If you are craving a dessert that feels as festive as it tastes, the Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe will instantly become your new favorite. This delightful treat combines a soft, buttery sugar cookie crust with a luscious, lightly sweetened cream cheese frosting and a vibrant medley of fresh fruits. It’s a beautiful, colorful dessert that’s perfect for parties or any day you want to impress your guests with something both simple and stunning. The contrast of textures and the burst of juicy flavors from the fruit make every bite feel like a little celebration in your mouth.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting the ingredients just right is the secret to making a memorable Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. Each component plays a key role: the cookie crust offers a tender yet sturdy base, the frosting brings creamy sweetness, and the fresh fruits add natural color and brightness.
- All-purpose flour (1 ⅔ cups): The foundation of the cookie crust, providing structure and tenderness.
- Baking powder (½ tsp): Helps the crust rise slightly for a soft texture without being cakey.
- Salt (¼ tsp): Enhances all the flavors without making the crust taste salty.
- Sugar (¾ cup): Sweetens the crust perfectly, balancing the tartness of the fruit later on.
- Butter (10 tbsp, room temperature): Adds richness and a soft chewiness to the crust.
- Egg (1 large, room temperature): Binds everything together and contributes to a tender crumb.
- Vanilla extract (1 tsp): Infuses the crust with warm, comforting aroma and flavor.
- Almond extract (1 tsp): Adds a subtle, nutty undertone that elevates the taste.
- Cream cheese (8 oz, room temperature): The star of the frosting, creating that creamy, tangy base.
- Sugar (⅓ cup): Sweetens the cream cheese frosting just right.
- Vanilla extract (½ tsp): Enhances the frosting’s smooth, sweet profile.
- Strawberries (2 cups, sliced): Juicy and bright, bringing a lovely red color and freshness.
- Kiwi (2, peeled and sliced): Adds vibrant green color and a tangy twist that pairs well with cream cheese.
- Blueberries (⅓ cup): Small bursts of sweetness and a beautiful deep blue contrast.
- Mandarin oranges (¼ cup, drained): Their citrusy brightness balances the overall flavor and adds a pop of orange hue.
How to Make Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Crust
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lightly spraying a 12-inch pizza pan so your crust doesn’t stick. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt — this dry mix will give your crust the perfect texture. Then, in another larger bowl, beat the sugar and butter until the mixture is light and fluffy, which is key to a tender crust. Next, add in the egg along with the vanilla and almond extracts, blending everything until smooth. Incorporate the dry ingredients and mix until you form a soft dough. Press this dough evenly into the pan, making sure it reaches the edges for an even bake. Pop it into your oven for about 11 to 13 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges start to turn golden. Let it cool completely so your frosting won’t melt later.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
While your crust cools, whip up the cream cheese frosting. Beat the room temperature cream cheese together with sugar and vanilla extract until silky smooth and creamy. This frosting is not overly sweet but just the right amount to complement the fruit’s natural tanginess. Once your crust is ready and cooled, spread a generous layer of this luscious frosting evenly over the top. It’s like laying down a soft, sweet blanket for the fruits to shine on.
Step 3: Arrange the Fruit Toppings
Now comes the fun and colorful part — topping your pizza with fresh fruit! Artfully arrange the sliced strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, and mandarin oranges all over the cream cheese frosting in any pattern you love. Whether you create concentric circles, a rainbow gradient, or a random but beautiful scatter, the key is to make it look inviting and vibrant. For extra shine and a touch of sweetness, you can gently brush the fruit with a little honey diluted with water. This glaze makes your fruit pizza look glossy and fresh right before serving.
How to Serve Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
Adding a garnish can elevate your fruit pizza to the next level. Fresh mint leaves scattered around add a refreshing aroma and pop of green that pairs wonderfully with the fruit’s colors. You can also sprinkle a little powdered sugar or finely chopped nuts like pistachios for a subtle crunch and extra visual appeal.
