Easy & Delicious Apple Dessert Pizza: A Sweet Treat for Any Occasion
Prepare to fall in love with a dessert that’s as simple to make as it is utterly delicious: our Easy Apple Dessert Pizza! Imagine a crisp pizza crust providing the perfect base for a warm, spiced apple pie filling, crowned with a buttery, sweet crumble, and finished with a delicate drizzle of vanilla icing. It’s a delightful twist on classic apple pie, offering all the comforting flavors in a fun, shareable format that everyone, from kids to adults, will adore. This recipe is your go-to for a quick weeknight treat or a crowd-pleasing dessert that feels gourmet but takes minimal effort.
A Nostalgic Journey with Every Slice: Your New Favorite Weeknight Dessert
For many, dessert pizza evokes cherished childhood memories. I vividly recall the sheer joy of earning a free “Book-It” pizza from Pizza Hut after devouring countless books, and then, the highlight of the visit: a generous slice (or two!) of their incredible dessert pizza from the buffet. That nostalgic taste, particularly the apple pie version, was simply unforgettable. It’s a flavor profile that transports you back to simpler times, making this homemade apple dessert pizza not just a recipe, but an experience.
This recipe captures that beloved essence and makes it easily achievable in your own kitchen. It’s more than just a dessert; it’s a celebration of comfort food and sweet indulgence. Perfect for a spontaneous family treat, a potluck, or simply satisfying that sweet craving without hours of baking. Unlike traditional apple pies that require intricate crust work and longer baking times, this dessert pizza uses a store-bought crust, significantly cutting down on prep time. This makes it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when you want something special without the fuss.
Unleash Your Creativity: Exploring Different Pie Filling Variations
One of the most appealing aspects of this dessert pizza recipe is its incredible versatility. While the classic apple pie filling provides a timeless flavor, you are truly only limited by the variety of canned pie fillings available at your local grocery store. This flexibility allows you to customize the dessert to suit any taste preference or occasion, transforming a simple recipe into an endless canvas for culinary creativity.
Consider these fantastic alternatives for your next dessert pizza adventure:
- Berry Bonanza: Swap apple for blueberry, blackberry, or cherry pie filling for a vibrant, fruity explosion. The tartness of berries pairs beautifully with the sweet crumble and icing.
- Stone Fruit Delights: Peach or apricot pie fillings offer a sun-kissed sweetness. With peach, a touch of nutmeg or even a tiny hint of ginger in the crumb topping can elevate the flavor profile beautifully.
- Citrus Zing: Lemon pie filling brings a bright, tangy counterpoint that’s incredibly refreshing. For this, you might omit cinnamon from the crumble and perhaps add a pinch of lemon zest to both the filling and the icing for an extra burst of citrus.
- Tropical Twist: While less common, a pineapple or even a mixed tropical fruit pie filling could create a unique and exotic dessert pizza that’s perfect for summer gatherings.
The only slight adjustment you might want to make when experimenting with different fillings is to the crumb topping. For this classic apple dessert pizza, we generously incorporate ground cinnamon into the crumble. Cinnamon is an unparalleled partner for apples, enhancing their natural sweetness and warmth. However, for other fruit fillings, you might prefer different spices:
- For Peach Filling: Reduce the cinnamon to just a teaspoon, or replace it entirely with a quarter teaspoon of nutmeg for a complementary spice profile.
- For Berry Fillings (Cherry, Blueberry, Blackberry): Consider omitting the cinnamon. A dash of almond extract in the icing could beautifully complement berry flavors.
- For Lemon Filling: Skip the cinnamon altogether. A hint of lemon zest in the crumble could add a delightful brightness.
Ultimately, the choice of spices and fillings is yours to make, allowing you to tailor this dessert pizza to your family’s favorite flavors. If you’re feeling adventurous and have a little extra time, try making this with a homemade pizza dough, as demonstrated in our Cherry Dessert Pizza recipe, for an even fresher taste and texture.
Essential Ingredients for Your Apple Dessert Pizza
Crafting this irresistible apple dessert pizza requires just a few simple, readily available ingredients. The beauty lies in their combination, creating layers of texture and flavor that are truly delightful. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Store-bought thin pizza crust: The ultimate time-saver, providing a perfectly crispy base.
- Apple pie filling: Canned filling makes this recipe incredibly easy.
- Salted butter: Crucial for the rich, flavorful crumble topping. Softened butter blends beautifully.
- Light brown sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness to the crumble.
- All-purpose flour: The binder for our perfect, crumbly topping.
- Ground cinnamon: The quintessential spice for apple desserts, adding warmth and aroma.
- Powdered sugar: The base for our smooth, sweet icing drizzle.
- Milk: Used to achieve the ideal consistency for the icing.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Easy Apple Dessert Pizza
Creating this dessert pizza is a straightforward process, designed for maximum flavor with minimum fuss. Follow these simple steps to bring this sweet masterpiece to life:
- Prepare Your Oven and Crust: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the store-bought thin pizza crust from its packaging and carefully place it onto a round baking sheet. A thin crust ensures a delightful crispness, providing a sturdy foundation for our sweet toppings.
