Active Time

　　1 hr

　　Total Time

　　5 hr (includes making cake)

　　Be sure to clean the grill rack thoroughly with a metal brush to remove any bits of grilled food that might impart an off flavor to the cake. Reheat the cake on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven before serving.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

　　1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

　　1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

　　1/4 cup water

　　4 (1/8-inch-thick) slices fresh ginger, smashed

　　1/2 pineapple, trimmed, peeled, and halved lengthwise

　　8 (1/2-inch-thick) slices coconut pound cake

　　2 pt premium ice cream (vanilla, banana, or mango)

　　2 mangoes, peeled, pitted, and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch pieces

　　

Step 1

Bring brown sugar, lemon juice, water, and ginger to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat and let steep, uncovered, 15 minutes. Pour syrup through a sieve into a bowl and cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Prepare grill for cooking over medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas). (If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. When Charcoal turns grayish white (about 15 minutes from lighting), hold your hand 5 inches above grill rack to determine heat for charcoal as follows: Hot: When you can hold your hand there for 1 to 2 seconds; Medium-hot: 3 to 4 seconds; Low: 5 to 6 seconds. If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then, if necessary, reduce to heat specified in recipe.)

　　

Step 3

While grill heats, cut core from pineapple and discard. Cut each piece of pineapple lengthwise into 8 wedges, then halve each wedge diagonally (use caution; peeled pineapple is slippery).

　　

Step 4

Grill pound cake, covered only if using a gas grill, on lightly oiled grill rack, turning over once with a metal spatula, until grill marks appear, about 1 1/2 minutes total.

　　

Step 5

Divide coconut pound cake among 8 shallow bowls, then top each slice with a generous scoop of ice cream and some pineapple and mango. Drizzle each serving with 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon ginger syrup.

　　Cooks' notes:

　　•Syrup can be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered.

　　•Fruit can be cut 4 hours ahead and chilled, wrapped in plastic wrap.

　　•If you aren't able to grill outdoors, cake can be toasted in a toaster or cooked in a hot lightly oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderate heat.