Basically, a dessert pizza looks like a savory pizza, but it is made with a cookie crust. You can use refrigerated cookie dough or you can make your own sugar cookie dough and press it down onto a pizza pan. Toppings can be anything from apples to strawberries to kiwis and grapes. Blueberries and raspberries when they are in season are a wonderful choice.

The “sauce” for the dessert pizza is really cream cheese. Just spread it over the cookie dough when it comes out of the oven and then add your toppings. You do have to wait until the cookie is baked and cooled before adding your sauce and toppings, unlike a real pizza.

Here are some recipes for these pizza gourmet desserts:

Fruit Pizza

Courtesy of whatscookingamerica.com

Ingredients:

• 1 (20-ounce) package refrigerated cookie dough
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or other flavoring (almond, orange, or lemon)
• Fresh blueberries, banana slices, mandarin orange sections,
• seedless grapes, strawberry halves, kiwi fruit slices, (or any other fruit you want), well drained
• 1/2 cup orange, peach, or apricot preserves
• 1 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Line an ungreased 14-inch pizza pan with cookie dough cut in 1/8-inch slices, overlapping slightly. Bake 12 minutes or until light brown; remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract or other flavoring; spread over cookie crust. Arrange fruit over cream cheese layer in any design you want (use your imagination).

In a small saucepan over very low heat, make a glaze by heating preserves and water. Brush glaze over fruit, making sure to cover the fruit that will turn dark. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Homemade Apple Pizza

Courtesy of tammysrecipes.com

A soft homemade pizza crust with a cream cheese spread and apple slices, topped with a crumb topping

Yield: 12-16 slices

Ingredients:

Pizza Crust:

• 1 cup warm water (112-115 degrees F)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast

Apple topping:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 large cooking apples, peeled and sliced thinly
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Cream cheese spread:
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Crumb topping:

• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup soft butter
• 1/3 cup quick oats

Instructions:

1. Making the crust: First, combine water, salt, sugar, and oil in a small bowl. Whisk together flour and yeast in a large bowl. Add wet ingredients and knead into a smooth dough, adding additional flour if needed. Knead for about 5 minutes, cover dough with a towel, and then set aside to rest while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

2. Making the apple topping: Whisk together the flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium-sized saucepan. Add butter and apples, and heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer just until apples are tender. Set aside to cool.

3. Make the cream cheese spread by combining the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and nutmeg in a bowl and beating until smooth. Set aside.

4. Combine crumb topping ingredients until mixed and crumbly.

5. Punch down dough from step 1, and spread onto a greased 16-inch round pizza pan, or onto pan(s) of your choice. Gently spread cream cheese over dough with a knife or spatula. Pour apple mixture evenly over cream cheese. Sprinkle with crumb topping.

6. Cover pizza and let set in a warm place for about 15-20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake pizza in the center of the oven for 25-30 minutes, until done.

Golden Delicious Apples -This is the most popular type of yellow apple. It is perfect for snacking, baking and making mouthwatering pies, sauces and salads.

Ginger Gold - August to November is the season for this type of yellow apple. You will love its sweet and sour flavor. Pies and sauces made from it are delectable. It doesn’t freeze well, however.

Braeburn - These are exquisite yellow apples with an orange red tinge. They are delicious and can be eaten raw.

Honey Crisp -You can prepare yummy sauces and salads from this luscious yellowish red apple. It is not used for pies. It can be frozen for future use.

Jona Gold - The tangy sweetness of this yellow apple makes it a delightful snack. Its season extends from September to April. You can use it to make salads and pies.

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Tired of baking cookies? Here is a great recipe that uses Golden Delicious apples and sweet honey to create a scrumptious cake.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup vegetable shortening
3 large eggs
3/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup warm coffee
2 cups Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Golden Apple and Honey Topping:
1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and sliced
1/3 cup honey

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch angel food or bundt pan.
2. In large bowl, beat sugar and shortening until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in honey and lemon zest. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and nutmeg. Add to sugar mixture alternately with coffee, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Stir in apples and nuts.
3. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean.
4. Meanwhile, prepare Golden Apple and Honey Topping: In small skillet, heat honey; add apple. Cook, turning slices occasionally, until tender and glazed.
5. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely. Arrange apples on top of cake and serve.

Looking for more tasty apple recipes? Try these Apple Bar Bites.

You can frost these however you like.  I've tried a cream cheese frosting and a chocolate frosting, and both were amazing!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

FROSTING:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk

Directions:cu

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, bananas and buttermilk. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to banana mixture. Fill 18 paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. In a small mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes.

There are so many unique ways to decorate cupcakes these days. See tons of ideas for cupcake recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package of devil's food cake mix
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups whipped cream
• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
• 2 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped

Strawberries and blueberries are abundant this time of year, and made it easy to create the stars and stripes of our grand flag.

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh strawberries

1 pkg.  (12 oz.) frozen prepared pound cake, thawed, cut into 14 slices

1-1/3 cups blueberries, divided

1 tub  (12 oz.) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed

Directions:

1. Slice 1 cup strawberries; halve remaining strawberries.

2. Cover bottom of 13x9-inch dish with cake slices; top with sliced strawberries and 1 cup blueberries. Spread Cool Whip over berries.

