Dessert Pizza

Today's post is for my friend, Deb. She's looking for a way to use sugar cookie dough. This was the first thing to sprang to mind. Always a favorite and it always disappears. I offer 2 variations for you, Deb. Lemme know how it goes :)

Fruit pizza

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

• 1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
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• 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
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• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slice cookie dough and arrange on greased pizza pan, overlapping edges. Press dough flat into pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.
2. In a large bowl, soften cream cheese, then fold in the whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust. You can chill for a while at this point, or continue by arranging the fruit.
3. Begin with strawberries, sliced in half. Arrange in a circle around the outside edge. Continue with fruit of your choice, working towards the middle. If bananas are used, dip them in lemon juice so they don't darken. Then make a sauce to spoon over fruit.
4. In a saucepan, combine sugar, salt, corn starch, orange juice, lemon juice and water. Cook and stir over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat, and add grated orange rind. Allow to cool, but not set up. Spoon over fruit. Chill for two hours, then cut into wedges and serve.

Note: Instead of making the glaze, the easy cheat is to melt down some apple jelly and pour it over the top in place of the glaze. Still gives you that finishing touch, but you don't have to 'cook' as much. And as you can see by the pictures, you can use it any occasion.

OPtion #2 for base: For the base: Mix ricotta cheese with vanilla, sugar and lemon zest. Reserve for topping. (Adventure Club: Add store-bought or home-made passion fruit puree to the ricotta cheese mixture.)

S'mores Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 (16 1/2 ounce) package refrigerated chocolate chip (or sugar) cookie dough
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 2 cups graham crackers, broken in 1 inch pieces
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• chocolate syrup, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Spread the softened cookie dough into a lightly greased pizza pan, flattening it to the edges.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes until it begins to brown SLIGHTLY.
3. Remove the cookie from the oven and sprinkle the top with with the chocolate chips, graham crackers and marshmallows.
4. Return the cookie to the oven for 5-8 minutes until crust is brown and chips and marshmallows are melted.
5. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
6. Garnish with chocolate syrup, if desired.