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Fruit Pizza

Fruit Pizza

  Aloha Dreams

   Fabulous Recipes, Cooking for a Crowd & Dream Home Design      

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Fruit Pizza

 

Great for a group! Not to mention a perfect summer accompaniment to BBQ! In each bite you get a bit of crunchy cookie, soft cream cheese frosting and luscious fruit. There’s a reason it’s retained its popularity over the years.

 

 

Fruit Pizza

Fruit Pizza is a terrific choice when you’re wanting something light, pretty, quick and easy for a crowd. One (13” x 18”) half-sheet pan, cut into 4 rows by 6 rows, can serve 24 people.

Make it Quick, Easy and in Advance

Even with the frosting buffering them, a crunchy cookie and juicy fruit are not the best of friends for long term storage. Your pizza will be at its best if you assemble it within 4 hours prior to serving. But all is not lost in the make ahead department.   Assign the sheet pan cookies out to be pre-baked and frosted up to 24 hours in advance. You can also batch assign or pre-prep the kiwi and strawberries. Then just assemble several hours before serving. With all the ingredients pre-prepped, you can easily bring one together in less than 10 minutes.

If time permits, and you’re feelin’ the urge, you can make it look like this.

Fruit Pizza

But it takes FAR less time, and I think it looks EVEN PRETTIER, jumbled like this.

Fruit Pizza

By the way, frosting and decorating is a great job for youth volunteers. Just tell ‘em to use the jumbled fruit decorating method or they’ll be at it for hours!

 

Ever wonder how the fruit tarts in the pastry shops glisten like little jewels? Well, they often use a clear, gel-based liquid to give them that shine. We can go one better with a tasty jelly bath for our fruit. Note: don’t use jam or preserves. You don’t want the extra bits in jam or preserves.

This one is fun to make and even more fun to eat!   Let’s get cookin’.

5 from 1 vote
Fruit Pizza for a Crowd
Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Fruit Pizza is a terrific choice when you’re wanting something light, pretty, quick and easy for a crowd.  

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 people
Author: Betsy Edwards
Ingredients
For the Cookie
  • 2 (16.5 ounce) rolls sugar cookie dough
For the Frosting
  • 2 (8 ounce) cartons cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
For the Fruit Topping
  • 5 kiwi, peeled and sliced
  • 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges
  • 1 pint Strawberries, halved and quartered (same as a pound)
  • 1 (6 ounce) container raspberries
  • 1 cup apple jelly
Equipment
  • 1 13" x 18" half sheet baking pan
  • 1 long sheet parchment paper
Instructions
  1. 1 hour before cooking: set cookie dough and cream cheese out to come to room temperature.

Make the Cookie and Frosting
  1. Place 1 rack in the middle of the oven and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

    Line a 13 x 19 Half-Sheet Baking Pan with parchment paper.

    Break up dough and press evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. It should be no more than 1/4 inch thick. Bake 20 - 22 minutes or until golden brown. It will puff alarmingly as it’s baking. Ignore that. It will be fine.

    When done, remove pan from oven to sit on a cooling rack until completely cool, about 30 minutes.  

    While the cookie is baking/cooling you can make the frosting.

    In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Spread frosting over cooled crust.  

Prep the Fruit:
  1. While the cookie is baking/cooling you can prep the fruit. Peel and slice the kiwi. Cut the tops off the strawberries and quarter or halve the berries.

Assemble:
  1. Gently place all fruit topping in a medium bowl. Microwave apple jelly for 20 seconds. Stir jelly until smooth. Pour jelly evenly over fruit. Gently toss to coat all fruit. Scatter fruit over frosting. 

MAKE AHEAD NOTE:
  1. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour and up to 4-5 hours. To serve, cut into 4 rows x 6 row squares. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pizza.

  2. Variations:

    • Add grated orange zest to the frosting for a fun citrus kick.

    • Pineapple, mango and kiwi slices topped with shredded coconut and macadamia nuts make a festive tropical pizza.

    • You can also drizzle melted white or semi-sweet chocolate over the pizza to take it up another notch.

