Star-Spangled Fruit Pizza with Cream Cheese Frosting

Celebrate America’s cherished holidays in the most delicious way possible with this spectacular American Flag Fruit Pizza! Imagine a giant, chewy sugar cookie base, generously slathered with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting, and meticulously decorated with vibrant fresh berries and charming cookie stars to perfectly replicate the Stars and Stripes. This patriotic dessert isn’t just a treat for the eyes; it’s a delightful explosion of flavor that will make your Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day celebrations truly unforgettable. Simple to make yet incredibly impressive, it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser that embodies the spirit of summer festivities.

Effortlessly Impressive: Your Go-To Patriotic Dessert

Seeking a dessert that’s both visually stunning and surprisingly easy to prepare? Look no further than this American Flag Fruit Pizza. It starts with a buttery, tender sugar cookie baked to perfection on a sheet pan, providing a sturdy and sweet foundation. The rich, creamy frosting creates a smooth canvas, ready for the vibrant red and blue hues of fresh strawberries and blueberries, complemented by playful sugar cookie stars. This recipe is designed for maximum impact with minimal fuss, making it ideal for busy hosts who want to create a memorable holiday spread.

Everyone adores a fruit pizza, and this patriotic rendition is no exception. It’s the perfect cool and refreshing treat to enjoy on a warm summer evening, whether you’re gathered with loved ones watching fireworks light up the night sky, or simply relaxing after a lively holiday cookout. Its light, fruity flavor beautifully balances the richness of the cookie and frosting, offering a delightful contrast that appeals to all ages. Prepare to receive endless compliments on this festive masterpiece!

The Perfect Red, White, and Blue Celebration Sweet

When planning your Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day menu, this American Flag Fruit Pizza stands out as a simple yet show-stopping dessert that truly embodies the spirit of these patriotic holidays. Imagine the fresh, bright flavors of sweet blueberries and juicy strawberry stripes artfully arranged on a giant, soft-baked sugar cookie. It’s a symphony of textures and tastes – the tender cookie, the smooth, tangy frosting, and the burst of fresh fruit – all coming together in perfect harmony. It’s a dessert that’s guaranteed to be a hit with both kids and adults alike, disappearing quickly from any party table.

What makes this fruit pizza truly one of the easiest and most enjoyable patriotic desserts to prepare is its flexibility. While our recipe for the sugar cookie bar crust promises a perfectly crisp edge and a soft, chewy center every time, you can absolutely opt for store-bought sugar cookie dough to streamline the process even further. This makes it an accessible recipe for bakers of all skill levels, ensuring that everyone can partake in the joy of creating this festive treat. For those who love to bake from scratch, you’ll need approximately five cups of our signature sugar cookie dough to create the ideal foundation for this delicious flag.

Beyond the Kitchen: A Culinary Journey for Patriotic Holidays

While this American Flag Fruit Pizza takes center stage, the possibilities for patriotic food boards and festive spreads are endless. Beyond dessert, you can extend the red, white, and blue theme to every meal of your holiday gathering. From sunrise to sunset, and all the snacks in between, these creative food boards offer a fun and engaging way to celebrate with friends and family.

Essential Ingredients for Your American Flag Fruit Pizza

Creating this patriotic masterpiece requires a few key components, divided into the cookie base, the delightful frosting, and the fresh fruit toppings. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

For the Irresistible Sugar Cookie Base:

• Unsalted butter, softened: Essential for a rich, tender cookie. Softened butter creamed with sugar creates air pockets, resulting in a lighter, more tender crumb.
• White granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve that classic sugar cookie texture.
• Milk: Adds moisture and richness to the dough, ensuring it’s pliable and bakes evenly.
• Vanilla extract: A crucial flavoring agent that enhances the overall sweetness and aroma of the cookie. Choose a high-quality extract for the best flavor.
• Large eggs: Act as a binder, adding structure and moisture to the dough, contributing to the cookie’s chewiness.
• All-purpose flour: The main structural component of the cookie. Measure correctly by spooning into the measuring cup and leveling off.
• Baking powder: A leavening agent that helps the cookie rise slightly and gives it a tender texture.
• Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors in the cookie dough.

