Looking for a light, summery and healthy dessert pizza for August? We asked Lee Jackson, RD, of The Healthy Cooking Blog and Holly Clegg Cookbooks, for her ideas, and she came up with the Tropical Fruit Pizza.

This pizza isn’t just pretty to look at; it also creates a multi-dimensional flavor experience, from the succulent sweetness of mango to the refreshing zing of pineapple and the gentle tartness of mandarins. The entire creation is lightly glazed with warmed apricot preserves and a hint of orange liqueur or juice, which adds a glossy finish and a layer of sophisticated sweetness that ties all the elements together. A sprinkle of toasted coconut on top lends a nutty crunch.

Ingredients

  • 1 (18-oz.) roll of refrigerated ready-to-slice sugar cookie dough
  • 1/3 c. sugar
  • 1 (8-oz.) package fat-free cream cheese
  • 1 tsp. coconut extract
  • 1½ tsp. grated orange rind
  • 1 c. fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 (26-oz.) jar mango slices, drained, or 1 fresh mango, sliced
  • 1 (16-oz.) can pineapple slices, drained, or 1 fresh pineapple, sliced
  • 1 (11-oz.) can mandarin orange segments, drained
  • ÂĽ c. apricot preserves
  • 1 tbsp. orange liqueur or orange juice
  • 2 tbsp. coconut, toasted (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Press the cookie dough into a 12” to 14” pizza pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes and cool completely. In a medium mixing bowl, blend together the sugar, cream cheese and coconut extract until well-mixed. Stir in the orange rind and whipped topping, mixing until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the cooled crust. Arrange mango slices around the edge of the iced pizza. Arrange a roll of pineapple slices around the edge, then arrange the mandarin orange slices in another ring to fill the center of the pizza. In a small saucepan or in a microwave, heat the apricot preserves and orange liqueur or juice just until melted. Spoon this glaze over the fruit. Sprinkle with toasted coconut, if desired. Refrigerate until serving. Suggestion: Be creative and substitute your favorite fruits, or whatever is in season. Makes 12 servings. 

Food & Ingredients, Recipes