Fabulous Fruit Pizza
Ok, I admit it...I love fruit pizza! Usually I am one to lean more towards desserts with chocolate in them, but here is where I make an exception. All the fresh fruit in the area is making it hard to resist the fruity desserts summer has to offer. Yesterday we got to pick fresh strawberries from a nearby U-Pick and I had to make this dessert when I got home. The fresh strawberries really gave it the extra wow factor! There are a lot of recipes out there for fruit pizza and you might think this one looks a bit too complicated, but stay with me, I promise it is worth it. First, the sugar cookie crust is perfect. It's not too hard, crumbles under your fork and has just the right amount of sweetness. Second, making a warm custard and then adding cream cheese to the second layer gives the pizza a soft, creamy bed for the fruit to nestle in. It's thick enough that it doesn't run everywhere but soft enough to spread well over the crust. Add any fresh fruit you desire and last add the glaze. As I mention below not everyone likes to add a glaze, it is optional, but it keeps the fruit from turning brown before you serve it and gives the pizza that little bit of extra sweetness. It's as pretty as a picture!
Main Ingredients
For crust:
3/4 butter softened
1 cup white sugar
2 Eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
For filling:
1 - 6 oz pkg cream cheese
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter
4 Eggs
1 cup milk
vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
For glaze:
1 1/2 cups pineapple or other juice
2 tbsp corn starch
1 cup icing sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
Preparation
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350F.
Step 2: To make the crust, begin by softening 3/4 cup butter. Add sugar and eggs and beat well.
Step 3: Add flour, cream of tartar and baking soda to wet ingredients. Blend well, dough will be firm, like cookie dough batter.
Step 4: Grease a jelly roll pan or a large pizza pan. Using a spatula gently press the batter over the entire surface of the pan leaving a small lip around the edges for a crust.
Step 5: Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until slightly brown.
Step 6: To make the filling, combine sugar and eggs in a heavy sauce pan over medium heat. whisk until smooth and keep stirring until it begins to thicken.
Step 7: Add butter and stir until melted. Add milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil gently for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Step 8: Set aside and allow to cool. Add vanilla and lemon extract.
Step 9: In a separate bowl add cream cheese and begin to beat until it smooths out. Once vanilla mixture is cool add to the creme cheese and blend well. Beat until it is smooth and all the lumps are out.
Step 10: Once crust is cool gently spread the cream cheese mixture over top.
Step 11: Next place your sliced fresh fruit in rows or circles across your pizza.
Step 12: To make the glaze place fruit juice in a glass, microwaveable dish. Add cornstarch and beat well until cornstarch completely dissolves.
Step 13: Add icing sugar and mix well.
Step 14: Place in microwave for 1 minute. Take out and stir and place back in for another minute. Do this until mixture thickens and begins to boil.
Step 15: Add lemon juice and allow to cool slightly.
Step 16: Slowly drizzle glaze over entire pizza, making sure to cover all the fruit. The glaze is optional but I prefer it as it allows the fruit to set and it can then be kept in the fridge up to 24 hours with out the fruit browning.
