Simple Fruit Pizza: A Delicious and Easy Dessert Recipe

Fruit pizza is a delightful and refreshing dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. It’s incredibly easy to make, visually appealing, and offers a healthy-ish twist on traditional pizza. This recipe focuses on simplicity and using readily available ingredients, making it ideal for beginners and experienced bakers alike. Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, attending a potluck, or just craving a sweet treat, this fruit pizza will surely be a crowd-pleaser.

## What is Fruit Pizza?

Fruit pizza is essentially a large sugar cookie topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting and arranged with colorful fresh fruit. The base can be a pre-made cookie dough, homemade sugar cookie, or even a graham cracker crust. The “sauce” is typically a mixture of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Finally, the “toppings” are an assortment of your favorite fruits, artistically arranged to create a vibrant and visually appealing dessert.

## Why You’ll Love This Recipe

* **Easy to Make:** This recipe requires minimal baking skills and can be assembled in just a few steps.
* **Customizable:** You can easily adapt the fruit selection and frosting flavors to your preferences.
* **Visually Appealing:** The colorful arrangement of fruits makes it a stunning dessert for any occasion.
* **Delicious and Refreshing:** The combination of sweet cookie, creamy frosting, and fresh fruit is a delightful treat.
* **Perfect for Any Occasion:** From summer barbecues to holiday parties, this fruit pizza is always a hit.

## Ingredients You’ll Need

Before you start baking, gather all the necessary ingredients. This will streamline the process and ensure you have everything on hand.

### For the Crust:

* **1 roll (16 ounces) sugar cookie dough:** You can use store-bought or make your own from scratch. If using store-bought, make sure it’s the kind that comes in a roll, ready to slice and bake.
* **All-purpose flour (for dusting):** This will prevent the dough from sticking to your rolling surface.

### For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

* **8 ounces cream cheese, softened:** Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps in the frosting.
* **1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened:** Similar to the cream cheese, softened butter is crucial for smooth frosting.
* **1 cup powdered sugar:** Also known as confectioners’ sugar, it provides sweetness and stability to the frosting.
* **1 teaspoon vanilla extract:** Adds a touch of flavor and enhances the sweetness.

### For the Fruit Toppings:

* **1 cup sliced strawberries:** Choose ripe, red strawberries for the best flavor and appearance.
* **1 cup blueberries:** Select firm, plump blueberries without any signs of mold.
* **1/2 cup raspberries:** These add a tangy sweetness to the pizza.
* **1/2 cup kiwi, peeled and sliced:** Adds a vibrant green color and a slightly tart flavor.
* **1/2 cup mandarin orange segments, drained:** Canned mandarin oranges are convenient and provide a juicy sweetness.
* **Optional: Other fruits of your choice:** Consider using grapes, pineapple, blackberries, or peaches.

### Optional Glaze:

* **1/4 cup apricot preserves:** This will add shine and helps prevent the fruit from drying out. You can use other fruit preserves like strawberry or raspberry.
* **1 tablespoon water:** To thin the preserves for easy brushing.

## Equipment You’ll Need

* **Baking sheet:** A large baking sheet is necessary to bake the cookie crust.
* **Parchment paper:** This will prevent the crust from sticking to the baking sheet.
* **Rolling pin:** For rolling out the cookie dough (if you desire a larger thinner crust).
* **Mixing bowl:** For making the cream cheese frosting.
* **Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer):** To beat the cream cheese, butter, and sugar together.
* **Rubber spatula:** For scraping the sides of the bowl and folding ingredients.
* **Knife and cutting board:** For preparing the fruit.
* **Small saucepan (optional):** For making the apricot glaze.
* **Pastry brush (optional):** For applying the apricot glaze.

## Step-by-Step Instructions

Now that you have all the ingredients and equipment, let’s get started! Follow these step-by-step instructions to create your own delicious fruit pizza.

### Step 1: Prepare the Crust

1. **Preheat oven:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Adjust the oven rack to the middle position.
2. **Line baking sheet:** Line your baking sheet with parchment paper. This will prevent the cookie crust from sticking.
3. **Prepare the dough:** If using store-bought cookie dough, slice the dough into approximately 1/4-inch thick rounds. Arrange the slices evenly on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a small gap between each slice. If you want one large crust, simply arrange the slices closely together.
4. **Roll out the dough (optional):** If you prefer a thinner crust, lightly dust a clean surface with all-purpose flour. Place the cookie dough slices on the floured surface and gently roll them out with a rolling pin to your desired thickness. Carefully transfer the rolled-out dough to the prepared baking sheet. Press the edges together if you rolled it out as individual pieces.
5. **Bake:** Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The baking time will vary depending on your oven and the thickness of the crust. Watch it carefully to prevent burning.
6. **Cool completely:** Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the crust cool completely on the baking sheet before frosting. This is important to prevent the frosting from melting.

### Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

1. **Beat cream cheese and butter:** In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and softened butter. Beat with an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer) on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Make sure there are no lumps.
2. **Add powdered sugar:** Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture, beating on low speed until well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the frosting too thin.
3. **Add vanilla extract:** Stir in the vanilla extract until evenly distributed.
4. **Adjust consistency (optional):** If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk or cream at a time until you reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
5. **Chill (optional):** While the cookie crust is cooling, you can chill the frosting in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This will help it firm up slightly and make it easier to spread.

### Step 3: Prepare the Fruit Toppings

1. **Wash and dry fruit:** Thoroughly wash and dry all the fruit. This is essential to remove any dirt or pesticides.
2. **Slice fruit:** Slice the strawberries, kiwi, and any other large fruits into thin, even slices. Smaller fruits like blueberries and raspberries can be left whole.
3. **Drain mandarin oranges:** If using canned mandarin oranges, drain them well to remove excess liquid.

### Step 4: Assemble the Fruit Pizza

1. **Frost the crust:** Once the cookie crust is completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top, leaving a small border around the edge. Be generous with the frosting – it’s what holds the fruit in place and adds to the overall sweetness.
2. **Arrange the fruit:** Now comes the fun part! Arrange the sliced and whole fruits on top of the frosting in a decorative pattern. You can create a symmetrical design, a colorful mosaic, or simply arrange the fruit randomly. Be creative and have fun!
3. **Glaze the fruit (optional):** If using the apricot glaze, combine the apricot preserves and water in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until the preserves are melted and smooth. Let it cool slightly. Use a pastry brush to gently brush the glaze over the fruit. This will add shine and help prevent the fruit from drying out. Avoid over-glazing, which can make the pizza too sticky.

### Step 5: Chill and Serve

1. **Chill:** Refrigerate the fruit pizza for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the frosting to set and the flavors to meld together. Chilling also helps the pizza to firm up, making it easier to slice and serve.
2. **Slice and serve:** Before serving, slice the fruit pizza into wedges or squares. Use a sharp knife to ensure clean cuts.
3. **Enjoy!** Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious and beautiful fruit pizza!

## Tips and Variations

* **Make your own sugar cookie dough:** If you prefer a homemade crust, use your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Just make sure to bake it in a large, flat shape on a baking sheet.
* **Use a graham cracker crust:** For a quicker and easier option, use a pre-made graham cracker crust. This will give the pizza a slightly different flavor and texture.
* **Experiment with different fruits:** Don’t be afraid to try different fruits! Some other great options include grapes, pineapple, blackberries, peaches, and even edible flowers.
* **Add chocolate:** Drizzle melted chocolate over the fruit for an extra touch of indulgence.
* **Use different flavored extracts:** Try using almond extract, lemon extract, or peppermint extract in the cream cheese frosting for a unique flavor twist.
* **Make mini fruit pizzas:** Use small sugar cookies or graham crackers as individual crusts for mini fruit pizzas.
* **Add a sprinkle of nuts:** Toasted almonds, pecans, or walnuts can add a nice crunch and nutty flavor to the pizza.
* **Vegan fruit pizza:** Use vegan sugar cookie dough, vegan cream cheese frosting, and your favorite vegan fruits for a delicious vegan version.

## Make Ahead Tips

* **Crust:** The cookie crust can be baked a day ahead of time and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
* **Frosting:** The cream cheese frosting can also be made a day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. Let it soften slightly before spreading.
* **Fruit:** It’s best to prepare the fruit just before assembling the pizza to prevent it from drying out.
* **Assembled pizza:** Assembled fruit pizza is best served the same day it is made. However, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. The fruit may become slightly softer over time.

## Storage Instructions

* **Refrigerate:** Store leftover fruit pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
* **Freezing:** Freezing is not recommended, as the fruit and frosting can become mushy when thawed.

## Serving Suggestions

* **Dessert:** Fruit pizza is the perfect dessert for any occasion, from casual gatherings to formal parties.
* **Snack:** Enjoy a slice of fruit pizza as a refreshing and healthy-ish snack.
* **Brunch:** Add fruit pizza to your brunch spread for a sweet and colorful addition.
* **Potlucks:** Fruit pizza is always a crowd-pleaser at potlucks.

## Nutritional Information (per serving)

*Please note that the nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used.*

* **Calories:** Approximately 300-400
* **Fat:** 15-25 grams
* **Saturated Fat:** 8-12 grams
* **Cholesterol:** 50-70 mg
* **Sodium:** 150-250 mg
* **Carbohydrates:** 35-45 grams
* **Sugar:** 25-35 grams
* **Protein:** 3-5 grams

## Conclusion

This simple fruit pizza recipe is a fantastic way to create a show-stopping dessert with minimal effort. Its versatility, customizable nature, and delightful combination of flavors make it a guaranteed success at any event. From the easy-to-prepare cookie crust to the creamy frosting and vibrant fruit toppings, every bite is a celebration of fresh and delicious ingredients. So, gather your ingredients, follow the steps, and prepare to impress your friends and family with this delightful treat. Happy baking!