4th of July Fruit Pizza Recipe

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: Festive 4th of July Fruit Pizza is the gloriously colorful dessert you need for the biggest weekend of the summer! My Sugar Cookie Crust, cream cheese topping, and fresh berries make a sweet and celebratory 4th of July treat that delivers flavor and fun. This straightforward recipe is mostly made with kitchen staples—grab some berries, and you’re all set!

• Kid-friendly: Simple mixing, shaping, spreading, and decorating make this perfect for a family project.
• Vibrant: With a bright red, white, and blue color scheme, this refreshing dessert is as colorful as Fourth of July fireworks.
• Shortcut cheesecake: The luscious crust, tangy, creamy topping, and a layer of juicy fruit give you cheesecake flavors without the fuss.
• Party ready: If you’re a guest, this pastry is easy to transport and assemble.
• Relaxed! This recipe is low-stress, but make it even easier by preparing the cookie base in advance or using store-bought dough.

When the days are getting warmer, it’s handy to have a short list of desserts that just need a brief time in the oven, like this fabulous 4th of July Pizza, or that are completely no-bake, like my No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe, Easy Key Lime Pie, No-Bake Chocolate Pie, and No-Bake Dulce de Leche Cheesecake!

Between the summer weather, the parties, backyard barbeques, and the general hang-out vibe, the 4th of July is such a fun, low-stress holiday! I wanted to give you an equally relaxed dessert that the whole family can enjoy. Since this recipe was made for Independence Day, you can make the rules! Get creative with the cream cheese topping by adding your own twist, like orange or lime zest, or some swirls of Nutella, or maybe even a little melted white chocolate. Then choose whatever fruit you like for the top and follow my simple, pretty circular design, or create your own look!  Or really go with the holiday theme, and make an American flag. Happy 4th!

Table of Contents

What is a 4th of July Fruit Pizza?

• Fourth of July Fruit Pizza is a dessert featuring a large sugar cookie base covered with a sweet cream cheese topping and fresh berries.
  • Tender cookie: A classic buttery vanilla “crust” anchors this baked treat.
  • Irresistible topping: Cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy cream blend into a mouthwatering smooth topping.
  • Lovely nostalgic look: A simple berry topping provides a charming, flavorful finish.
• On the 4th of July, fruit desserts are a natural—berries and other seasonal delights are at their flavor peak and priced right too. For more berry recipes, check out Mixed Berry Shortcake, Summer Berry Pudding, Mixed Berry Cobbler with Cake Mix, and Frozen Sherry Berry Trifle.
• Dessert pizza is purely American, but it evolved from French fruit tarts. The popularity of refrigerated cookie dough in the 1970s made dessert pizza a quick potluck dessert option. Because it can be easily customized, dessert fruit pizza became popular for holidays, with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries a natural topping for Independence Day.

Key Ingredients and Substitutes

Sugar Cookie Base

• All-purpose flour

  • All-purpose flour gives this cookie enough structure to hold the filling and sturdiness to be cut into slices, yet still be tender.
  • Substitute: You can use an equal amount of a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix like Easy Almond Flour Baking Mix or another gluten-free flour blend.

• • Baking powder

  • Salt

    • Salt accents the flavors and keeps the cookie from tasting bland.

• Butter

  • Creaming butter and sugar whips air into the batter, and gives the cookie tenderness and height.
  • Butter gives the cookie a rich flavor, with notes of sweetness and nuttiness.
  • Use room temperature butter here. I have easy tips to help soften your butter correctly.
  • Substitute: You can use solid coconut oil instead of butter here.
    • Since coconut oil is 100% fat, unlike butter which contains water, you use less coconut oil. In this recipe, use 6 tablespoons (3 oz/85g)

• Granulated sugar

  • Granulated sugar sweetens the cookie.
  • Importantly, sugar attracts and holds moisture, helping to prevent the cookie from being hard and dry.
  • Sugar also contributes to the browning of the cookie.
  • Be sure to use granulated sugar here, and no substitutes. This will ensure that the base of your dessert pizza is firm enough for easy slicing.

• Egg

  • Egg binds all of the batter ingredients together.
  • Egg also gives the cookie rich texture and flavor.
  • Use room temperature eggs so that the batter mixes smoothly and easily. Use my tips to easily bring cold eggs to room temperature.
  • Substitute:  You can use a flax egg here. Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoons of water, and let the mixture sit and thicken for 5 minutes before adding to the batter.

• Vanilla extract

  • Vanilla adds depth and a warmly sweet, aromatic flavor to the sugar cookie.
  • Substitute: You can use an equal amount of Vanilla Bean Paste.

Cream Cheese Topping

• Cream Cheese

  • Cream cheese makes the topping delightfully tangy with a rich texture.
  • Use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese here.

• Powdered sugar

• Heavy whipping cream

  • Heavy whipping cream makes the topping perfectly creamy and spreadable.
  • Substitute: You can use an equal amount of crème fraîche or mascarpone.

