4th of July dessert is the highlight of the holiday especially this American Flag Fruit Cookie Dessert Pizza. Irresistible in red, white and blue (and easy to make).
Holidays are the perfect time to ‘wow’ with a fun recipe.
This dessert pizza is a perfect 4th of July dessert! It’s easy to make. With a timesaving shortcut you won’t be slaving in the kitchen either!
Sugar cookie crust, an irresistibly good sweet-tangy topping and fresh berries making an American Flag. What could be better?!
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What is a Dessert Pizza?
Using the main components or regular savory pizza, a dessert pizza has a crust, ‘sauce’ layer and toppings.
It’s sweet and satisfying.
American Flag Dessert Pizza
This dessert pizza recipe whips up in a flash and with perfect results. Great for a Fourth of July party!
The pizza ‘dough’ is a chewy cookie crust that’s moist, supple and easy to cut.
The frosting (or ‘sauce’) is a mixture of cream cheese, whipped topping and a small amount of confectioner’s sugar, making a balances sweet topping to hold the fruit without being too sweet.
Fresh blueberries and strawberries finish off as toppings creating an American flag pattern.
Topping with ripe fruit not only gives the flag a life but brings a natural sweetness to the dessert all will love!
4th of July Dessert Pizza Ingredients
The ingredients in this recipe are easy to find.
- 1 box favorite Sugar Cookie mix (regular or gluten-free) with other required mix ingredients
- Lemon Zest
- Cream Cheese
- container Whipped Cream Topping
- Vanilla Extract
- Confectioner’s Sugar
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
Time Saving Tip
Using a box sugar cookie mix makes this recipe fast to make. Any sugar cookie mix can be used.
Regular or gluten-free sugar cookie mixes both work great!
PRO TIPs on the Berries
- Blueberries (I used 48), rinsed and completely dry
- Strawberries (I used 17) rinsed and completely dry
- Have extra strawberries on hand for those that are not ripe
- Using uniform sized strawberries helps make the stripes the same width
- Smaller strawberries allow more stripes to be made
How to Make 4th of July Dessert Pizza – Step by Step
For detailed printable recipe instructions please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper. TIP: allow paper to overhang by a few inches on both of the long sides of the pan for easy lifting the pizza out of the pan.
- Prepare the sugar cookie mix as directed on the package. Add the lemon zest.
- Spoon into the prepared pan. Press to fully cover the pan.
- Bake until lightly golden (8-10 minutes). Refer to the recipe card for tips.
- Set on a cooling rack until it has fully cooled.
- While the cookie is cooling, cut the strawberries.
Cutting Strawberries for Dessert Pizza Stripes
- Cut into vertical slices about 1/8 inch thick.
- Cut away any green from the top.
- Using similar size strawberries will allow more uniform sizes stripes. Cover and place in the refrigerator.
Assembling the 4th of July Dessert Pizza
- Once the pizza ‘crust’ is cool make the topping.
- Add the softened cream cheese into a mixer bowl and beat at high speed until fully creamed.
- Add the remaining ingredients and beat on medium to incorporate.
- Spread the frosting evenly to cover the entire cookie.
- TIP: If needed the cookie can be lifted from the pan by the parchment paper to do this step.
- Place the blueberries in the top left corner. I made 6 rows of 8 blueberries (refer to the photos).
- Dab strawberries with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
- To make the red stripes begin at the very top to the right of the blueberries laying the strawberries in a row, end to end, with all the slices going the same direction.
- Leave about an inch of exposure white topping between each row of strawberries. Do it freehand or using a ruler depending on your preference.
- Cover assembled dessert pizza with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving (especially on a hot day!).
- Cut into serving pieces with a sharp kitchen knife or pizza cutter.
This would make a great addition to any patriotic celebration; July 4th, Memorial Day, military celebrations, Flag day!.
Adding fun vintage-inspired wood forks and spoons, and red/white/blue napkins are the perfect finishing touch to make a festive occasion without much effort!
No Fourth of July is complete without a great fireworks show. The Best U.S. Cities for Fourth of July Fireworks will help you find a perfect place to celebrate!
More 4th of July Recipes You’ll Love
- 4th of July Cupcakes with a Frosting Trick You Need to Know!
