We once had fruit dessert pizza at a restaurant. It was so tasty – the yummy pizza crust with sweetened fruit drizzled with a delicious icing. It was a mixture of all things wonderful in a single bite! Since the restaurant where we enjoyed dessert pizza quit selling it, we decided that we could make a similar version in our very own kitchen. We love dessert pizza and the versatility of it. There are so many versions that can be made with the ever popular cookie base or a tender, yet chewy pizza crust base like I am sharing here with you today.
This is a great way to use up apples this fall. I am using some store-bought apples that were in desperate need of some care! First, we need to make our apple pie filling. This is the way I make filling for all of my apple pies — I always precook it, let cool and then pour into a double pie crust before baking in the oven. It always turns out wonderfully and I never have to worry about my apple filling bubbling over in the oven or remaining only half cooked. This is also how I make it for parfaits and my children grew up eating “apple pie filling” as they hated applesauce. I have been making this yummy filling for over 20 years, so I know it’s delicious and you’ll enjoy it too!
Let’s get to it! First, peel, core and chop apples. I never measure this part, I just add all the apples that I have that need to be used up, usually they’re starting to become soft — don’t toss them, these apples make wonderful apple pie filling!! Place apples in a large cooking pot.
Add sugar and cinnamon. This really is all about taste. Add as much sugar and cinnamon as you like. Depending on the kind of apples I am using and how tart they are determines my sugar. I usually put about 1 cup of sugar to 6 to 8 cups apples.
Add water or apple juice. Or if you leave the apples sit for 1 to 2 hours, the sugars will pull out the natural juices in the apples. Simmer over medium heat, stirring often, about 30 minutes to an hour or until desired tenderness. Add more water if pot goes dry so apples do not burn.
If apples are not thick, add a cornstarch slurry (2 tbsp cornstarch mixed in 1/4 cup water) and stir in. Cook until slightly thickened. As apples cook, they will become darker from the cinnamon. For a more caramel flavor, add brown sugar in place of granulated sugar.
Prepare pizza crust. Bake and let cool before adding the apple pie filling. You can find our favorite pizza crust recipe (which I use for pretzels) here: https://www.ourcityhomestead.com/quick-and-easy-pretzels/
Drizzle with icing. The icing adds that bit of vanilla sweetness that is lovely with the pizza crust and apples, much like icing on a cinnamon bun or cinnamon roll!
Does that not look delicious!?! We gobbled this dessert pizza up! You can also make dessert pizza with cherry pie filling, peach, strawberry-rhubarb or even stewed plums. So many options!
Apple Dessert Pizza
1 prepared pizza crust, baked and cooled
8 cups apples
1 cup sugar – adjust to taste
1/2 tsp cinnamon – adjust to taste
1 cup water or apple juice
Cook apples, about 30 minutes to an hour or until desired doneness. Let cool until just slightly warm. Scoop onto pizza crust.
For the icing, combine 1/4 cup icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla and just enough water or apple juice to make an icing that can be drizzled over top the dessert pizza. Drizzle over top.
Cut and serve. Store leftovers in the fridge.
enjoy from Our City Homestead to yours