Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza
Bright, sweet, and floral Ecuador V. tahitensis Vanilla beans pair beautifully with fruit-based treats, like these tasty Fruit Pizzas! Or, just make the sugar cookies for the perfect Valentine's Day treat.
Sugar Cookie Crust
- 3 c. flour
- 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 c. butter, softened
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 T. milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract or lemon zest (optional)
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place softened butter and sugar in bowl of electric mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg, milk, and vanilla (and other flavorings if using), and beat to combine. Add flour mixture and mix just until dough pulls away from the bowl. Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.
For rolling and cutting out sugar cookies or making individual fruit pizzas: refrigerate dough for 2-3 hours or overnight, then sprinkle a large cutting board or clean surface with powdered sugar (NOT flour) and roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with a large round cookie cutter and place circles of dough on a greased cookie sheet to bake. Knead scraps of dough together and re-roll until you've cut out as many as you can. If the dough gets too soft and sticky, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes and try rolling later. Do not add more flour. Bake at 375°F for 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack when done and let cool to room temperature prior to frosting and decorating.
For making a large pan of fruit pizza: Line a 18"x13" half-sheet pan with parchment paper and press the crust into it. Use a rolling pin or bottom of a measuring cup to smooth it out. Bake at 350°F for 10-13 minutes or until set in the middle. Overbaking will yield a crunchy, hard-to-cut crust, and this dough doesn't get significantly brown when perfectly baked, so trust the process. Let cool to room temperature prior to frosting and decorating.
Fruit dip filling
For rolling and cutting out sugar cookies or making individual fruit pizzas: refrigerate dough for 2-3 hours or overnight, then sprinkle a large cutting board or clean surface with powdered sugar (NOT flour) and roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with a large round cookie cutter and place circles of dough on a greased cookie sheet to bake. Knead scraps of dough together and re-roll until you've cut out as many as you can. If the dough gets too soft and sticky, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes and try rolling later. Do not add more flour. Bake at 375°F for 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack when done and let cool to room temperature prior to frosting and decorating.
For making a large pan of fruit pizza: Line a 18"x13" half-sheet pan with parchment paper and press the crust into it. Use a rolling pin or bottom of a measuring cup to smooth it out. Bake at 350°F for 10-13 minutes or until set in the middle. Overbaking will yield a crunchy, hard-to-cut crust, and this dough doesn't get significantly brown when perfectly baked, so trust the process. Let cool to room temperature prior to frosting and decorating.
Fruit dip filling
- 8 oz cream cheese or reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 (approx. 6 oz) individual serving cup sweetened yogurt of choice--we like blended strawberry or lemon
- 1 T. vanilla paste OR 1 tsp. vanilla extract and the caviar of 1 vanilla bean
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Whip cream cheese and yogurt together for 2 minutes, until smooth and light. Whip in vanilla. Carefully beat in the sifted powdered. Taste and add more powdered sugar to achieve your personal sweetness preference.
Note, another option is to omit powdered sugar and fold in 1 jar of marshmallow fluff.
Assembling Fruit Pizzas
Note, another option is to omit powdered sugar and fold in 1 jar of marshmallow fluff.
Assembling Fruit Pizzas
Slather your sugar cookie crust with a generous amount of fruit dip. Decorate with all your favorite sliced fruit. We love berries, kiwi, fresh pineapple, banana, mandarin oranges, or peaches! For maximum beauty, try to select fresh, ripe fruits in a variety of colors and shapes. It's extra fun to cut the fruit with small cookie cutters. If desired, sprinkle the top of the fruit pizza with mini chocolate chips or M&Ms, or drizzle with caramel sauce. Cut the pizza into squares and serve. You're the boss, make it amazing!