- Star Spangled Layered Finger Jello
- Firecracker Meringue Cookies
- Patriotic Smoothie Popsicles
Recipe
American Flag Fruit Cookie Dessert Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 box favorite Sugar Cookie mix (I used Pamela’s Products gluten-free Sugar Cookie Mix), plus any ingredients specified by the mix (e.g. butter, eggs, etc)
- 2 teaspoons Lemon Zest
- 1 8- ounce package of Cream Cheese , softened
- 1 10- ounce container Whipped Topping (I used Truwhip which is 100% natural with no hydrogenated oils and no high fructose corn syrup; any whipped topping will work)
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ cup Confectioner’s Sugar
- Blueberries (I used 48), rinsed and completely dry
- Strawberries (I used 17) rinsed and completely dry (have extras on hand for those that are not ripe; using uniform sized strawberries helps make the stripes the same width)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan (10 inches by 15 inches) with parchment paper allowing paper to overhang by a few inches on both of the long sides of the pan (this allows lifting the pizza out of the pan).
- Prepare the sugar cookie mix as directed on the package and add the lemon zest. Spoon into the prepared pan and press to fully cover the pan using a mixing spoon and fingers. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden (8-10 minutes). Note: every mix and oven is different so watch while baking and do not over bake. I removed mine at 11 minutes and it was not a true golden color but was cooked. Set on a cooling rack until it has fully cooled.
- While the cookie is cooling, cut the strawberries. Cut into vertical slices about 1/8 inch thick. Cut away any green from the top. Using similar size strawberries will allow more uniform sizes stripes. Cover and place in the refrigerator.
- Once the pizza ‘crust’ is cool, add the softened cream cheese into a mixer bowl and beat at high speed until fully creamed. Add the remaining ingredients and beat on medium to incorporate, raising the speed to high to beat into a creamy frosting. Note: it may appear lumpy during the beating process but continue until it becomes creamy.
- Spread the frosting evenly to cover the entire cookie. If needed the cookie can be lifted from the pan by the parchment paper to do this step.
- Place the blueberries in the top left corner. I made 6 rows of 8 blueberries (not correct for the number of stars on the actual flag but looked uniform), placing them close together but leaving space for the white to show through (refer to the photos).
- Before adding the strawberries to the pizza I dabbed them with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. To make the red stripes begin at the very top to the right of the blueberries laying the strawberries in a row, end to end, with all the slices going the same direction (e.g. tops to the right or to the left, just all facing the same direction). Leave about an inch of exposure white topping between each row of strawberries. Doing a bit of planning with a ruler will help make equally spaced rows or just do it freehand!
- Once the flag is assembled, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving (especially on a hot day!). Cut into serving pieces with a sharp kitchen knife or pizza cutter.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published: July 1, 2015
Kara says
One of my very favorite patriotic desserts! I use whipped cream instead of Cool Whip. Everyone loves it, and it’s so fun to serve. 🙂
Kristyn says
This dessert pizza is always a hit! We make it every year for Memorial Day & 4th of July!
Jess says
This is such a fun idea! The kiddos loved helping me decorate it! Absolutely delicious too.
dana says
So simple and so pretty! Made this last year and will be making it again this year. Everyone loved it—flavor and presentation!
Elizabeth says
This is a fun recipe to make with the kids! Using the sugar cookie mix makes this an easy dessert to whip up. I’ll be serving this agsin at our upcoming Memorial Day picnic!
Elisha F says
Looks delicious! I’d love to make a vegan friendly version
Michelle Peopping says
Just made this tonight! I’m a food blogger myself, and I love seeing other people’s recipes. I’m so looking forward to bringing this to our fourth of July party… looks amazing!! 🙂
Clarice says
This is timely as I haven’t finalized the 4th of July menu yet. I think my kids would enjoy some dessert pizza. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Appreciate it.
Erica says
I forgot to add the lemon zest to the dough, would it still be good if I added it to the icing?
Toni Dash says
The lemon just brightens the flavor of the sugar cookie crust. I’m sure it will still be good if you leave it out!
Dreams Abroad says
This dessert is so cute! I cannot wait to make this with my family and looking at the ingredients it is very simple.
Ntensibe Edgar Michael says
Nnniiiccceeee….I am lactose-intolerant. Could there a substitute for the cheese?
Toni Dash says
There are vegan cream cheese substitutes however I’ve not worked with them so I don’t know how they would be swapped into this recipe.