This delicious Grilled Pineapple with Nutella recipe by Giada is prepared using pineapple, hazelnuts, mascarpone, Nutella, and whipping cream. This sweet and indulgent grilled dessert recipe takes about 27 minutes to prepare and serves 4 people.

While pineapple isn’t Italian, Nutella (a cherished Italian chocolate-hazelnut spread) brings a touch of Italy to this American-inspired dessert. Grilling caramelizes the pineapple’s sweetness, adds beautiful grill marks, and warms it, making this dessert both flavorful and comforting.

Giada Grilled Pineapple With Nutella Ingredients

• ¼ cup of hazelnuts
• ¼ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup of mascarpone cheese
• ⅓ cup of chocolate-hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)
• 3 tablespoons of whipping cream
• Olive oil, for grilling
• 1 pineapple, peeled and sliced crosswise into ½-inch-thick rounds

How To Make Giada Grilled Pineapple With Nutella

1. Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven, stirring occasionally. Toast until fragrant and light golden in the center, about 7 minutes. Allow them to cool completely.
2. Remove Hazelnut Skins: Once the hazelnuts have cooled, rub them between your palms to remove the skins. Chop the nuts into small pieces and set them aside.
3. Prepare the Mascarpone: In a small bowl, combine the vanilla extract with the mascarpone cheese. Stir just enough to blend without overmixing. Set aside for later.
4. Make the Chocolate-Hazelnut Sauce: In another bowl, mix the chocolate-hazelnut spread with the whipping cream. Microwave for a total of 1 minute, stirring every 20 seconds, until it’s warm and fully combined.
5. Heat the Grill: Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high heat, or place a ridged grill pan over a medium-high flame. Lightly coat the grill rack or pan with olive oil.
6. Grill the Pineapple: Place the pineapple slices on the grill and cook each side for about 3 minutes until they’re heated through and have grill marks. Remove from the grill.
7. Assemble and Serve: Arrange the grilled pineapple slices on a serving platter. Drizzle the warm chocolate hazelnut sauce over the pineapple. Add a dollop of the mascarpone mixture on top of each slice, then sprinkle with the chopped hazelnuts before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Add a hint of citrus: Grate some fresh lime zest over the grilled pineapple to enhance its tropical flavor without overpowering the Nutella and mascarpone.
• Use coconut oil for grilling: Replace olive oil with coconut oil on the grill for a slight coconut flavor that complements the pineapple and hazelnuts beautifully.
• Try different nuts: Toasted almonds or pecans can be used instead of hazelnuts, adding a slightly different nutty flavor and crunch.
• Serve with a sprinkle of sea salt: Just before serving, add a pinch of sea salt over the dessert to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavors.
• Make it dairy-free: Substitute mascarpone with a dairy-free whipped topping and use coconut cream instead of whipping cream for a creamy, nut-free version.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Check out More Giada Recipes:

• Giada Chocolate Zabaglione
• Giada Chocolate Amaretti Cake
• Giada Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies