Delight Your Sweetheart With a Homemade Grapefruit Dessert!

The bright, tangy taste of Texas Rio red grapefruit can bring a burst of citrusy love to your Valentine’s Day treats, and it’s not just for your morning juice or fruit salad! Grapefruit dessert recipes are perfect for a romantic celebration or a cozy afternoon with someone special. These grapefruit dessert recipes are bursting with sweet and zesty flavors, making them a delightful addition to any dessert table!

Keep reading to learn how you can make these simple yet delicious desserts that bring the vibrant taste of grapefruit into your Valentine’s Day!

Sweet and Spiced Broiled Rio Red Grapefruit Halves

Not a grapefruit fan? This recipe is about to change your mind! This dish has transformed skeptics into grapefruit lovers. The secret? Using the sweetest and juiciest Texas Rio red grapefruit. Its natural sweetness pairs wonderfully with warm cinnamon and caramelized brown sugar, creating a refreshing and comforting dessert you can enjoy on Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients:

• 1 large Texas Rio red grapefruit
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Start by cutting your Rio red grapefruit into halves. Carefully loosen each segment with a grapefruit knife, ensuring not to cut through the peel. Place the halves cut-side up on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the cinnamon and brown sugar. 
3. Evenly sprinkle the sweet-spiced mixture over the grapefruit halves.
4. Broil the grapefruit 4 inches from the heat source for about five minutes or until the topping bubbles and caramelizes.
5. Remove the grapefruit halves from the broiler, transfer them to bowls, and serve immediately for a warm, citrusy treat.

Blissfully Creamy Pink Grapefruit Dessert Bars

Craving a sweet treat that’s not too heavy but delicious enough to fill everyone with love? These creamy grapefruit bars in pretty pink are the perfect indulgence for your Valentine’s Day. Similar to classic lemon bars, they have a buttery shortbread base that’s topped with a smooth citrus curd with the sweet flavor of red grapefruit. 

Ingredients for the Shortbread Base:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ½ cup of unsalted butter

Ingredients for the Grapefruit Curd:

• ¼ cup of all-purpose flour
• 3 to 5 drops of pink food coloring
• 4 large eggs
• ¼ cup of lemon juice
• 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon of lemon zest
• 1 Texas Rio red grapefruit

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then, grease an 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch square pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang.
2. Mix the flour, powdered sugar, brown sugar, salt, and butter in a food processor until crumbly. 
3. Then, press the mixture evenly into the pan and bake for 20 minutes or until it is lightly golden.
4. Cut your grapefruit into halves and juice.
5. Blend the granulated sugar and flour in a clean food processor. Add the eggs, zest, and juices, and blend until smooth. Mix in food coloring for a soft pink hue.
6. Pour the curd over the warm crust and bake for another 20 minutes or until the filling sets and the edges are golden.
7. Cool the pan at room temperature for an hour, then refrigerate for at least two hours before cutting.
8. Finish off with a dusting of powdered sugar for a homemade touch. You can store any extras in the fridge for a refreshing treat later!

Grapefruit Curd Cake

This grapefruit dessert recipe is a moist, flavorful treat that pairs the tangy brightness of Texas Rio red grapefruits with a soft, buttery cake base. The swirl of homemade grapefruit curd takes this dessert to the next level and makes it a great way to spread love this Valentine’s season.

Ingredients for the Grapefruit Curd:

• 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 2 Texas Rio red grapefruits
• ⅛ teaspoon of sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon of ground cloves
• 2 large egg yolks 
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

Ingredients for the Grapefruit Cake:

• 1½ sticks of unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon of fresh grapefruit zest
• ¾ cup of granulated sugar
• 1½ cups of grapefruit curd
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups of self-rising flour

Preparing the Grapefruit Curd:

1. Cut your grapefruits in halves and juice. Measure out one cup of fresh grapefruit juice.
2. Simmer the grapefruit juice in a small saucepan until it’s reduced to ½ cup, then let it cool.
3. Cream your butter and sugar in a heatproof bowl until it gets fluffy. 
4. Whisk your egg yolks and eggs together, one egg at a time. Then add salt, cloves, lemon juice, and the cooled grapefruit juice.
5. Place the bowl over simmering water (don’t let the bottom touch the water), and whisk constantly for 8 to 10 minutes until it's thick like pudding. Then, refrigerate until ready to use.