• Fresh mixed berries

  • Sweet berries are the perfect match for the tangy cream cheese spread.
  • I used raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries to give this dessert a red, white, and blue 4th of July look.
  • Fresh berries are the best choice, because they won’t bleed like frozen berries, but you can use frozen berries.
    • If using frozen berries, first thaw them in a sieve over a bowl.
    • To remove extra juice, place the thawed berries on paper towels and blot dry.
    • If you’d like, toss them with a little powdered sugar to absorb any excess juice.
    • Arrange the berries on the cream cheese topping just before serving
  • Substitute: Instead of berries, you can use cherry halves or slices of stone fruits like cherries, peaches, plums, and nectarines.
    • Half green, red, and purple grapes and arrange them on top.
    • Slices of fresh kiwi, starfruit, and mangoes will also work well.
    • I wouldn’t recommend watermelon, because it has too much liquid.
    • Apples and banana slices aren’t good choices either, because they turn brown quickly.

How to Make 4th of July Fruit Pizza

Make the Sugar Cookie Crust

1. Combine the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream the butter and sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or with a handheld electric mixer), cream the butter and ¾ cup (6 oz/170 g) of sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Turn down the speed and add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
4. Add dry ingredients: Lastly mix in the dry ingredients until the dough comes together. 

5. Chill the dough: Form the dough into a flattened disc, wrap well and chill for 30 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven & Roll out the dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a 10-inch (25 ½ cm) circle and place on the prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake: Sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup (2 oz/57 g) sugar and bake for 14-16 minutes, until puffed and pale golden. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Make the Cream Cheese Topping

8. Mix the ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract together until smooth.

9. Finish topping and spread: Gradually whisk in the cream until the mixture has thickened, then spread on top of the cooled cookie crust, leaving a small border around the edge.

Add the Fruit Topping

10. Add fruit: Arrange the fruit on the cream cheese topping, alternating rows of different colored berries for contrast.
11. Serve: This is best eaten the day you assemble it. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• How to make a flag: If you want to make a large flag pizza, double the recipe and bake the cookie crust in a half sheet pan. The cooking time will be a bit longer, about 15-18 minutes.
• Correct cream cheese: Use block cream cheese and not cream cheese spread, as that will be too soft.
• Fruit options: If you’re not making a 4th of July Fruit Pizza, there’s no need to stick to a red, white, and blue theme. Feel free to use different sliced fruit on top of the pizza.
• Yankee Doodle Snickerdoodle! Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar to the batter, and sprinkle the top with an additional 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon along with the sugar.
• Good for little hands: This is a fun project to do with kids!

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

• Make-ahead tips: This fruit pizza should be eaten the day it is assembled, but all of the elements can be prepared in advance:
  • The cookie dough can be made, wrapped well, and refrigerated several days in advance.
  • It can also be wrapped and frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost at room temperature for about 1 hour.
  • The cream cheese topping can be made two days in advance, placed in an airtight container, and refrigerated.
• How to store leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

FAQs

Can I make this with store-bought cookie dough?

• Yes, you can make this with store-bought cookie dough.
• Note that because homemade sugar cookie dough is made with butter, it generally has a better flavor than commercially-available dough made with oil.
• If you’re looking for extra convenience, though, this recipe will work well with cookie dough from the supermarket.

What are some other toppings I can use instead of berries?

• If you want to stick with the 4th of July color theme, go for red and blue M&Ms.
• For a chocolatey dessert pizza, use mini chocolate chips or crumbled Oreos
• Give the dessert a sophisticated touch by topping it with chopped, toasted nuts and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
• Go for a 100% fun look by topping this sweet holiday pizza with gummy bears or sprinkles.

I don’t have a stand mixer or hand mixer—can I make this dessert by hand?

• Yes, you can make this dessert by hand.
• Cream the butter and sugar using a wooden spoon or a stiff spatula. Squish and mix the butter and sugar together, beating until light and fluffy.

Can I make this dessert pizza gluten-free?

Is it possible to make this recipe without an egg?

• Yes, you can absolutely make this recipe without an egg.
• I suggest using a flax egg, made with 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Let the mixture sit and thicken for 5 minutes before adding to the batter.
• For more ideas, see my 12 Best Egg Substitutes for Baking Recipes.

I don’t like turning on my oven in the summer. Is there another way to bake the cookie base?

• Yes, you can actually bake a big cookie like this or a batch of cookies on a gas grill! Fair warning: I haven’t personally tested this, but you can bake cookies on a gas grill on indirect heat. This is where the heat comes from the sides of the grill, not right below the food you’re cooking.
  • Grilling on indirect heat prevents food from scorching or drying out.
  • Preheat your gas grill for 10 minutes, and then turn off the center burners and adjust the burners on the sides to 350°F (180°C).
  • Place the cookie sheet in the center of the grate, on top of the unlit burners.
  • Bake for 14-16 minutes until puffed and pale and golden.
  • Note that cooking times on a gas grill can vary.

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