Crowd Pleaser

Not so long ago, I signed up to bring a dessert to a church function.  Actually, my mother signed up and then asked me to make the dessert for her since I was staying with her at the time.  Now, there is something you should know about Wonder Woman - she is a pretty competitive person.  She tries not to be and acts all nonchalant about these kind of public functions where numerous desserts are on display, but secretly watches the trifles and brownies and cupcakes from the sidelines to see which dessert is most popular with the party-goers.  And feels a smug sort of satisfaction of the probably-needs-to-be-struck-by-lightning-to-cure-her type when her dessert goes the fastest.  She also sometimes speaks in third person.

Well, after toying with a number of possibilities that have been successful in the past, I had sudden inspiration thinking about the beautiful berries I had seen just a day earlier in the market.  Then I cringed.  Because my inspiration was Fruit Pizza.  Don't get me wrong, I love Fruit Pizza - its fresh, lighter than most coma-inducing desserts you find at these kind of gatherings, and pretty.  But its so .... so ... just ordinary.  I mean, it just doesn't have the yowzah factor that usually draws me to desserts or blog posts.  I was hoping to be inspired by something more challenging, you know?

So honestly, its almost in a way a little bit embarrassing to post this recipe.  Because it is so simple and not very refined and, well, homey.  But at the same time, it looks beautiful and turned out so well that I couldn't resist.  Plus, when I googled Fruit Pizza almost every result I got lamely suggested I just use store-bought sugar cookie dough.  Puh-lease.  So I just kind of went with this recipe because I like the lemon zest in the cookie (I'm a big fan of lemon zest) and it turned out fantastic. 

And it was a crowd-pleaser.  Oh yes it was.  And I know that it is the holiday season and this is a summery dessert.  But this was a nice, fresh change from the warm gingery treats I've seen all over the blogosphere.

Fruit Pizza

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
Zest of one lemon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt

Frosting:
1 package of cream cheese, (8 oz.) we used reduced fat
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
Optional: 1/2 tsp coconut extract
Optional: Zest of 1 lemon
 
Fresh fruit (anything you want, but I like the following):

Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Kiwi
Peaches
Blackberries
Pineapple
Banana
Mango
Canned mandarin oranges

Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixer. Add the egg, lemon zest, and vanilla. Mix until well combined. Sift flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture on low speed, using the mixer. Mix just until combined. Roll into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for at least an hour to chill the dough.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface then press into a lightly greased pizza pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes. You want the crust to be just a light golden brown. Let the crust cool.

Make the frosting. Mix the cream cheese, sugars, lemon juice, vanilla and lemon together until smooth. Optional: You can add 1/2 tsp of coconut extract to the frosting. Spread over cooled cookie crust.

Arrange fruit on the cookie pizza.

Chill until ready to serve. Cut in wedges.

Look at all that beautiful fruit.  Oh so yummy.  I guess I could have made a glaze to gussy it up.  Really I would like to rename it, because "Fruit Pizza" is so lame.  How do you say "Fruit Pizza" in French?  'Cuz that might work. 
 
Anyway, gotta dash.  Ciao.