Fruit pizza. Just the name conjures up images of sunny picnics, joyful gatherings, and a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. If you’re on the hunt for the best fruit pizza recipe, look no further. This recipe takes the classic fruit pizza and elevates it, channeling the spirit of the Pioneer Woman herself – approachable, utterly delightful, and perfect for sharing.
Think of a buttery, tender sugar cookie crust as your canvas, topped with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting, and finally adorned with a vibrant array of fresh, juicy fruits. It’s a dessert that’s as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the taste buds. And the best part? It’s wonderfully simple to make, proving that you don’t need to be a culinary expert to create a show-stopping dessert.
Rows of kiwi, red grapes, blueberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges and pineapple on fruit pizza.
Why This Fruit Pizza Recipe is a Cut Above
You might be wondering, “What makes this fruit pizza recipe so special?” Well, it’s all about taking the best elements of a classic and making them even better. Inspired by timeless recipes and with a nod to the Pioneer Woman’s style of generous, heartwarming food, this recipe focuses on:
- Accessibility: Forget specialty pans! This recipe is designed for a standard half sheet pan, something most home cooks already have. No need to hunt down obscure equipment to create this masterpiece.
- Perfected Sugar Cookie Crust: The foundation of any great fruit pizza is the crust. This sugar cookie crust recipe has been tweaked and perfected to achieve that ideal balance of tender crumb and sturdy structure, holding up beautifully to the frosting and fruit.
- Updated Cream Cheese Frosting: The frosting is the creamy, dreamy glue that brings it all together. This recipe features an updated frosting with a touch of sour cream for a subtle tang that perfectly complements the sweetness of the cookie and fruit. It’s all about achieving that perfect consistency and flavor harmony.
Crafting the Perfect Sugar Cookie Crust
Let’s talk about that sugar cookie crust – the star of the show! This isn’t just any sugar cookie recipe; it’s a one-bowl wonder that results in a lightly sweet, incredibly tender base. And for those of us who prefer to skip unnecessary steps, rejoice! There’s no need to chill the dough before pressing it into the pan. Yes, you read that right – no chilling required!
We understand that sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of life, perfect shapes aren’t always achievable. But here’s a secret: any minor imperfections in the crust will be completely hidden (and forgotten!) once it’s slathered with that luscious cream cheese frosting and piled high with colorful fruits. It’s all about flavor and fun, not flawless edges.
Dry ingredients added to sugar cookie dough and mixed until smooth.
Choosing the Right Pan for Your Fruit Pizza
For this recipe, a basic half sheet pan is your best friend. Its generous size makes it ideal for feeding a crowd – perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or any gathering where you want to impress. If you prefer a slightly thicker crust, you can also use a 9×13 inch pan or a circle pizza pan.
To ensure your fruit pizza crust bakes beautifully and releases easily, line your half sheet pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it. Then, simply press the cookie dough into a rectangle, roughly 10×14 inches. Don’t worry about being precise – a little give or take is perfectly fine. The key is to aim for a relatively even thickness across the dough, ensuring it bakes uniformly. As it bakes, the dough will naturally spread a bit, which is exactly what we want.
The Magic of Cream Cheese Frosting
Now, let’s dive into the cream cheese frosting – the element that adds that irresistible creamy tang to our fruit pizza. While the ingredients are simple and straightforward, a few clever additions elevate this frosting to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Of course, we have the essential cream cheese and powdered sugar, the dynamic duo of any great cream cheese frosting. But here’s where the magic happens: a touch of butter adds richness and a dab of sour cream introduces a bright, fresh tang. The sour cream is the secret weapon here, providing that perfect hint of acidity without compromising the frosting’s consistency – something lemon juice can sometimes do. This trick is inspired by the frosting used in the best-ever carrot cake recipe, proving that some flavor combinations are just universally fantastic.
Powdered sugar added to glass bowl of cream cheese frosting and then mixed until creamy.
