It's rare that I share something that isn't Christmas related, but this autumn weather coupled with the fact that it is almost Halloween is giving me all the fall feels! Therefore, today I'm sharing with you a super easy fall dessert - my Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza!
Long before Pinterest was around, I started making variations of the beloved fruit pizza (if you're from the Midwest, this is likely a dessert you are very familiar with). One of these variations was for a Halloween party my mother-in-law hosted, and my family has been requesting it ever since! It really is the perfect Halloween dessert and with just six ingredients, it just can't get any easier. Plus, you can make it in advance (in fact, I recommend it) and simply keep it chilled in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve it.
To make my Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Premade Sugar Cookie Dough (2 rolls)
- Cream Cheese (1 package at room temperature)
- Cool Whip (1 tub)
- Caramel Syrup (1 bottle)
- Granny Smith Apples (4)
- Crushed Peanuts (1 container)
Start by slicing the prepared cookie dough into ¼ inch slices and arrange on a cookie sheet. You can arrange the slices to form a large circle, or in rows if you prefer a rectangular pizza, your choice! Don’t worry if there are gaps between the slices – as the dough bakes, it will rise and fill in open spots. Bake according to the package directions (typically 7-9 minutes) and let cool once you remove the dough from the oven. At this point, you should have a large “pizza” base of cookie dough.
While your giant cookie is cooling, mix your cream cheese, cool whip, and a generous helping of caramel syrup in a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer) until creamy. I like to lay my cream cheese out a couple of hours in advance to ensure it is at room temperature when I go to mix it. If cream cheese is not at room temperature, your frosting will be lumpy (and trust me, you don’t want that). Once your cookie has cooled (can still be warm to touch, but not hot), spread your frosting on top, making sure to cover edge to edge.
Next, chop four granny smith apples into small cubes or thin strips (your choice!), and soak in 1 part lemon juice, 4 parts water for 2-3 minutes. This will help to prevent the apples from browning prematurely. Drain and spread the apples on the cream cheese frosting, again covering edge to edge.
Finally, spread crushed peanuts on top of the apples and lightly drizzle caramel syrup for a finishing touch. Cover and refrigerate if serving later (my personal choice) or slice into squares and serve immediately if you prefer it to be slightly warm.
Can you believe how easy that was? Trust me, your party guests will thank you.
Want to make it a bit more unique? Here are a few more ideas:
- Add a couple of spoonful’s of peanut butter to the frosting mixture
- Add chopped candy bars or M&M’s before drizzling caramel syrup
- Cut the apples into fun shapes using cookie cutters
This dessert is the perfect treat to bring to your next Halloween party or fall bonfire. Let me know in the comments below if you try it!