If you’re looking for a patriotic, fun, festive, and somewhat healthy dessert to make, look no further than my 4th of July Fruit Pizza! Made with a base of sugar cookie, a layer of cream cheese frosting, and fresh-cut fruit, this American flag fruit pizza is a crowd-pleaser!
This recipe was originally published on June 22, 2021. It was updated with new photos and information on April 24, 2024.
This flag dessert pizza decorated to look like the American flag is a perfect way to celebrate the Fourth of July, Flag Day, Memorial Day, or any other holiday or event where you need a patriotic dessert! I love using a boxed sugar cookie mix to make life super simple.
What is a Fruit Pizza?
Fruit pizzas are sweet treats, often made with a cookie or brownie base instead of pizza dough. Some sort of sweet spread is layered to act as a binder and is then topped with a variety of fresh fruit.
Dessert pizzas can also be topped with non-fruity toppings like chocolates, candies, sprinkles, nuts, cookie crumbs, or even marshmallows!
Ingredients
As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this 4th of July fruit pizza. Here’s what to grab:
- Cookie mix - Although you can make your own cookie base for this sugar cookie flag fruit pizza, using a cookie mix makes things easier! The remaining ingredients you'll need will depend on what your box of cookie mix calls for. Generally speaking, you'll need butter, eggs (or a vegan alternative), and vanilla. You can use a gluten-free cookie mix to make this a gluten-free 4th of July dessert!
- Cream cheese - For making silky cream cheese buttercream frosting. If you're dairy-free or vegan, feel free to use your favorite brand. My favorite brand is Violife hands down.
- Butter - You can use unsalted if that’s what you have on hand, but you may want to add a pinch or two of salt to balance out the flavors if you do. You’re also welcome to use vegan butter.
- Powdered sugar - Also called icing sugar or confectioner's sugar, this ultra-fine and powdery sweetener is necessary for making a super smooth frosting.
- Blueberries - For the square of stars. Feel free to use blackberries instead.
- Strawberries - For the red stripes. You’re welcome to swap in any other red fruit you prefer, like raspberries or cherries.
- Bananas - For the white stripes. Again, you can easily trade in a different white fruit (peeled apples or white nectarines will do) or pipe on some whipped topping or more cream cheese frosting.
How to Make Fruit Pizza:
This July 4th fruit pizza comes together with very little effort, and it’s simple enough to let your kiddos in on the fun! Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Prepare the cookie dough according to the package instructions. Let the dough rest in the fridge for 30 minutes so the flour can properly rehydrate.
Step 2: Bake the cookie base. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line a baking sheet (I used a 10x15-inch baking sheet). Press the chilled dough into the baking sheet making sure the surface is flat. Bake for 13-15 minutes. Let it cool completely.
Step 3: Make cream cheese frosting. Beat the butter and cream cheese using an electric hand mixer. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and beat after each addition. Add the salt and vanilla, and beat again.
Step 4: Assemble. Spread the cream cheese frosting onto the cooled cookie base, and layer on the fruit in your preferred design.
Expert Tips
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are at room temperature. By keeping both at the same temperature, they incorporate better together, leaving you with a silky smooth and creamy frosting.
- Use good quality cream cheese. Your cream cheese frosting may be loose depending on which brand you use. Philadelphia is a go-to for traditional cream cheese frosting, while Violife is my favorite for dairy-free cream cheese frosting.
- Know your flag! Make sure you know the aspect ratio of your flag. Make sure you know the size and number of lines, stars, animals, etc. on the flag you’re designing so you don’t accidentally ruffle any feathers.
- Press the cookie dough into the baking sheet evenly. You want the base of your flag to be flat, not bumpy. I like to use the bottom of a cup to help.
- Slice the fruit evenly. There’s no need to get too picky and whip out a ruler, but be mindful, you know?
- Have a bowl of watered-down lemon juice ready! If you're using any fruit that oxidizes and turns brown quickly (e.g. bananas, apples, pears), dip it in some lemon juice before putting it on your flag fruit pizza. I dilute lemon juice with water at a 1:1 ratio.
Storage instructions
Feel free to leave your fruit flag cookie cake at room temperature for up to 4 hours. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days if needed.
FAQs
It all depends on the recipe. My American flag fruit pizza recipe is made with a sugar cookie crust, cream cheese frosting, bananas, blueberries, and strawberries for decoration. Some fruit pizzas use a cake crust or brownie crust. The frosting may be vanilla, chocolate, or even whipped topping.
Yes! You should rinse the strawberries and blueberries clean, and pat them dry with a paper towel or clean linen before using them in this American flag fruit pizza recipe. The banana doesn't require any rinsing.
Use a sharp knife to slice the pizza into squares. Wipe the knife after each cut to ensure you get clean slices.
Of course! You can serve this on any occasion that requires a patriotic dessert. You can garnish the pizza with a different pattern or use different fruit to make a non-flag fruit pizza that you can serve any day of the year.
You can use any cookie dough you like. I've made this recipe with sugar cookie mix and chocolate chip cookie mix, and both were delicious! If you're gluten-free and can't find a good box mix, you can use my gluten-free sugar cookie recipe.
You can use a different baking pan, or make it free-form if you use a larger baking sheet.
This sugar cookie fruit pizza is best eaten within 24 hours but can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Note that the cookie base will soften and the fruits will dry and possibly oxidize the longer they’re stored in the fridge.
More Fruity Dessert Recipes
- Do you love easy desserts? You have to try this peach cobbler with canned peaches! Super easy to make and you get to enjoy peach cobbler outside of peach season.
- Ok, rhubarb is technically a vegetable and not a fruit, but this gluten-free rhubarb crisp is too good to pass up!
- If you love a sweet and tangy citrus dessert, try my lemon curd cake or grapefruit tart.
- These gluten-free thumbprint cookies and lemon curd cookies both have fruity fillings paired with a buttery cookie base!
- If it's summertime, go with either a cold glass of mango boba or some mango sorbet
If you're seeing this post after the 4th of July and you're craving something for sweater weather, try out this pumpkin bar recipe!
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4th of July Fruit Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box cookie mix and the required ingredients listed on the box
- ½ stick butter softened at room temperature
- 4 oz cream cheese softened at room temperature
- 1¼ cups powdered sugar sifted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1½ cups blueberries
- 1 cup strawberries sliced
- 2½ medium bananas sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the cookie dough according to package instructions. Let the dough rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a baking sheet (I used a 10x15-inch baking sheet). Press the chilled dough into the baking sheet making sure the surface is flat. Bake for 13-15 minutes. Let it cool completely.
- In a bowl, add butter and cream cheese. Beat using an electric hand mixer. Add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time and beat after each addition. Add the salt and vanilla, and beat again.
- Spread the cream cheese frosting onto the cooled cookie, and layer on the fruit.
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