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Turning my oven on when it is 100 degrees outside just doesn’t seem like the right thing to do. My air conditioner would never shut off! So why not use the grill? That’s right, folks! The grill is for more than hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks. It works for desserts too.
This summer, I’m going to grill desserts. Does that sound crazy? Maybe. But at least I’ll be able to eat baked desserts in my nice, cool air conditioned house!
Fire up your grill and bake along with me. This week, we’re starting with a Grilled Cherry Pandowdy.
Let’s Grill A Dessert
When cherries are in season, I find myself walking out of the grocery store carrying a bag of them without quite remembering how they got into my cart. They look so perfect and sweet that I can’t help it. Now that I have a large bowl of these beautiful red cherries sitting in my kitchen, I need something to make.
What is a pandowdy?
Pandowdies are like a pie, but they are not a pie. Here the fruit goes directly into the pan and then you cover it with a pie crust. Pandowdies can be made with a variety of fruits, but originally had apples. As the pandowdy bakes, the crust is cut into squares and the squares are pushed down into the fruit filling which will bubble up, this is said to make the top look “dowdy” or a little messy. But we all know that messy desserts tend to taste the best, and this pandowdy is no exception.
Some people spell it with two words – pan dowdy. We’ve heard it both ways! Either way, it tastes amazing.
Making a pandowdy is super easy too. You’ll need a single pie crust and fruit. You can even use a store-bought pie crust and canned or frozen fruit. So easy!
Since this pandowdy is going on the grill, I am using two aluminum cake pans stacked together. Doubling up on the pans adds stability to the pandowdy and will help keep the filling from burning.
Here is the ingredient list for making this Grilled Cherry Pandowdy Recipe
- Sweet Cherries – Bing or Rainier work great and you can combine the two.
- Canned Cherry Pie Filling
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Sugar
- Orange Juice
- Single Pie Crust
Plus you will need two aluminum cake pans.
For this recipe, I like using both canned cherry pie filling and fresh cherries. The canned filling makes a nice, sweet sauce and is a fast way to get this dessert on the grill. The fresh cherries give the dessert a pop of fresh, summer flavor.
Cherry Pandowdy is simple to make
Step 1.
The crust is the star of the pandowdy, so I prefer using homemade. I have a great recipe for Flaky Pie Crust that is perfect for this dessert. You will want to make the dough and let it chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling. And, if you prefer, a store-bought pie crust will work just as well.
Step 2
Now for the cherries. The first thing you need to do is prepare your cherries by pitting them and cutting the cherries in half if they are really big. If you do not own a cherry pitter, this might be the time to get one. For years I thought I didn’t need another gadget in my drawers, but for this recipe, I went all out and spent $10.00 for a pitter. Let’s just say it changed my life (and kept the red stains off my fingers!)
Step 3
In a large bowl, mix the fresh pitted cherries, cherry pie filling, orange juice, and spices until combined.
Step 4
Roll out the pie dough to fit the top of the aluminum pan. Leave an inch extra to roll up for the edge. Place the dough over the cherries and crimp the edge.
Step 5
Heat up the grill. I have a four-burner grill and turned the two left burners on high, and the far-right burner on low. I will set the pandowdy on the low, far-right burner. I don’t use the forth burner. Make sense? If you have a three burner grill just do the same.
Step 6
Generously top the pandowdy crust with sugar then place on the grill. Don’t skip this step! The sugar melts into the crust and adds some extra flavor and crunchy texture to the crust.
Step 7
After about 20 minutes, when the crust has started browning, cut the crust into squares. Next, take a spoon push down the edges of the squares into the cherries. Be careful of the hot grill. Grill for another 20 minutes or until the crust is brown and the filling is bubbly.
This is what you get…a beautiful, browned, sweet Grilled Cherry Pandowdy.
Carefully remove the pandowdy from the grill. I set mine in a pie plate, waited for a half-hour for it to cool down a bit and served it warm.
The crust turned out beautiful; nicely browned and flaky with the filling peeking through those cut squares.
Want to change up this pandowdy recipe?
Let’s talk about all the possibilities
- You don’t need a grill for this recipe. You can bake the pandowdy in a 400-degree oven for 45 minutes.
- You can change up the fruit or mix and match. Choose fruits that are in season or match your tastes.
- Frozen or canned fruits can be substituted as well.
- You don’t have to wait for the summer heat to grill your desserts. Just remember when you have a big turkey in your oven and don’t have room to a bake some dessert, use your grill instead.
Let’s Grill A Pandowdy
Grilled Cherry Pandowdy
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Gas Grill
Ingredients
Cherry Pandowy Ingredients
- 6 oz. cherries cleaned and pitted
- 8 oz. can cherry pie filling
- 2 tablespoon orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 pie crust, single
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
Preparing the Grill and the Aluminum Pans
- Heat the grill - I use a gas grill with four burners. The two left burners are on high and the right burner is on low. the other burner is not lit. You will have to adjust according to your specific grill.
- Use two disposable aluminum pans stacked together to grill the pandowdy.