- Enhance the Apple Filling: Open your can of apple pie filling. Before spreading, take a sharp knife and gently slice back and forth through the apples directly in the can. This simple technique breaks down the larger apple chunks into smaller, more manageable pieces, ensuring an even distribution of apple flavor across every single bite of your pizza. It’s a trick that makes a big difference in texture and coverage, reminiscent of how we prepare apples for delicious Easy Apple Danishes.
- Spread the Apple Filling: Once your apples are perfectly chopped, carefully spread the entire can of apple pie filling evenly over the pizza crust, leaving a small border around the edge for a “pizza crust” effect. Ensure the apples are distributed from edge to edge (within the border) for consistent flavor in every slice.
- Prepare the Crumb Topping: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the softened salted butter, light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Using a fork, a pastry cutter, or even your clean hands, mix these ingredients together until they form a beautiful, coarse, and crumbly mixture. The butter should be thoroughly incorporated, creating distinct crumbs that will crisp up wonderfully in the oven.
- Apply the Crumb Topping: Generously sprinkle the prepared crumb topping all over the apple filling on your pizza crust. Ensure an even layer, as this crumble will bake into a golden, buttery, and slightly crunchy topping that provides a wonderful textural contrast to the soft apples.
- Bake to Perfection: Place your apple dessert pizza in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes. The pizza is ready when the crust is golden brown, the apple filling is heated through and bubbly, and the crumb topping has achieved a beautiful, light golden color and a slightly crispy texture. Keep an eye on it to prevent over-browning.
- Prepare the Icing: While your pizza is cooling slightly, it’s time to whip up the sweet icing drizzle. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. Start with 1 tablespoon of milk and gradually add more, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. You want an icing that is thick enough to drizzle beautifully but not so thin that it completely disappears into the topping.
- Drizzle and Serve: Once the pizza has cooled slightly (this allows the icing to set beautifully without melting away), generously drizzle the prepared icing all over the top. You can create a simple zigzag pattern, crisscross lines, or any design that strikes your fancy! You might have a little icing leftover, which is perfect for guests who like an extra sweet touch on their individual slices. Using a sharp pizza cutter, slice your warm apple dessert pizza into wedges and serve immediately. Enjoy the aroma and the incredible taste!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Can I make this Apple Dessert Pizza ahead of time?
- Yes! You can prepare the pizza (without icing) and bake it. Let it cool completely, then cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in a warm oven (around 300°F/150°C) until warmed through, then drizzle with fresh icing before serving. The crumble topping might lose a little crispness but will still be delicious.
- How do I store leftover dessert pizza?
- Store any leftover slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can enjoy them cold, at room temperature, or gently reheat them in the oven or microwave.
- Can I make this with homemade pizza dough?
- Absolutely! If you prefer a homemade touch, use your favorite sweet pizza dough recipe. Just ensure it’s rolled out thinly to maintain the dessert pizza’s light and crispy character.
- What if my crumble topping isn’t crumbly enough?
- If your crumble mixture seems too wet, add a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the desired crumbly texture. If it’s too dry, add a tiny bit more softened butter. The key is to work the butter in until distinct crumbs form.
Craving More Apple Recipes?
If this Apple Dessert Pizza has sparked your love for apple-infused treats, you’re in luck! We have a treasure trove of delicious apple recipes that are perfect for any season. Explore these delightful options:
- Easy Apple Dumplings
- The Best Apple Bread
- Caramel Apple Cake
- Apple Pie Dip
- Crock Pot Caramel Apple Dip
- Butter Crumble Apple Pie
- Apple Crumble Bars
- Fried Apple Pies
- Apple Pretzel Salad
- Apple Turnovers
- 40 Fall Apple Recipes
Apple Dessert Pizza Recipe
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
10 minutes
25 minutes
35 minutes
6
Brandie Skibinski
Ingredients
- 1 premade thin pizza crust
- 1 can apple pie filling (approx. 21 oz)
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, softened to room temperature
- ⅔ cups light brown sugar, packed
- ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Take the pizza crust out of its package and place it on a round baking sheet.
- Open the can of apple pie filling. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice back and forth across the apples inside the can to chop them into smaller, more even pieces.
- Spread the chopped apple pie filling evenly over the pizza crust, leaving a small border.
- To make the crumble topping: In a bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Mix with a fork, pastry cutter, or your hands until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms.
- Evenly sprinkle the prepared crumb topping all over the apple filling on the pizza.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden, the filling is bubbly, and the crumble topping is lightly browned and crispy.
- While the pizza cools slightly, prepare the icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. Add milk slowly until you achieve a smooth, drizzly consistency.
- Drizzle the icing generously over the cooled apple dessert pizza. Using a sharp pizza cutter, slice the pizza into wedges and serve warm.
Video Tutorial
Dessert
American
Nutrition Information (Estimated Per Serving)
Calories:
472
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
87
g
|
Protein:
7
g
|
Fat:
10
g
|
Sodium:
426
mg
|
Fiber:
1
g
|
Sugar:
44
g
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Originally published: May 2012
Updated & republished: May 2020
This Easy Apple Dessert Pizza offers a delightful blend of simplicity and indulgence, making it a perfect choice for any baker, from novice to experienced. With its customizable fillings and comforting flavors, it’s bound to become a staple in your dessert repertoire. So, gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and prepare to enjoy a slice of pure joy!