Assembling Your Fruit Pizza Masterpiece
Once your sugar cookie crust is baked to golden perfection and completely cooled, it’s time for the fun part – assembly! Spread that luscious cream cheese frosting evenly over the crust, creating a smooth, inviting canvas for your fruit.
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for… the fruit! This is where your creativity can truly shine.
Choosing the Best Fruits and Decorating Tips
When it comes to fruit pizza, the possibilities are endless! However, a few guidelines can help you choose fruits that will work best both in terms of flavor and texture:
- Avoid overly watery fruits: Watermelon, for example, can make your fruit pizza soggy. Opt for fruits that are juicy but hold their shape well.
- Choose ripe but firm fruits: Perfectly ripe strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, grapes, mandarin oranges, and pineapple are all excellent choices.
- Canned fruits need extra care: If using canned fruits like pineapple or mandarin oranges, be sure to drain them thoroughly and pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Bite-sized is best: Cut your fruit into small, bite-sized pieces. This makes serving and eating the fruit pizza much easier and more enjoyable. (Pro-tip: learn from the slightly-too-large strawberries in the photos and quarter them for easier slicing!).
Assembling rows of fresh fruit on fruit pizza crust.
Decorating like a Pioneer Woman (or letting the kids loose!):
Forget about striving for Pinterest-perfect fruit arrangements unless that’s your jam! The beauty of fruit pizza lies in its deliciousness and the joy of creating it. Don’t stress about intricate designs.
Here are some fun decorating ideas:
- Colorful Rows: Create neat rows of different fruits for a visually appealing and organized look. This is a therapeutic and satisfying way to decorate!
- Spirals and Swirls: Arrange fruit in spirals or swirling patterns for a dynamic and eye-catching design.
- Emoji Faces or Initials: Get the kids involved and let them create fun emoji faces or spell out initials with the fruit. Imperfection is part of the charm!
The bottom line? Have fun with it! Fruit pizza decorating can be a relaxing and enjoyable activity, especially if you put on your favorite audiobook or podcast while you work.
This truly is the best fruit pizza recipe – simple, straightforward, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. It’s the ideal dessert to bring to potlucks, neighborhood barbecues, or any casual get-together. And if you’re not feeding a huge crowd? No problem! The recipe can easily be halved for a smaller pan and fewer servings.
Get ready to impress your friends and family with this stunning and scrumptious fruit pizza. We can’t wait to see what fruit combinations and creative designs you come up with!
Square of fruit pizza with mandarin oranges, strawberries, blueberries, red grapes and kiwi above sheet pan fruit pizza.
Perfect Fruit Pizza Recipe
Yields: 24 servings
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Ingredients:
Sugar Cookie Crust:
- ¾ cup (170g) salted butter, softened
- 1 cup (212g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest (optional)
- 2 cups (284g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ¼ cup (57g) salted butter, softened
- 8 ounces (227g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups (200g) powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
Fruit:
- Fresh strawberries, halved or quartered
- Fresh blueberries
- Red grapes, halved
- Kiwi fruit, peeled and cut into triangles
- Canned mandarin oranges, drained and patted dry
- Canned pineapple tidbits or chunks, drained and patted dry
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
- Sugar Cookie Crust: Cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon zest (if using). Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix until just combined.
- Press dough into a 10×14 inch rectangle in the center of the pan.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until just baked and lightly golden. Let cool completely.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Mix in sour cream and vanilla. Add powdered sugar and salt; beat until light and fluffy.
- Spread frosting evenly over cooled crust. Arrange fruit on top.
- Chill in refrigerator until serving. Best served within 1-2 hours of assembly.
Recipe Notes:
- Pan Size: 9×13 inch pan or circle pizza pan can be substituted.
- Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese recommended for best frosting consistency.
- Fruit Options: Get creative with your favorite fresh, ripe fruits!
Recipe Source: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
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