of the grill if the coals are very hot to avoid scorching
• Spoon the syrup from the bottom of the packet over the oranges when serving

Variations

• Ice cream topping: Serve the warm spiced oranges over vanilla ice cream for an instant sundae
• Ginger addition: Add a pinch of ground ginger alongside the cinnamon for more warmth
• Honey drizzle: Replace the brown sugar with honey for a more floral sweetness