N&N Fruit Pizza

After multiple request, YUMAZING feedback, and even a pinterest I am sharing the secret to this popular party dish.

First of all it's a really simple recipe.

Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese

4 oz. Cool Whip (1 3/4 c.)

1/4 c. powdered sugar

16.5 oz. package of refrigerator sugar cookie dough

1 lg. pizza pan

Fruit of choice: kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, bananas

*For the optional simple syrup coating recipe see below

Directions:

rolling the cookie dough into one giant cookie that fills the pizza pan. Bake according to directions (mine was 16-20 min. at 350 degrees). Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

For the topping you will combine sugar, cream cheese and Cool Whip. Spread over cookie crust. Arrange fruit on top.

Nancy's Cooking Tip: Simple Syrup

You can help keep cut up fruits from turning brown by coating them with an acidic juice such as lemon or orange. Also, a simple syrup mixture, which is made by boiling equal parts of sugar and water, is commonly used for soaking cakes or pastries to make them moist. This same combination can be used to soften or sweeten fresh or dried fruits, and can be flavored with lemon or orange juice.

We coated our fruit pizza with a juice flavored simple syrup to help keep the fruit fresh. Here is an example recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 quart filtered or distilled water
• ½ lb granulated sugar
• 2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice (about 3 medium oranges)
• 2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3 medium lemons)

Directions:

1. Boil the water and sugar, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool the syrup.


2. Add the lemon and orange juices, then chill the syrup.

Natalie's Decorating Tip: My favorite part is decorating the pizza. You can get as creative as you want with your design. Cut up the fruit into bite size pieces. Use a variety of shapes to create interest such as, half circles, triangles, and dots. The fruit itself will really do all the work for you in this case because they are already so colorful and unique. Make sure that anything canned or juicy is drained well so that it don't bleed onto your frosting.

This 2011 pizza was for a class of '11 graduation party

and the #4 (shown at top) was for my son's 4th birthday.

The fruit pizza is sure to be a hit at almost any occasion, but let me add one final tip. Make sure you try a piece shortly after serving because this pizza goes FAST!

Today's post is linked up to Things I Love Thursday.