 

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Aloha Dreams

Welcome to Aloha Dreams!

I'm so glad you dropped by.  I'm Betsy.  Here you'll find my favorite fabulous, trusted recipes - everything from delicious, quick meals for your family to wonderful classics made easy.

I'm also here to help you with large group recipes from 20 to 200.  So next opportunity you get to cook for a large group - Say 'Yes!'  Then relax. I've got your back.

Ever wished you could build your dream home? How about building your dream home in a tropical paradise?  Join me, room by room, as we design and build a fabulous dream home in Hawaii!

Sweet & Salty No Bake Treat Bars

Sweet & Salty No Bake Treat Bars

  Aloha Dreams

   Fabulous Recipes, Cooking for a Crowd & Dream Home Design      

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Sweet & Salty Marshmallow No Bake Bars

Sweet and Salty No Bake Marshmallow Bars

A hint of salty and plenty of sweet, these no bake bars are a great cooking for a crowd recipe.  They come together quick, and can be made the day before giving you a terrific stress free dessert!   Last time I set them out, they lasted minutes.

Sweet and Salty No Bake Marshmallow Bars

These Sweet and Salty No Bake Marshmallow Bars are about to become your new favorite quick and easy dessert.

 

Sweet and Salty No Bake Marshmallow Bars for a Crowd
Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

A little salty and plenty of white chocolate sweet, these no bake bars are a great no-bake make ahead treat!

Servings: 18 bars
Ingredients
  • 4 cups Rice Chex Cereal (4.5 ounces)
  • 2 cups Original Cheerios (2 ounces)
  • 1 1/2 cup Mini Pretzels (2.5 ounces)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Table Salt
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • Cooking Spray
  • 1/3 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 11 ounces, divided White Chocolate Chips (7 ounces + 4 ounces)
  • 10 ounces Mini Marshmallows
Equipment
  • 1 9" x 13" Baking Dish
Instructions
  1. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, toss together the Chex, Cheerios, and pretzels. Set aside.
  3. Place the butter in a very large microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Add 11 ounces of the white chocolate, ¼ teaspoon table salt and all the marshmallows. Stir to coat and microwave for 1 – 1 1/2 minutes. Stirring every 30 seconds until melted.

  4. Stir until mixture is smooth, then immediately add the cereal mixture. Quickly fold in until cereal is completely coated.
  5. Scoop the mixture into the prepared pan and press in evenly. Sprinkle Kosher salt over the top.
  6. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the remaining 4 ounces white chocolate in 30 second increments for about 2 minutes, or until melted. Stir after each 30 seconds.
  7. Drizzle melted chocolate over bars.
  8. Let cool completely (1 houand cut into 18 squares.
Recipe Notes

MAKE AHEAD NOTE: Store in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 1 day.

 

More Cooking for a Crowd Winners

 

Hawaiian Wedding Cake

Looking for a quick and easy treat? This Hawaiian Wedding Cake comes together in a snap and tastes like a piña colada on your plate.

Huli Huli Chicken

This is without a doubt one of the Best. Chicken. Recipes. Ever. We fixed this for our luau last year. I figured out of the 140 guests there had to be some folks who didn't like roast pig. So we made 70 pieces of Huli Huli Chicken to supplement the roast pig. Turns out no one doesn't like roast pig. But NO ONE wanted to skip the chicken either.

Aloha Dreams

Welcome to Aloha Dreams!

I'm so glad you dropped by.  I'm Betsy.  Here you'll find my favorite fabulous, trusted recipes - everything from delicious, quick meals for your family to wonderful classics made easy.

I'm also here to help you with large group recipes from 20 to 200.  So next opportunity you get to cook for a large group - Say 'Yes!'  Then relax. I've got your back.

Ever wished you could build your dream home? How about building your dream home in a tropical paradise?  Join me, room by room, as we design and build a fabulous dream home in Hawaii!

