Here’s another tidbit that surfaced in my research for a recent assignment… in case you were wondering what the hottest trend in outdoor cooking is these days, apparently it’s grilled desserts.

S’mores have long held the top spot in the world of outdoor sweets, but some innovative cooks are making sure they have some competition, particularly in the exciting culinary niche of grilled desserts. (Again: apparently.)

Grilled fruits are one of the easiest ways to add a sweet touch to an outdoor feast: pineapple, bananas (in the peel!), peaches, and orange slices all grill well and can be paired with chocolate drizzle, caramel sauce, and warm Nutella.

Slices of pound cake look great with precision grill marks and a dollop of whipped cream, and grilled candy bars are rising in popularity among grill enthusiasts across the country who seal their regional favorites inside flour tortillas with marshmallow fluff. One grilled version of a candy apple uses Red Hot candies and brown sugar, wrapped in foil and served warm in glass dishes with vanilla ice cream. Nom.

Click on some of the links I scattered throughout this post, or try some of these recipes from Taste of Home.