For the Creamy Frosting and Vibrant Fruit Toppings:

• Cream cheese, softened: The star of the frosting, providing a tangy, rich, and incredibly smooth texture. Ensure it’s fully softened to avoid lumps.
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese frosting and gives it a smooth, spreadable consistency without a grainy texture.
• Strawberries, thinly sliced: These form the beautiful red stripes of the flag. Choose ripe, firm strawberries for the best appearance and flavor.
• Blueberries: The perfect choice for the blue rectangle of the flag. Look for plump, fresh blueberries.
• 1.5-2 inch star cookie cutter: Essential for creating those adorable sugar cookie stars that adorn the blue field. A good quality cutter will ensure clean shapes.
• 16×12-inch sheet pan: The ideal size for baking a large, rectangular sugar cookie base that fits the flag design perfectly. A rimmed pan prevents spillage and ensures even baking.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your American Flag Fruit Pizza

Creating this stunning American Flag Fruit Pizza is a fun and rewarding process. Follow these detailed steps to ensure a perfect, patriotic dessert every time:

1. Prepare Your Oven and Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for even baking from the start. Next, take your 16×12-inch sheet pan. Lightly spray it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking, then line it with a sheet of parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the sides for easy lifting later. The parchment paper ensures a clean release and a perfectly shaped cookie.
2. Start the Cookie Dough: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a large bowl and a hand mixer, combine the softened unsalted butter and white granulated sugar. Beat them together on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy, typically for about 2-3 minutes. This creaming process incorporates air, making your cookies tender.
3. Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Reduce the mixer speed to low. Gradually beat in the milk and vanilla extract until just combined. Then, add the large eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition until the mixture is smooth and fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
4. Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing only until a thick, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cookie.
5. Form the Cookie Base and Stars: Divide your sugar cookie dough. Press approximately 4.5 cups of the dough evenly into the prepared 16×12-inch sheet pan, spreading it all the way to the edges to form a uniform base. For the remaining 1/2 cup of dough, lightly flour a clean surface and roll it out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Using your 1.5-2 inch star cookie cutter, cut out several star shapes. These will be the “stars” on your flag.
6. Bake the Sheet Pan Cookie: Place the sheet pan with the cookie base into the preheated oven. Bake for about 22-24 minutes, or until the cookie is golden brown around the edges and just starting to crack slightly in the middle. To ensure even baking, rotate the pan halfway through the baking time. Once baked, remove the cookie from the oven and let it cool completely on the sheet pan on a wire rack. It must be fully cool before frosting.
7. Bake the Star Cookies: While the large cookie cools, carefully transfer your star-shaped cookies to a separate baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake these smaller cookies for 6-8 minutes, or until their edges are lightly golden brown and the cookies are set. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
8. Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), combine the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Start mixing on low speed until just combined and there are no dry spots. Then, increase the speed to high and beat until the frosting is incredibly smooth, light, and easily spreadable, about 2-3 minutes.
9. Frost the Cookie: Once the large sugar cookie base is completely cool, spread the prepared cream cheese frosting evenly over its entire surface. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to create a smooth, inviting layer.
10. Decorate with Blueberries: To create the blue rectangle of the American Flag, arrange your fresh blueberries neatly in the top left corner of the frosted cookie. Aim for a dense, uniform square or rectangle to effectively represent the canton.
11. Form the Strawberry Stripes: Next, layer your thinly sliced strawberries in horizontal lines across the remaining surface of the cookie to create the iconic red stripes. Alternate the strawberry stripes with areas of white frosting (which act as the white stripes of the flag). Be precise to get clear, distinct stripes.
12. Add the Cookie Stars: Finally, carefully place your baked star-shaped sugar cookies on top of the blueberries in the top left corner. Arrange them to mimic the stars on the American flag, creating a truly patriotic and delicious design.

Storing Your American Flag Fruit Pizza for Freshness

This delightful fruit pizza is best enjoyed on the day it’s made, when the cookie is perfectly tender, the frosting is fresh, and the fruit is at its peak. However, if you find yourself with leftovers, you can store them to savor for a bit longer.

To keep any remaining fruit pizza fresh, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. It’s important to note that over time, the cookie base may absorb moisture from the frosting and fruit, causing it to become a little softer or “soggy.” Additionally, fresh fruit tends to release some moisture, especially when it comes to room temperature after being chilled. For the best quality and texture, we highly recommend enjoying any leftovers while they are still nicely chilled. This helps maintain the integrity of the cookie and keeps the fruit looking and tasting its best.

Explore More Fun and Festive Fourth of July Recipes!

Beyond this incredible fruit pizza, dive into a world of patriotic culinary delights designed to make your Fourth of July feast truly spectacular. Whether you’re hosting a grand barbecue or a cozy family get-together, these delicious and festive recipes offer endless inspiration. Spark up your celebration with a vibrant patriotic cheese board, or get creative with a party mix that’s bursting with red, white, and blue. If you’re feeding a hungry crowd, our hot dog board is an absolute game-changer. Discover new favorites and timeless classics to ensure your holiday celebration is filled with amazing flavors and memorable moments.

I genuinely hope you love making and sharing this American Flag Fruit Pizza as much as I do! If you whip up this delightful recipe and share a photo on social media, please remember to tag me on Instagram @thebakermama. I absolutely adore seeing your creative interpretations and how you bring my ideas to life in your own kitchens. Enjoy the baking, the celebrating, and the delicious results!

xoxo,