healthier fruit pizza

Since we’re not going out these days, this fruit pizza is a fantastic (and tasty) project to take on with the kids as the country is on lock-down due to COVID-19.

Making a fruit pizza may not be on the top of your to-do list right now however if you’re like my family, you’re looking for fun ways to occupy the kids.
Enter…fruit pizza!

Get creative while enjoying a healthy sweet treat during this time. I experimented with this recipe multiple times and my boys were always eager to help decorate!

This fruit pizza has sugar cookie crust, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting and your favorite seasonal fruits!

what is fruit pizza?

Fruit pizza has a sugar cookie crust, topped with a frosting (often times with cream cheese) which is then topped with a variety of seasonal, fresh fruit. Here are some suggestions for fruit that work well:

strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries
mandarin oranges
green or red grapes
pineapple slices
kiwi or star fruit
shredded coconut and fresh mint are great garnishes

is fruit pizza healthy?

Fruit pizza is a great healthier option. Is it better than eating a salad?
Um….I wish.
With that said, you can feel good knowing that there’s no refined sugar or flour in this recipe. It’s gluten free, with dairy-free & paleo adaptions. The crust and frosting is made up of whole food ingredients and it’s topped with nutrient-dense seasonal, fresh fruit.

how to make fruit pizza

almond flour

This fruit pizza is made with toasted almond flour. The “toasted” part is optional however it provides such a nice depth to the flavor (similar to a graham cracker).

To toast, add the flour to a dry pan or skillet and cook on medium for 5-7 minutes. Stir often to ensure it doesn’t burn (this will happen quickly so keep an eye on it). I take it off the heat when you really start to smell the nutty flavor (but it’s not too brown at this point).

Add the other dry ingredients right to the pan. Put aside and cool.

butter & sweetener

For the fat in this recipe, you can use butter, ghee or coconut oil. I’ve been dairy-free these days so I used ghee but any of the 3 work wonderfully.

To sweeten, I use powdered erythritol like Swerve confectioners. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol and low carb/calorie option (good alternative for diabetics or if you’re on the Keto diet).

There are some substitutions you can make here. If you want to make this Paleo-friendly, use coconut sugar. The crust will be a little softer the day after you make it but the flavor is still delicous.

You could also use powdered sugar instead of erythritol.

finishing the dough

Once you’ve creamed the butter and sweetener for 3 to 4 minutes, add an egg and vanilla. Add the almond flour mixture and mix until it forms a dough.

Place the dough in parchment and refrigerate for an hour (or freeze for 20-30 minutes).

tips for rolling fruit pizza dough

When you use almond flour in dough, it gets very sticky so it can be tricky to roll out. Here are some tips!

Chill in the fridge for an hour or if short on time, stick in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Wet a paper towel or cloth and place it on your counter. Place a piece of parchment paper on top (this provides traction so paper moves minimally).
Place the dough on the parchment paper and then top with a 2nd piece of parchment.
Roll out into a rough circle.
Use an upside down large mixing bowl as a cookie cutter to make an even circle. (Remove top parchment, place the upside down mixing bowl and press, pull extra dough).
Place extra dough in the middle of the circle, top with parchment, roll out to incorporate.
Remove the top parchment and place the dough and bottom parchment on a round cookie sheet.

how to make cream cheese frosting

This frosting is very easy! While the dough is in the fridge, you can make this. Place all ingredients in a food processor or high powered blender and blend until smooth, or relatively smooth. Chill until ready to top the crust.

If you want a dairy free option, try using a dairy-free cream cheese like Daiya, Miyokos or Kite hill. I’ve recently converted to using dairy-free in my cream cheese frosting and love it. I find people can’t taste the difference, especially if it’s made with other ingredients.

To make this cream cheese frosting paleo-friendly, use maple syrup instead of powdered erythritol (or sugar). Since that is liquid, it takes a little longer to get firm. It’s also a good idea to use coconut oil instead of butter or ghee to help firm up.

how to decorate fruit pizza

You can’t go wrong decorating this wonderful treat. Simply use your favorite seasonal fruits. If the creativity isn’t flowing, just do a google search for fruit pizza, you’ll get LOTS of inspiration!

how long will fruit pizza keep?

You can make fruit pizza up to one day ahead of time and store it (tightly covered) in the refrigerator. Store leftovers for up to 3 days.

healthier fruit pizza

what is fruit pizza?

is fruit pizza healthy?