Mmmm Monday....Fruit Pizza

This is one of my favorite desserts!  I just had it yesterday and I'm still thinking about it.  Mmmmm...yes.  LOVE IT!  Other than cutting up the fruit, it's really easy too.  Having made it dozens and dozens of times, however, I do have a few little hints. 

Here's the recipe:

And here's the tips:

1.  I love easy recipes, so you could make your sugar cookie by scratch, but I love the way this mix turns out.  Betty Crocker has many pouch mixes, so look for that section at the grocery store.   Beat the egg and softened butter into the mix until a soft dough forms. 

2.  Roll dough into a large ball.  I like to use a pizza pan, but if you don't have one, use a greased cookie sheet....it might need to be a little more oval.  Flatten down the ball.  I don't flatten it down all the way, but so it's about 1/2 the size if will end up being. 

3.  Bake at 375 degrees (350 if using a dark or nonstick pan) for about 20 minutes.  Keep an eye on it.  It might need longer.  Sometimes, the center needs longer than the edges.  That's why it's important to flatten out the ball.  If the center does need more time and your edges burn, no worries, just cut them off.  No one will notice.

4.  While your cookie is baking you can start to make the mixture.  I think the key to combining cream cheese with anything is...1.  Make sure it's soft (pull out about 1/2 hour - 1 hour before) and 2. beat with your mixer BEFORE adding anything to it.  This helps it from making the mixture clumpy.  So beat your soft cream cheese, add in 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and 1/4 tsp. vanilla.  Once that looks all good and great, add in the cool whip, but don't beat it in too much. 

5.  After your cookie is good and cooled, frost it with your cream cheese mixture and add on the fruit.  I love it with kiwis, strawberries, bananas, and blueberries but you could add whatever you like. 

I have made this for holidays for friends and it is a huge hit!  For Valentines, add some red food coloring to the frosting and shape your cookie like a heart.  For Halloween, add in orange and shape it like a pumpkin.  I promise, they will love it.

So there you have it.  Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!