Have I got a simple and super fun fourth of July treat to share with you all!
Yes, fruit pizza - the sweetest of all pizzas, and the easiest fix for a patriotic dessert to impress all your friends. I opted to go with individual hand-sized pizzas, so that no one would feel too guilty about eating, say, six of them. Not that I did any such thing...
Start with some sugar cookie dough. You can use your favorite recipe, or go with this one I found from Julie Blanner . They are so soft and chewy that it has quickly become my go-to recipe for sugar cookies.
While the cookies are baking, whip up some delicious cream cheese frosting. Intead of adding vanilla extract, add a touch of lemon juice. It enhances, as opposed to overpowers, the fresh, sweet flavor of the berries.. Smear some cream cheese frosting on top of your completely cooled cookies, then have at it with whatever fruit your sweet tooth desires.
With the 4th of July less then twenty-four hours away, I thought it only fitting to work with blueberries and strawberries, which coincidentally happen to be my favorite fruits. You can, of course, use any other fruit you like. Raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, pineapple - that's what I love about this recipe: its versatility.
With a thick sugar cookie base, cream cheese frosting with the slightest hint of lemon, and fresh berries, these patriotic pizzas are sure to please at any party (I do love my alliterations don't I? Sorry friends, just coudn't help it).
Happy Baking (and Happy Fourth of July) !
Patriotic Fruit Pizzas Via JulieBlanner
Sugar Cookies:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add egg, sour cream, and vanilla to butter mixture and beat until well incorporated. Gently fold dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredient mixture until dough comes together.
4. Scoop tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared cookie sheets, leaving space between them for spreading. With lightly floured fingers, gently flatten cookies to 1/4 inch thickness.
5. Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes. Do NOT overbake. Cookies will look slightly underdone. That is okay.
6. Let cool completely on cookie sheets before removing to plate/wire rack.
Cream Cheese Icing:
8 oz softened cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1. Beat all ingredients until smooth
Toppings:
strawberries, sliced
blueberries
any other fruit of your choice
Assembly:
1. Top cookies with dollop of cream cheese icing. Using a butter knife or offset spatula, smooth icing so that it is flat.
2. Cover with berries/fruit of your choice. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