Making the Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper and grease it well.
3. Beat the sugar, butter, and grapefruit zest for about five minutes until fluffy. 
4. Mix in half the grapefruit curd, then add eggs one at a time, beating between each.
5. Mix in the flour with a wooden spoon. If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can use a combination of baking powder, salt, and flour.
6. Pour the batter into the pan, swirl it in the remaining curd, and bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
7. After baking, cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Grapefruit Lemon Bars

This grapefruit dessert is a perfect blend of tart grapefruit, zesty lemon, and sweet buttery goodness. It's a refreshing twist on a classic dessert and the ultimate treat for citrus lovers who want a zesty Valentine’s Day treat.

Ingredients for the Crust:

• 1 stick of butter
• ½ teaspoon of fine salt
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour

Ingredients for the Filling:

• 1 Rio red grapefruit
• ½ cup of fresh lemon juice
• Zest of 2 lemons
• Zest of 1 Texas Rio red grapefruit
• 1 cup of sugar
• Powdered sugar
• 3 large eggs 
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

Preparing the Crust:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. 
2. Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal later.
3. Combine the melted butter, sugar, flour, and salt until a thick dough forms.
4. Press the dough into the prepared pan and spread it evenly and slightly up the sides. 
5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the center is set and the edges are lightly golden. Then, allow to cool slightly.

Preparing the Filling:

1. While the crust bakes, zest your grapefruit. Then, cut the fruit into halves and juice, measuring out ½ cup of juice.
2. Whisk the citrus zests, juices, eggs, flour, and sugar until smooth.
3. Pour the filling over the slightly cooled crust and smooth out the top.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly when you shake it.
5. Cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set fully.
6. Dust with powdered sugar, slice into bars, and serve chilled.

Grapefruit-Vanilla Shortbread

This grapefruit dessert recipe is sweet and subtly tangy. These grapefruit cookies are a delightful treat for your Valentine’s celebration. If your special someone has a sweet tooth they’re sure to love this citrusy treat! Don’t take our word for it though, try it for yourself and get ready for your life to change!

Ingredients for the Shortbread:

• 1 large Texas Rio red grapefruit 
• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup of powdered sugar
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon of kosher salt

Ingredients for the Glaze:

• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• A pinch of kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons of fresh Rio red grapefruit juice

Preparing the Dough:

1. Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Zest your grapefruit and blend the zest with vanilla extract, butter, and ⅓ cup powdered sugar in a food processor until smooth.
3. Add flour and ½ teaspoon kosher salt and keep blending.
4. Pour and press the dough evenly into the pan.
5. Chill for about one hour until firm.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
7. Prick the dough with a fork, spacing each prick 1 to 2 inches apart.
8. Bake the dough for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center feels firm but pale.
9. Remove the springform band and immediately cut the shortbread into 16 wedges. Then let it cool.

Making the Glaze and Decoration:

1. Whisk together the red grapefruit juice, kosher salt, and one cup of powdered sugar in a small bowl until smooth.
2. Spread a thin layer of the glaze over each shortbread wedge, exposing a small crust border.
3. Top with your choice of hibiscus flowers, Himalayan pink salt, rose petals, or sprinkles.
4. Allow the glaze to set for 10 to 15 minutes, and enjoy!

Make Unbeatable Desserts With Our Delicious Texas Rio Red Grapefruits!

Enjoy a burst of citrus this Valentine’s Day with these delightful grapefruit dessert recipes. Plus, there are plenty more grapefruit recipes where these came from! Order your own box of fresh Texas Rio red grapefruits and make the perfect desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth this Valentine's season!

Your next dessert doesn’t have to be boring! Bring the one-of-a-kind taste of Texas Rio red grapefruit to your desserts and make these tasty recipes a part of your and your loved ones' special traditions! 

Pick up a box of fresh Texas Rio Red grapefruits and try our awesome dessert recipes this season!

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