Strawberry Pie – Summer on a Plate

Strawberry Pie – Summer on a Plate

  Aloha Dreams

   Fabulous Recipes, Cooking for a Crowd & Dream Home Design      

1
2
3
4
5
6

Strawberry Pie

Ever just want to eat something that screams SUMMER?  Well look no further.  This pie is fantastic!  I’m talking ‘set aside the bag of chips and eat 3 pieces a slice.  You won’t believe how quick and easy this pie is.

Strawberry Pie

This morning I wanted a strawberry pie.  I had just picked up several pounds of strawberries the night before.  This morning every time I walked into the kitchen I was knocked over by the smell of those strawberries.   And I wanted a pie to celebrated my lovely strawberries.  But not just any pie.  I wanted to taste the pure, bright, beautiful strawberries and little else.

After researching my options, I found what I wanted.  I wasn’t in the mood to make a pie crust.  I wanted a strawberry pie and I wanted it now.  This pie is Pure Summer on a Plate.  This will become your new favorite fruit pie.  It’s wonderful!  It’s very easy.  It’s gorgeous.  What more could you ask for?

You need to seriously stop what you’re doing, go pick up some strawberries and make this.  In fact, make 2 and surprise someone you love with a pie.  It’s very simple and very delicious.

 

Strawberry Pie
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 
Summer on a plate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 3 pounds strawberries rinsed, dried and dried, hulled
  • ¾ cup sugar (5 ¼ ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Sure-Jell for low-sugar or no-sugar recipes pink box not yellow box
  • Pinch table salt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 box All Ready Pie Crust
Instructions
For the Crust
  1. Cut parchment paper into a 9” round (or whatever size fits the bottom of your pie plate) set aside.

  2. Place the ready made pie crust in a 9” pie pan, and crimp the edge.

  3. Line the crust with the parchment paper round.

  4. Add enough pie weights, dry rice, or dried beans to cover the parchment paper and fill the pan 2/3 full.

  5. Place the pie in the refrigerator and chill the crust for 30 minutes to solidify the fat and prevent the dough from shrinking.

  6. Pre-heat the oven to 375°F.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes.
  8. Remove the pie from the oven, and carefully lift out the paper and weights.
  9. With a fork, prick the bottom and sides to prevent bubbles.
  10. Return the crust to the oven and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.

  11. Cool the crust completely on a rack.

For the Filling
  1. Meanwhile, in a food processor, process 1 ½ cup of berries (pick the least attractive) to a smooth puree. You should have about ¾ cup puree.

  2. In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, Sure-Jell, and salt. Stir in the strawberry puree, making sure to incorporate any mixture collecting in the corners of pan.
  3. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with heatproof rubber spatula, until it reaches a full boil.
  4. Boil, continually scraping the bottom and the sides of the pan to prevent scorching, for 2 minutes to ensure that cornstarch is fully cooked.  It will go from frothy to darker and thicker.  

  5. Transfer mixture to large bowl and stir in lemon juice.  Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.

  6. Once glaze is at room temperature, add berries to the bowl with glaze and gently fold them with rubber spatula until they are evenly coated. Scoop the berries into the baked pie shell, piling them into a mound.

  7. Arrange berries so they are distributed evenly and attractively.
  8. Refrigerate the pie until chilled, about 2 hours. Serve pie within 5 hours of chilling.
Recipe Notes

Adapted from Cooks Country

 

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Strawberry Pie – Summer on a Plate

Ever just want to eat something that screams SUMMER, especially when summer’s about over? Well look no further. This pie is fantastic! I’m talking ‘set aside the bag of chips and eat 3 pieces a slice’ fantastic.

Aloha Dreams

Welcome to Aloha Dreams!

I'm so glad you dropped by.  I'm Betsy.  Here you'll find my favorite fabulous, trusted recipes - everything from delicious, quick meals for your family to wonderful classics made easy.

I'm also here to help you with large group recipes from 20 to 200.  So next opportunity you get to cook for a large group - Say 'Yes!'  Then relax. I've got your back.

Ever wished you could build your dream home? How about building your dream home in a tropical paradise?  Join me, room by room, as we design and build a fabulous dream home in Hawaii!

Tropical Salad

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