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The Essential Summer Dessert

Last weekend, my Business Man and I hosted a fiesta for some of our friends in the Bean Town. While everyone enjoyed the food, I think dessert was the biggest hit. (Surprise, surprise.)


We had brownies (from a box, the horror!) topped with chocolate ganache, and fruit pizza.




Fruit pizza is most definitely my "go-to" summer dessert. Since it's the official 1st day of summer, I thought I'd share the recipe! It's delicious without being too heavy or rich. And it's most definitely healthy, because you are eating fruit, right?






The recipe I use is my mom's... she's been using it for years. It starts with a basic sugar cookie base, topped with a cream cheese-whipped topping, and then all the fruit your little heart desires! I usually go with strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, and mandarin oranges. But raspberries are really good, too.


Even better when you pick the fruit yourself! (Picking berries on our honeymoon last July.)



A funny story about me & my Business Man (feel free to scroll to the bottom if you don't care): 


In the past, when I've made fruit pizza, I've always lined up the fruits in rows, like little soldiers. A row of strawberries, then a row of mandarin oranges, then pineapple, then kiwi, then blueberries. And it always had to be in rainbow order.  (Control freak much?) 


Anyways, one day I was getting the fruit pizza ready, and it was taking forever. And we were in a hurry. So my Business Man just started throwing the fruit all around, in no order whatsoever. (Insert ridiculous emotional break-down because he was ruining my dessert.) After several minutes of arguing, which might have included some tears (and not by my Business Man), I came to the conclusion that the fruit pizza would look okay if the fruit wasn't in rows. I would survive.


And now look at how I make it, years later: scattered all about. I guess my Business Man does know a thing or two. The only requirement I have now is that there has to be so much fruit loaded on the pizza that the cream cheese layer can hardly be seen. 


So, after all that, here's the recipe! Make this for your summer cook-outs or just to eat yourself. It makes a good breakfast, too. (Hehe.)




Fruit Pizza


  • Crust
    • ½ cup oil
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ½ cup powdered sugar
    • ½ cup butter or margarine
    • 1 egg
    • ½ tsp. baking soda
    • ½ tsp. cream of tartar
    • 2 ¼ cups flour
    • ¼ tsp. salt
  • Topping
    • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
    • 1 container Cool Whip, thawed
  • Assorted Fresh Fruit

    Method

    For crust, combine oil, sugar, powdered sugar, and butter. Mix well. Add egg. Add dry ingredients. Spread into greased 15x10-inch or 11x17-inch pan, sealing edges. Bake 12 minutes at 375*F until lightly browned. Let cool.

    For topping, blend cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread cream cheese mixture over crust. Arrange fruit over cream cheese mixture. Store in refrigerator.

    Comments

    Have Your Way said…
    OOO looks yummy!! I may have to try this!!!! I LOVE fruit pizza!
    Catherine said…
    lol, I love the story, Sara!! It sounds so much like something I would do. It's so nice to be able to look back and laugh...
    The colors in that are gorgeous, it looks like you got your hands on some really fresh fruit!
    Fruit Pizza is one of my favorite desserts too! You may have just inspired me to make some this weekend!
    Unknown said…
    These are so good! Thank you for sharing! :) I forgot all about these.
    Anonymous said…
    I think I might try red (strawberries and raspberries, white (the cream cheese) and blueberries for a Fourth o July "Flag" Fruit pizza!!!! Just saying! This looks wonderful!
    Unknown said…
    so excited to make this for fourth of july! yumm!
    Anonymous said…
    Just in the oven now...Cant wait to try it! Christy x
    Anonymous said…
    Hi again!

    I have tried it and im sorry to say I didnt like it at all :-(.

    The Cool Whip was a bit too much and I might try just the cream cheese as topping instead.

    The amount of sugar is not needed either in my opinion , it was overpowering and you dont really need that with summer fruits.

    My 6 year old (who loved the idea of Pizza combined together with his fav fruit) didnt like it either and said it was too sickly.

    The cookie dough was very easy to make, but not to my liking either.

    This is not to be nasty or horrible at all and I did have to think twice before posting my comment, but I thought you would appreciate feedback good or bad?!

    We cant all like the same things and when it comes to flavour, its each to their own I suppose.

    Good luck with your Blog and all the best for the future!

    Christy x
    Anonymous said…
    Maybe it would be good with Greek yogurt mixed in with the cool whip instead of cream cheese and sugar...
    Karen said…
    This looks great! I can't wait to try it. BTW, I'm an all-in-neat-rows kind of girl too, and my hubby would just toss them all over the top. :) Thanks for sharing!
    Anonymous said…
    I made the pizza today and everyone loved it I did change the topping recipe to 2 small marshmallow creams 2- 8 oz cream cheese softened and one small cool whip it was super easy and everyone loved it! Thanks for the recipe!!! :-)
    raynnowui21 said…
    I'm usually to running a blog and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your web site and keep checking for new information. online casinos

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