Grapefruit Breakfast Brûlée

This easy Grapefruit Breakfast Brûlée is a delicious, lightly sweetened citrus treat that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a light dessert!  (No blow torch?  No problem!) 

How do you feel about grapefruit?  Do you love it?  Hate it?  Are you unsure?

Admittedly, until this past year, I hadn’t eaten a grapefruit in YEARS.  And I didn’t remember them fondly. 

But, last spring that all changed.

We flew to Florida for the bestie’s wedding, and stayed with family. 

And the family fed us, you guessed it, bright ruby red Florida grapefruit for breakfast each morning. 

It was miraculous.

Later that year, we stayed at a campground in Tucson, Arizona that had fruit trees dotting the landscape. 

Fruit trees were EVERYWHERE, and the fruit was free for the picking.  And so I did. 

The main thing I walked back to my tent with was, of course, bright yellow, white-fleshed, juicy, fresh GRAPEFRUIT.

In short, 2017 was the year that I fell in love with grapefruit.

Grapefruit Breakfast Brûlée During Citrus Season

As the seasons changed, citrus season began to flood our markets and grocery stores at home with blood oranges, pomelos, cara cara oranges, and (obviously) grapefruit.

I decided to embrace all the citrus in hopes that it would help ward off the epidemic flu levels that have grasped the country.

Typically, I simply devour my citrus as is, without cooking, juicing, or adding a thing to it.  Sometimes, though, I want to do something a little special.

This Grapefruit Breakfast Brûlée is an easy, quick, and utterly delicious way to enjoy winter’s bounty.

Which Type of Grapefruit Should I Use?

Use whichever grapefruit you prefer!  Here are some varieties you might find at the store or market:

• Red grapefruit:  Sweet, very common and easy to find.
• Pink grapefruit: Sweet, slightly harder to find than red grapefruit.
• Yellow / White grapefruit: Least sweet, but vibrant flavor.  This used to be the most common, but is becoming harder to find.  (If you can find it, the bitterness of this grapefruit is a beautiful compliment to the sugary crust in this recipe.)
• Pomelo: This thick-skinned, large fruit is like a cross between a grapefruit and an orange.  It’s sweeter than other grapefruits, but can be hard to find.
• Oro Blanco: This fruit is a cross between a white grapefruit and a pomelo.  It’s sweet, but hard to find.

How Do I Pick Out a Grapefruit?

Choose grapefruit that has firm flesh and is heavy for its size.  (Not sure how heavy it should be?  Pick up a few and choose the heavier ones!)

Avoid grapefruit that is soft, squishy, or wrinkly.  In general, you can’t tell if a grapefruit is ripe by the color of the skin.

How Do I Cut a Grapefruit?

To cut open a grapefruit, slice it in half with a chef’s knife.

Next, use a grapefruit knife or paring knife to cut along the inside edge of the skin, all the way around the fruit, detaching the grapefruit’s skin.  Use the knife to cut the grapefruit’s flesh into segments.

Then, you can proceed to eat the grapefruit with a grapefruit spoon or a regular teaspoon– OR you can make a Grapefruit Breakfast Brûlée!

Quick Tip: Some people (who are more coordinated than I am) use a grapefruit spoon to cut their grapefruit into sections, and skip the knife altogether.

Do I Need a Special Knife or Spoon?

No, but they definitely make the job easier! 

If you’ll be eating grapefruit on a regular basis, I highly recommend using them. 

It’ll make your grapefruit experience easier, faster, and (in my opinion) much more pleasant.

Do I Need a Kitchen Torch?

No, but if you have one, this is a good time to use it! 

To make this Grapefruit Breakfast Brûlée, you’re simply sprinkling sugar over a halved grapefruit, and then burning the sugar.

If you use a torch, the inside of the grapefruit will still be room temperature. 

If you use an oven broiler, the grapefruit will be warm inside.  Either way, it will be DEEEEELISH!

Want more CITRUS recipe ideas?  Try these:

• Pan-Seared Swordfish with Citrus
• Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Charred Lemon
• Fish Ceviche with Grapefruit + Flounder

Want more BREAKFAST recipe ideas?  Try these:

• Slow Cooker Oatmeal with Winter Fruit
•  Breakfast Crème Brûlée
• The Best Oatmeal Recipe: Roasted Grape Oatmeal