3. Arrange strawberry halves and remaining blueberries on COOL WHIP to resemble a US flag. Keep refrigerated.

Celebrate Independence Day with these other Fourth Of July Dessert Recipes.

If you enjoy gourmet desserts with your cup of coffee, then you'll certainly enjoy this recipe for coffee cake. With a splash of apricot, you really can't go wrong!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm milk (105 to 115 degrees)

• 2 packages active dry yeast

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 2 eggs, slightly beaten

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1 tsp. ground cardamom

• 5 to 5 1/2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 cup prepared apricot filling

• 1/2 cup chopped dates

• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

• 3 tbsp. light cream or half and half

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

• 1/4 tsp. almond extract

In a large bowl, combine the milk and yeast; stir to dissolve yeast. Stir in butter, granulated sugar, eggs, salt, cardamom and 2 cups of the flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough easy to handle. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead for 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding as much remaining flour as needed to prevent sticking. Shape dough into a ball. Place in a large, buttered bowl; turn dough once to butter surface. Cover with waxed paper; let rise in a warm place (85 degrees) until doubled, about 1 ½ hours. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine apricot filling and dates; set aside.

Pinch dough down; divide into 3 equal pieces. Roll out one third dough on lightly floured surface into 12 x 10 inch rectangle. Spoon one third of apricot mixture down the center third of dough. Fold all 4 sides over so that they meet at the center of filling; pinch to seal. Place dough seam side down on a buttered baking sheet. With scissors, snip 1 inch wide strips on its side to expose filling. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, cream, vanilla and almond extract; mix well. Drizzle over the coffee cakes.

For more coffee cake options, try:

• Chocolate Streusel Coffee Cake
• Cream Cheese Swirl Coffee Cake
• Cranberry Apple Streusel Coffee Cake
• Ladder Coffee Cakes

• 2 cups any kind of pancake and waffle mix

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 8-oz. sour cream

• 3/4 cup milk

• 1 egg, beaten

• 3/4 cup chopped cranberries

• 3/4 cup peeled, coarsely chopped apple

Streusel:

• 1/2 cup chopped gourmet nuts

• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

• 2 tbsp. butter, softened

Glaze:

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tbsp. milk

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Heat the oven to 350° F. Grease 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Combine pancake mix and sugar. Add sour cream, milk, and egg; mix just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spread into; top with cranberries and apple. Sprinkle over fruit. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm cake. Serve warm. (To reheat cooled cake, microwave each serving at high for about 20 seconds.)

For more streusel recipes, try some of the following:

• Chocolate Streusel
• Chocolate Streusel Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• 1 cup canned cherry pie filling

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

• 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

• 2 tsp. milk

In a large mixer bowl, beat butter on high speed of electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add sour cream; beat until fluffy. Add flour and mix well. Cover and chill dough about 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.

Divide the dough in half. Working with half of the dough at a time, roll to a 10 x 8 inch rectangle. Place rectangle on a greased baking sheet. Spread half of the pie filling lengthwise down the center third of the rectangle. If desired, sprinkle half of the chopped walnuts over the pie filling. Make cuts 2 ½ inches deep at 1 inch intervals along both long sides. Fold strips over filling, pinching into narrow points at the center. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until golden. Remove to a wire rack. Sprinkle with additional chopped gourmet nuts. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and the milk. Drizzle over the gourmet desserts. Cut into slices and serve.

For more coffee cake ideas, try:

• Overnight Coffee Cake Recipe
• Apricot Date Coffee Cake
• Chocolate Streusel Coffee Cake
• Cream Cheese Swirl Coffee Cake
• Cranberry Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

Coconut Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 cup fresh coconut, grated or 1 cup flaked coconut

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the coconut cream and sugar; cook over low heat until sugar melts. Cool and stir into the eggs.

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl; stir in the egg mixture until dough is formed. Roll out 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes. Arrange on a greased cookie sheet and sprinkle with the coconut. Bake 8 minutes, or until delicately browned. Cool on a cake rack.

If you love coconut, then you'll really enjoy some of these recipes:

• Coconut Balls
• Coconut Custard
• Coconut Tarts
• Coconut Pudding

The cherry fruit filling in these bars make them an excellent choice for holiday gifts. The festive red color and delicious taste will seal their fate making them a treat your family and friends will love for years to come!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup margarine

• 1 3/4 cup sugar

• 4 eggs

• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 3 cups flour

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1 or 2 – 21 oz. cans of cherry pie filling

Cream together the sugar and margarine. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Then add baking powder, flour, salt and vanilla. Press 2/3 of the batter in a greased 10x15” pan with sides. Spread the cherry pie filling (one or two cans depending on your tastes) on the batter and then drop remaining dough by teaspoon over top of mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean). Remove from oven and cool. Usually, we drizzle our bars with a glaze made from 3/4 cups powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp. milk. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container.

NOTE – blueberry or apple pie filling would work as well.

For more delicious cherry gourmet desserts, try these:

• Tart Cherry Pie Recipe
• Cherry Dumplings
• Cherry Waldorf Gelatin
• Cherry Cheese Mold