Fruit Pizza Cookies

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These Fruit Pizza Cookies are an easy summer dessert made with soft sugar cookies, homemade cream cheese frosting, and fresh fruit. They’re a mini version of my classic Fruit Pizza, with the same creamy, fruity topping in a fun cookie-sized treat. They’re perfect for summer parties, cookouts, or anytime you want a light and refreshing dessert.

 

Quick Summary

Fruit Pizza Cookies Ingredient Notes

These fruit pizza cookies have three main parts: the sugar cookie base, cream cheese frosting, and fresh fruit. Here’s what you’ll need for each part, including a few tips to help everything come together just right.

For the Sugar Cookies

• Salted Butter – You can also use unsalted butter; I just find that the salted version yields tastier cookies (the salt helps).
• Granulated Sugar – This sweetens the cookies and gives them their classic sugar cookie texture.
• Egg – The egg helps hold the dough together while adding a soft, tender texture.
• Vanilla + Almond Extract – These two extracts add plenty of flavor, but you can skip the almond extract and use extra vanilla if you prefer.
• Baking Powder – This is our leavening agent.
• Flour – Measure the flour carefully for the best texture: whisk it first, then spoon it into your measuring cup and level the top.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• Butter + Cream Cheese – Let both come to room temperature so they blend easily into a smooth, creamy frosting with a little tang
• Powdered Sugar –This sweetens the frosting while giving it the right consistency for spreading over the cookies.
• Vanilla Extract – A little vanilla adds a simple flavor that pairs well with the cream cheese and fresh fruit.

What are the Best Fruits to Use?

This is the fun part! You can use almost any fresh fruit you like, mix and match different colors, or even make a theme for a holiday or special occasion. I used a little bit of everything to make these cookies bright and colorful, but here are some of my favorite options:

• Bananas: An inexpensive option, but they’ll start to brown after an hour or two. They still taste great, though!
• Strawberries: Wash, hull, and slice them thickly so they’re easy to arrange on the cookies.
• Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries: These are great for adding color. Just make sure they’re completely dry before using.
• Kiwi: Peel and slice or cube it for a bright green topping.
• Peaches and mangoes: Both add a pretty pop of color and work especially well when they’re ripe and juicy.
• Grapes: These hold up well and come in different colors, so they’re great for mixing things up.
• Fresh pineapple: Ripe, juicy pineapple is one of my favorite toppings for these cookies.
• Mandarin oranges: Canned mandarin oranges work perfectly. Just drain them really well before adding them.
• Fresh mint: Totally optional, but a few small leaves make a pretty garnish and add a fresh flavor.

You can also have fun with the presentation…try a rainbow of fruit, a heart made with berries, or a red, white, and blue design for the 4th of July.

How to Make Fruit Pizza Cookies

These fruit pizza cookies come together in just a few simple steps. You’ll find all the details in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, and you can use the print icon to save a copy for later.

Step 1: Make the Sugar Cookie Dough

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Lightly grease two half sheet pans and set aside. Alternatively, you can line them with parchment paper (as I did in these photos).

In a large bowl, stir butter and sugar until well mixed. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract and stir again. Slowly incorporate the flour and baking powder until a dough forms. If it looks a little crumbly, this is normal. If you squeeze some dough together in your hands, it should form a ball that keeps its shape.

Step 2: Form Cookies and Bake

Scoop and roll into 3-tablespoon dough balls (large cookie scoop…this is the one I have) and press with a glass to spread. Feel free to refrigerate before baking to help them hold their shape. Bake, then cool on the hot baking sheet before cooling completely on cooling racks.

Step 3: Make Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cookies cool, make the cream cheese frosting by adding cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a large bowl. Stir with a hand mixer (or stand mixer) until completely combined, thick, and smooth.

It may seem like you will need to add milk to bring this frosting together, but as long as your cream cheese and butter are fully softened, you should be fine! Scrape the sides and stir again briefly to ensure a smooth frosting.

Step 4: Decorate with Fruit

Frost cooled cookies generously with cream cheese frosting, then top with any desired fresh fruit. Store on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, then gently top with plastic wrap in the fridge before serving.

Tips for Success

• Don’t overbake the cookies. The centers should look set while the edges are just lightly golden. They’ll continue cooking on the hot baking sheet as they cool, so pulling them at the right time keeps the sugar cookie base soft.
• Chill the dough if it feels too soft. If the dough balls spread more than you’d like when pressed, a short chill in the refrigerator can help them hold their shape during baking.
• Let the cookies cool completely before frosting. Even slightly warm cookies can soften the cream cheese frosting and make it harder to spread neatly.
• Dry the fruit before decorating. Pat berries, kiwi, grapes, and other fruit dry with a paper towel after washing. Extra moisture can make the frosting watery, especially if the cookies sit in the fridge for a while.
• Cut larger fruit into small, bite-sized pieces. Smaller pieces are easier to arrange on the cookies and make them much easier to eat without the fruit sliding off.
• Give the frosting a quick scrape and mix. If the frosting looks uneven or has small lumps after mixing, scrape down the bowl and beat it again briefly. This usually smooths everything out without needing to thin the frosting.

What to Serve With Fruit Pizza Cookies

These cookies are perfect for summer gatherings, so pair them with a few fresh, easy recipes for a simple dessert spread.

• Fruit Salad – Fresh fruit tossed with a light lemon-vanilla syrup makes an easy side that keeps the fruit theme going.
• Italian Pasta Salad – A cold pasta salad with mozzarella, pepperoni, and fresh vegetables is a great savory option for potlucks and summer gatherings.
• Coleslaw– Crisp cabbage and carrots with creamy dressing add a cool, crunchy side to a summer spread.
• Lemonade – Fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and cold water make an easy drink to serve alongside these fruity cookies.
• Watermelon Mint Salad – Juicy watermelon and fresh mint make a simple, refreshing addition to a warm-weather dessert table.

These Fruit Pizza Cookies are such a fun treat to share, especially when you want something easy, colorful, and fresh. Grab your favorite fruit and give them a try! The printable recipe card is below with all the details you need.

Storage and Making Ahead Directions

If you want to make these ahead, here’s how to do it:

You can make the cookie dough well in advance, then bake the cookies, cool them, and store them in airtight containers lined with wax paper in the fridge or freezer. The baked cookies will last up to 1 week in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.

You can also make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time. Simply make according to the recipe directions and transfer to an airtight container. You can keep the frosting in the fridge for up to 1 week. I do not recommend freezing cream cheese frosting since cream cheese doesn’t freeze or defrost well. To use the cream cheese frosting, remove it from the fridge and bring it to room temperature, then whip for 20-30 seconds to make it a little lighter and fluffier, and frost the cookies.

More Fruit Desserts to Try!

• Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
• Fruit Salad
• Banana Pudding Recipe
• Strawberries and Cream Cake
• Pineapple Upside Down Cake
• Strawberry Pretzel Salad
• Banana Split Cake

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tag me @laurens_latest.