Cookie Pizza/Fruit Pizza

Here is the recipe for cookie pizza.  If you do it for Family Home Evening refreshments, you can pair it with a lesson on truths vs. opinions (our kids need some form of this lesson fairly frequently)---the point being, that some things have one best answer, and some things are just a matter of opinion.  I've held up pictures of various colors or animals or toys and asked, "Which one is best?"---then asked the same with pictures of people dropping babies or hugging babies; sitting at the table or on top of the table; hitting each other or taking turns, etc.  (Yes, hand-drawn pictures.  You'll just have to imagine how good they are.) 

Then when you make the cookie pizza you can emphasize that when we make the dough, we have to follow the recipe or it won't turn out right.  But when we decorate our pieces, we can do it the way WE like them best, because "the best way" is a matter of opinion and varies from person to person.  (I must use that phrase a lot.  You should hear Malachi yelling at Sebby, "It's just a matter of PINION, Sebby!" when Sebby tells him his block tower doesn't look good.)

Or, you know, you could just make it because it's fun, and forget about trying to teach meaningful life lessons.

In MY opinion, though?  This is good as cookie pizza, but becomes elevated to its highest form as FRUIT pizza---which variation you will find at the bottom of the recipe.

Cookie Pizza
Crust:
1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 1/4 c. flour (12.5 oz)
1/2 tsp. cream or tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter, shortening, and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients and add.  Pat out the dough onto a round pizza pan or any cookie sheet.  Press chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&Ms, cinnamon, coconut, raisins, etc., into the top of the dough.  Bake at 350 until slightly puffed and just barely brown (10-12 minutes, depending on size of pan).  It will flatten as it cools.

 

The recipe makes enough to fill a pan this size plus a little more---we used the rest of the dough in an 8-inch cake pan.

Fruit Pizza:

Mix and bake crust as directed above, but with no toppings.  Let cool completely.  Then top with frosting (below) and fresh fruit.

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 t. vanilla

Milk, to make it a spreadable consistency (maybe 1-2 Tbsp?)

Beat frosting ingredients together and spread over cooled crust.  My favorite fruits to use are strawberries, kiwis, blueberries, raspberries, and peaches.  Bananas don't have as much contrast with the frosting (too bland/sweet?) but are still pretty good.  I also keep meaning to try mandarin oranges, pineapple slices, and tiny apple slices.