This Grapefruit Brulee recipe transforms bitter grapefruit into a rich, sweet, decadent breakfast! It’s the perfect healthy breakfast for special mornings.

This Grapefruit Brulee is my newest discovery in the world of purposely setting foods on fire (see Baked Alaska Cookies), after finally caving in and buying a kitchen torch.
Caramelizing the sugar on the grapefruit helps to take some of that bitterness out and turns it into an ultra-delicious, decadent breakfast that comes together pretty quickly. Perfect for adding an easy yet fancy addition to your brunch lineup!
Ingredients For Grapefruit Brulee
Ingredients for this bruleed grapefruit couldn’t be simpler! Only two ingredients for the base and then you can spice it up with whatever sounds tasty.
- Grapefruit: Grapefruit is a winter citrus fruit that doesn’t always get the respect it deserves next to blood oranges, Meyer lemons, and sumo oranges. But, I promise it deserves all the love too!
- Sugar: I prefer to use white sugar or brown sugar, but coconut sugar or monk sugar would be tasty too!
- Toppings: The fun part about these is that you can top them with a variety of fun additions. Some favorites of mine are sea salt, pistachios, and marscarpone for a little grapefruit creme brûlée action.
How to Make Grapefruit Brulee
This quick grapefruit brulee recipe only requires a few simple steps and honestly takes longer to cool than to make. The hardest part is waiting!
Step 1: Cut
Half each grapefruit. Trim a bit of the peel off the bottom of each grapefruit half so that it sits upright. With a paring knife, gently loosen the segments of grapefruit by running the knife along the edge of the thin exterior skin of each segment and along the inside of the rind. Remove seeds.
Step 2: Dry
Place cut side down on a few layers of paper towels for 5 to 10 minutes to remove excess moisture.
Step 3: Torch
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar on each half. Use a kitchen torch to melt and lightly brown the sugar. While the sugar is still hot, sprinkle with a pinch of coarse sea salt.
Step 4: Serve
Let cool then and serve with a dollop of mascarpone and roughly chopped pistachios.
Recipe Tips
I don’t have a blow torch: Grapefruit brulee without a blowtorch is possible! To do this, place the grapefruit halves on a sheet tray and top it with sugar. Cook in the oven on a high broil for 5 minutes, watching closely. This could also be done in an air fryer.
Storage: These are best enjoyed as soon as they are made and it is best to only make enough for those that want one. However, if you are not sure how many people you are serving, cut and dry the grapefruit halves and set the sugar and torch to the side. When ready, simply top with sugar and torch as folks want one.
Winter Citrus Party
For a full menu of winter citrus, try these other bright recipes!
- Strawberry Grapefruit Smoothie Bowls are perfect to enjoy right alongside these bruleed grapefruits.
- Cranberry Orange Oatmeal is a creamy and refreshing oatmeal that is delicious for a holiday morning and the day after when you just need something a little lighter.
- Citrus Watercress Salad has all those beautiful winter vegetables and fruits in one refreshing salad!
Ingredients
- 1 grapefruit halved crosswise
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- To serve: coarse sea salt, mascarpone, pistachios
Instructions
- Cut: Trim a bit of the peel off the bottom of each grapefruit half so that it sits upright. With a paring knife, gently loosen the segments of grapefruit and remove seeds,
- Dry: Place cut side down on a few layer of paper towels for 5 to 10 minutes to remove excess moisture.
- Torch: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar on each half. Use a kitchen torch to melt and lightly brown the sugar. While sugar is still hot, sprinkle with a pinch of coarse sea salt.
- Serve: Let cool then and serve with a dollop of mascarpone and roughly chopped pistachios.
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