Bring a burst of color and patriotic cheer to your summer party with American Flag Fruit Pizza! This festive dessert features a tender sugar cookie crust, luscious cream cheese frosting, and vibrant berries arranged to create the iconic stars and stripes. Every slice is a celebration—sweet, creamy, and irresistibly fun to share.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive Showstopper: The American Flag Fruit Pizza is absolutely stunning and always steals the spotlight at summer gatherings, barbecues, and Fourth of July parties.
- Effortlessly Easy: Thanks to refrigerated cookie dough and a fuss-free cream cheese topping, this dessert comes together with minimal prep but maximum impact.
- Delight for All Ages: Both kids and adults love the vibrant fruit, sweet cookie base, and the playful flag design—it’s as much fun to make as it is to eat!
- Customizable & Fresh: Adapt this recipe with your favorite fruits or toppings, and enjoy a refreshing treat that’s lighter than traditional desserts.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every superstar dish starts with the right cast of ingredients, and American Flag Fruit Pizza is a perfect example! Each component serves a special role, from the buttery sweetness of the cookie crust to the jewel-toned freshness of the berries. Here’s what you’ll need (and why!):
- Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough: This shortcut dough creates a soft, chewy base with ease—no need to make cookie dough from scratch unless you want to.
- Cream Cheese (softened): Gives the “frosting” a tangy, velvety richness that balances the fruit’s natural sweetness.
- Sugar: Adds just enough sweetness for the cream cheese layer to feel like dessert, without overshadowing the fruit.
- Vanilla Extract: Lends a gentle, fragrant warmth that ties every flavor together.
- Whipped Topping (thawed): Makes the topping light, fluffy, and easy to spread—plus it helps hold the fruit in place!
- Fresh Raspberries: Their bright red color and juicy burst make the “stripes” of your flag pop with summery brilliance.
- Fresh Blueberries: Sweet, plump blueberries anchor the “stars” section, creating that classic blue field and adding delicious texture.
Variations
This American Flag Fruit Pizza is endlessly adaptable, so feel free to let your creativity (or your fridge stock) guide you! Here are a few fun ways to switch things up for different tastes, diets, or occasions.
- Gluten-Free Option: Swap in your favorite gluten-free sugar cookie dough or make a simple almond-flour crust to keep things allergy-friendly.
- Creamy Greek Yogurt Topping: Replace the whipped topping with thick Greek yogurt for extra protein and a lovely tang.
- Berry Swap: Try sliced strawberries in place of raspberries, or blackberries for a deeper color and bold berry flavor.
- No-Bake Base: Use a graham cracker or vanilla wafer crust pressed into the pan for a totally oven-free treat on hot days.
How to Make American Flag Fruit Pizza
Step 1: Prepare and Bake the Cookie Crust
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Slice the refrigerated sugar cookie dough into 1/4-inch pieces and arrange them on a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan. Press the dough slices together into a smooth, even layer. If you want a traditional “star” detail for the flag, set one slice aside to bake separately and cut out a star shape once cooled. Bake the crust for 11–12 minutes, just until lightly golden. Let it cool completely—it needs to be cool before adding the creamy topping!
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Topping
As the cookie crust cools, use an electric mixer to beat together softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy and smooth. Beat in half of the thawed whipped topping to lighten up the mixture, then gently fold in the rest for an ultra-creamy, pipes-straight-from-the-bag texture. Wash and dry those berries while everything’s coming together.
Step 3: Assemble the “Flag” Design
Scoop a little less than half of the cream cheese mixture onto your cooled cookie crust and spread it all the way to the edges. Using the blueberries, outline the pizza and create the “stars” section of the flag. If you made a cookie star, nestle it right on top! Arrange your raspberries in seven red stripes, leaving space between each for the white “stripes.” Pipe or spread the remaining cream cheese mixture in the gaps to finish the design—it’s easier than it looks and oh-so-satisfying.
Step 4: Chill and Serve
Refrigerate your American Flag Fruit Pizza until it’s set and ready to serve. Chilling makes it easier to slice and helps the beautiful fruit topping shine. When guests arrive, slice up your edible flag and watch those festive smiles appear!
Pro Tips for Making American Flag Fruit Pizza
- Perfect Cookie Base: For even baking, press the dough slices firmly together—don’t leave gaps, or your fruit pizza might have soft spots.
