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Who can resist fresh strawberries on a sugar cookie? Strawberry pizza is a delicious dessert that combines a soft sugar cookie crust, a luscious cream cheese layer and a vibrant strawberry topping for the perfect balance of sweetness and freshness. With a drizzle of melted white chocolate and a brilliant burst of berry flavor in every bite, this eye-catching treat is such a fun and delicious way to enjoy fresh strawberries. Whether for summer parties, family gatherings, or just a sweet indulgence, this strawberry dessert pizza is sure to satisfy and impress everyone at the table.
Give this a sweet twist on a classic with easy strawberry pizza. It has a sugar cookie crust, fluffy cream cheese layer, strawberry topping and white chocolate drizzle.
You might also like this fun strawberry lemon cheesecake lasagna, sweet strawberry shortcake cheesecake or these cute strawberry mousse tartlets.
Why You’ll Love It
A fun twist: Layered just like a pizza but with sweet ingredients, this strawberry pizza dessert is a clever twist on the classic recipe.
Sweet and refreshing: I love making this dessert for spring and summer gatherings, although of course you can whip it up whenever you have a strawberry craving!
Easy to prepare: There’s nothing difficult about this dessert pizza and you can even use refrigerated sugar cookie dough as a handy shortcut.
Strawberry Pizza Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Sugar cookie dough: Let your refrigerated sugar cookie dough soften slightly before pressing it into the pan.
Cream cheese: Use full-fat (for the best flavor) and bring it to room temperature before mixing.
Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners sugar or icing sugar, this adds sweetness without graininess.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla really complements the strawberry flavor.
Lemon juice: Adds a contrasting tang to the cream cheese layer and the strawberry layer.
Fresh strawberries: The star of the dish. Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor and texture. Pat them dry before adding to the pizza to prevent excess moisture.
Granulated white sugar: For the strawberry sauce topping.
White chocolate: To drizzle on top. Choose from white melting chocolate or white chocolate chips.
Strawberry gelatin: From a package of strawberry jello powder. This is to set the topping.
Cornstarch: To thicken the topping.
Mint leaves: An optional garnish.
How to Make Strawberry Pizza
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Bake dough crust: Press the sugar cookie dough into a pizza pan and bake until golden brown. Let it cool completely.
Add the cream cheese filling: Combine the cream cheese, vanilla, lemon juice and powdered sugar. Spread this over the cooled sweet pizza crust.
Make the strawberry topping: Add the strawberries, sugar and water to a pan over a medium heat. Mix cornstarch with water and stir this in, then cook, mashing the strawberries, until thick. Take it off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and strawberry jello powder until dissolved. Let the mixture cool completely.
Add the strawberry topping: Spread the strawberry mixture over the cream cheese mixture.
Garnish and chill: Decorate the strawberry pizza with sliced strawberries and drizzle on some melted white chocolate. You can garnish it with fresh mint leaves too, if you like. Refrigerate for at least half an hour, and then slice and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free sugar cookie dough (this one is good!)
Extra crunch: Add a sprinkle of crushed graham crackers or nuts for extra crunch.
Strawberries: Swap the strawberries for mixed berries for a colorful variation.
Sugar cookie dough: You can use store bought pizza dough (just not the flavored kind – garlic wouldn’t really go with the strawberries!)
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with playful cowboy sliders.
Main dishes: Next up, enjoy firecracker beef or French onion meatballs with smashed potato salad and roasted artichokes.
Desserts: Serve a slice of this strawberry pizza to finish.
How to Store Fruit Pizza
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 to 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Make sure it’s well wrapped to avoid freezer burn.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Top Tips
Even crust thickness: Press the dough evenly into the pan to ensure uniform baking and avoid undercooked or overly crisp areas.
Chill the dough: For a more even bake, chill the crust for 10 to 15 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
Cool completely: Let the baked crust cool fully before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting or sogginess.
Smooth cream cheese layer: Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth before adding sugar and vanilla for a creamy, lump-free spread.
Thicken the strawberry sauce: Stir the cornstarch mixture constantly while cooking to prevent lumps and ensure a glossy, thickened sauce. And let it cool before spreading on the cream cheese layer.
White chocolate drizzle: For a smooth drizzle, melt the white chocolate gently and transfer it to a small piping bag or use a fork to create thin streams.
Chill before serving: Refrigerate the assembled strawberry pizza for at least 30 minutes to allow the layers to set and flavors to meld.
Dessert Pizza FAQs
If the drizzle is too thick, mix in a tablespoon or 2 of heavy cream and melt again if needed.
No, but I recommend chilling it for a minimum of 30 minutes or more if you have time, just to ensure everything sets.
Easy Strawberry Pizza Recipe
Strawberry Pizza
Equipment
- 12 " Pizza Pan or Baking Sheet
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 16 Ounces refrigerated sugar cookie dough, 1 package
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 Ounces cream cheese, full fat, at room temperature
- ¾ Cup powdered sugar
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Teaspoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
For the Strawberry Topping:
- 1 Cup strawberries, fresh, hulled and quartered
- ½ Cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Teaspoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 Tablespoons strawberry gelatin, from a package of strawberry jello mix
For Garnish:
- 2 Cups strawberries, sliced
- ¼ Cup white chocolate chips, melted, or melting wafers
- mint leaves, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Make the Crust:
- Press the sugar cookie dough evenly into a greased 12-inch pizza pan or use the back of a baking sheet and form a circle with the dough.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before adding your toppings.
Make the Cream Cheese Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the mixture evenly over the cooled cookie crust.
Make the Strawberry Topping:
- In a saucepan over a medium heat, combine the strawberries, granulated sugar and water.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water to create a slurry.
- Stir it into the strawberry mixture.
- Cook for about 5 minutes, mashing as the strawberries cook.
- Cook until the strawberries begin to thicken.
- Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice and strawberry gelatin until dissolved.
- Let the sauce cool completely.
- Spread the cooled strawberry sauce over the cream cheese layer.
Garnish the Pizza:
- Arrange the sliced strawberries over on top.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave on high for 30 seconds and stir until smooth.
- Drizzle melted white chocolate over the pizza for a decorative touch.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves if liked.
Chill Before Serving:
- Refrigerate the strawberry pizza for at least 30 minutes to allow the layers to set.
- Slice and serve chilled.
Notes
Chill the dough: For a more even bake, chill the crust for 10 to 15 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
Cool completely: Let the baked crust cool fully before adding the cream cheese layer to prevent melting or sogginess.
Smooth cream cheese layer: Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth before adding sugar and vanilla for a creamy, lump-free spread.
Thicken the strawberry sauce: Stir the cornstarch mixture constantly while cooking to prevent lumps and ensure a glossy, thickened sauce. And let it cool before spreading on the cream cheese layer.
White chocolate drizzle: For a smooth drizzle, melt the white chocolate gently and transfer it to a small piping bag or use a fork to create thin streams.
Chill before serving: Refrigerate the assembled strawberry pizza for at least 30 minutes to allow the layers to set and flavors to meld.
Nutrition
A sweet twist on tradition, this strawberry pizza recipe makes a fantastic dessert. You can use readymade dough for the sugar cookie crust and then you have a sweet cream cheese filling that’s topped with a sweet strawberry glaze. Fruit pizza is always a popular dessert and each layer in this strawberry pizza is simply perfect. It’s one of my all-time favorite strawberry desserts.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