Side Dishes
This dessert stands magnificently well on its own, but if you want to assemble a whole party spread, think fresh whipped cream or a drizzle of chocolate sauce on the side. Pairing it with light drinks like sparkling water with citrus or mildly sweet white wine can balance out the richness and sweetness beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re serving a crowd, slice your fruit pizza into traditional triangular pizza slices for easy sharing. For a more elegant approach, cut it into small squares or even use cookie cutters to create fun shapes like stars or hearts from each slice. You can also serve it family-style on a decorative platter so guests can admire the colorful fruit topping before digging in.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe left (though it’s often all gone fast!), store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The crust stays soft but won’t get soggy overnight because of the cookie base. Enjoy within 2 to 3 days for the best taste and texture.
Freezing
This fruit pizza is best enjoyed fresh, as the fruit and creamy frosting don’t freeze well together. The texture and appearance may degrade in the freezer, so freezing is not recommended for the assembled dessert. However, you can freeze the cookie crust alone wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then thaw and frost right before serving.
Reheating
Since this dessert is served cold, reheating is normally unnecessary. If you want to warm the crust slightly, do so before frosting the pizza in a warm oven for a few minutes at 300°F, then cool completely before adding the cream cheese frosting and fruit toppings.
FAQs
Can I use different fruits on my fruit pizza?
Absolutely! One of the joys of this Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is how versatile it is. Feel free to swap or add fruits like grapes, peaches, blackberries, or bananas depending on what’s fresh and in season.
How do I make the crust gluten-free?
To make a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend designed for baking. Be sure it includes xanthan gum to keep the texture just right. The crust may have a slightly different texture but will still be delicious.
Is it possible to make the cream cheese frosting dairy-free?
Yes! You can use dairy-free cream cheese alternatives made from almond or coconut milk. Just make sure the alternative spreads smoothly and tastes mild to keep the frosting creamy and flavorful.
How far in advance can I prepare the fruit pizza?
This dessert can be assembled a few hours ahead and kept refrigerated, but for the freshest fruit and best texture, try to add the fruit topping as close to serving time as possible. The crust and frosting can be prepped the day before.
What is the best way to cut the fruit pizza?
Using a sharp serrated knife works best to slice through the cookie crust and soft frosting without squishing the fruit. Wipe the knife clean between cuts for neat, tidy slices.
Final Thoughts
There’s something so joyful about sharing a Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe that’s as pretty to look at as it is delicious to eat. Its balance of soft cookie, creamy frosting, and fresh fruit is a crowd-pleaser every time. Whether it’s a family gathering, birthday, or a casual summer treat, I can’t recommend this dessert enough. Give it a try and watch it become an instant classic at your table!
Print
Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 57 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This delightful Fruit Pizza features a soft sugar cookie crust topped with a lightly sweetened cream cheese frosting and an array of fresh fruits. It’s a colorful, delicious dessert perfect for parties and gatherings.
Ingredients
For The Cookie Crust
- 1 ⅔ cups all purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- 10 tbsp butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
For The Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Fruit Topping
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced
- 2 kiwi, peeled and sliced
- ⅓ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup mandarin oranges, drained
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Crust: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Lightly coat a 12″ pizza pan with non-stick baking spray. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy, then add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the dry ingredients and beat until a soft cookie dough forms. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pizza pan and bake for 11 to 13 minutes until the center is set. Allow the crust to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make the Frosting: Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie crust.
- Decorate the Fruit Pizza: Arrange the sliced strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, and mandarin oranges over the frosting in a pattern of your choice. For an optional glossy finish, mix 1 teaspoon of honey with a small amount of water and gently brush this glaze over the fruit. Refrigerate the fruit pizza until ready to serve.
Notes
- Ensure the cookie crust is completely cooled before spreading the frosting to prevent melting.
- Use fresh, ripe fruits for the best flavor and appearance.
- The honey glaze is optional but adds a nice shine and slight sweetness to the fruit.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days for optimal freshness.