Making the Pandowdy
- In a large bowl combine the fresh pitted cherries, the cherry pie filling, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange juice then transfer to a disposable aluminum cake pan.
- Roll the pie dough into a circle that is large enough to fit over the pan. Leave an inch around to crimp the dough.
- Cover the cherries with the pie dough, trim the edges and crimp the dough.
- Sprinkle sugar on top of the pie dough
- Grill for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is starting to brown
- Using a knife, cut the pie crust into 1" squares then with a spoon gently poke down the edges of the squares into the hot filling. You do not have to do all the squares.
- Grill for another 20 minutes or so until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Check on the pandowdy to make sure the crust is not getting too brown.
- Carefully remove from the hot grill and let cool before eating.
Notes
Nutrition
Make sure to check out these other One Hot Oven recipes for other grilled desserts.
Try these individually wrapped Grilled Pineapple Upside Down Cakes for a fun way to serve this classic dessert.
Have you ever had a grilled peach? This Grilled Honey-Lime Peaches and Pound Cake is a simple way to serve a decadent dessert.
Here is what I use to make the cherry pandowdy.
Don’t forget to pin for later when you want a delicious dessert.
Have you ever grilled dessert? Leave me a comment, I would love to hear what you made.
Happy grilling!
Jere’
Grilling the dessert? something new to me. It looks fabulous and like to try this.
This is such a fun, unique way to prepare a summer dessert! I love cherries so I’ll definitely give this a whirl!
I have never made a pandowdy but it looks scrumptious and pretty easy to make too! I live in a cherry growing area in N. Italy and my house is surrounded by cherry orchards! Sadly the cherry season is over here so will have to make this with cherries next year. But am thinking blackberries could work…
Lots of fruits like blackberries, peaches, and apples are great in a pandowdy.
This recipe is out of this world. Love Cherry on anything. Thank you for the recipe.
Glad you think so, because this is one of my favorite desserts to make.
One of my favorite recipes to make over the weekend. It is so comforting and makes me feel relaxed. Delicious!
How lovely! I have a box of cherry sitting in my fridge and this is what I plan to make. It’s perfect with a scoop of ice cream, too!
Yes, a big scoop of vanilla ice cream would be perfect.
I love anything with fruits in general but cherries are always my top favourite fruit. I love the the idea of grilling a dessert. I definitely must try this.
Cherry season is my favourite!! Somehow, I never make pies. Probably because I am WAY too impatient! But I would gladly have a slice of yours 😉
Grilling this pandowdy is such a great idea! It makes for such a fun presentation, and I love the flavor of the cherry filling. The orange juice adds a nice touch. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome. It’s funny what a little bit of orange juice does for this recipe.
I never heard of this dessert, but as a pie lover I have to say that this looks so delicious! something I must try DURING my next BBQ.
I love grilling desserts! It’s such a great way to bake a dessert in the summertime without heating up the whole house. And this pie looks absolutely amazing. I’m going to have to give this a try
I would love to hear what desserts you grill.
What a great looking dessert. Thanks for teaching me what Pandowdy is, I never knew!
I love the idea of this. I just got back from Grenada and I bought some whole nutmeg over there and I bet it would taste great in this.
I love nutmeg and a little sprinkle in this dessert will be so good.
That dessert looks amazing and I had no idea about Pandowdy, until I read it now on your blog. Like you, I am all for warm desserts and a bowl of ice cream be it any season! Love those plump cherries.
This is amazing and so easy.
I’m with you on not wanting to turn my oven on in this heat. I hadn’t thought to cook my desserts outside on the grill but it is a great idea. Love this recipe and how it can be adapted with the fruit that is in season or in my pantry.
What a great idea to grill a dessert for the hot summer months. I usually only grill peaches and bananas and the like, but a whole dessert… definitely next on my list. This looks fantastic.
Peaches are totally awesome on the grill. I will have to try bananas.
I have eaten something like this in the past but never knew it was called a pandowdy. Thanks so much for sharing this!
My grandma used to make this all the time with all kinds of fruits.
I love this!! I love the cherry flavors, delicious!
Cherry anything is a dessert is SO good! Nice on Jere!
I agree, cherries are the best in desserts.
This recipe sounds so delicious and interesting. Love the Cherry option to making it. Yum
I always wait for cherry season to enjoy them on their own or make desserts. This cherry pandowdy sounds delicious! Well, I am going to make it NOW. I have got some fresh cherries in the fridge:) Thanks for sharing!
I just bought another bag to freeze for later when I want some good cherries.
Never heard of this but I’m already in love!
Pandowdy is such an old-fashion dessert. Is super easy to make.
I love cherries and i am happy when i find the really really sweets. What a wonderful version of the classic pandowdy we’ve learned. Can’t wait to try it. It looks so yummy !!
This is a great recipe, I’ve never heard of a pandowdy before but now I want to try it! And I love the tip to use the grill for dessert while the Thanksgiving ham or turkey bakes in the oven. I may have to do that this holiday season!
An Apple Pandowdy would be perfect for Thanksgiving.