- Ultra-Smooth Cream Cheese: Let your cream cheese fully soften to room temperature before beating, so the topping is silky with no lumps.
- Picture-Perfect Flag: Pat berries dry thoroughly so excess moisture doesn’t run or make the cream layer watery—this keeps your flag stripes crisp!
- Make Ahead for Easy Serving: Assemble your American Flag Fruit Pizza several hours ahead and refrigerate—it slices beautifully and frees up your hands for hosting.
How to Serve American Flag Fruit Pizza
Garnishes
Give your American Flag Fruit Pizza a final flourish by dusting with powdered sugar just before serving, or dotting with a few fresh mint leaves for a little pop of green and extra freshness. A drizzle of honey is a lovely addition if you want even more sweetness.
Side Dishes
This vibrant dessert pairs perfectly with a spread of classic picnic sides—think lemonade, fresh fruit salad, or even a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. For a truly showstopping dessert table, set the fruit pizza alongside mini trifles or summery parfaits.
Creative Ways to Present
Slice the pizza into neat squares for easy party servings, or use a sharp knife to cut triangles for that “pizza” look. For kid-friendly fun, let little hands help lay out the flag stripes, or make mini flag fruit pizzas using individual sugar cookies decorated with the same design!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Cover any leftover slices tightly and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The cookie crust will soften a bit as it sits, but the flavor is still fantastic—and cold fruit pizza is a wonderful summer treat!
Freezing
While it’s best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the baked, un-topped cookie crust if you want to work ahead. Once cooled, wrap it well and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw and add the cream cheese and fruits the day you plan to serve.
Reheating
There’s no need to reheat American Flag Fruit Pizza! Simply serve it chilled straight from the fridge. If making ahead, let it sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes to take the chill off before slicing—this makes it easier to cut cleanly.
FAQs
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Can I use strawberries instead of raspberries for the stripes?
Absolutely! Many people love using sliced strawberries in place of raspberries for a slightly sweeter, more classic “flag” look. Just make sure to slice them thinly so they lay flat and look neat in your design.
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What’s the best way to keep my fruit from making the cream layer soggy?
Be sure to thoroughly dry your berries after washing. Excess moisture can cause the cream cheese layer to become watery over time, so spread them gently on paper towels and pat dry before decorating your American Flag Fruit Pizza.
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Can I make American Flag Fruit Pizza a day ahead?
Yes, you can assemble the crust and cream cheese topping, then add the berries a few hours before serving for the freshest look. If you decorate completely in advance, just cover and refrigerate—it will still look and taste wonderful the next day!
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Is it possible to make a vegan version of this dessert?
Definitely! Use dairy-free cream cheese, a plant-based whipped topping, and ensure your cookie dough is vegan (or make one from scratch). The assembly remains the same, and it’s delicious for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Let your next gathering sparkle with a slice of American Flag Fruit Pizza! It’s a nostalgic, festive dessert that’s as pretty as it is delicious, and it truly brings people together. Give this recipe a whirl—you’ll love seeing those “oohs” and “aahs” (and fast-emptying trays) at your celebration table.
Print
Red, White, and Blueberry Flag Pizza Recipe
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate your patriotism with this delicious American Flag Fruit Pizza! A perfect dessert for any patriotic holiday or gathering, this fruit pizza is not only visually stunning but also incredibly tasty. A sugar cookie crust topped with a creamy layer and adorned with fresh berries in the pattern of the American flag – it’s a true crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Cookie Crust:
- 1 tube Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough (16.5 oz)
Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 8 oz Whipped Topping, thawed
Toppings:
- 12 oz Fresh Raspberries (3 to 4 cups)
- 1 dry pint Fresh Blueberries (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Open tube of cookie dough and slice into 1/4 inch pieces.
- Place cookie dough slices on a lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan and press into an even layer. Bake cookie crust 11-12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool.
- Meanwhile, wash and dry the berries.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth. Beat in half the whipped topping. Fold in the remaining whipped topping.
- Scoop a little less than half of the cream cheese mixture onto the cookie crust and spread it all the way to the edges of the crust.
- Use blueberries to outline the pizza and create the blue portion of the flag, and top with the star cookie.
- Use raspberries to create seven red stripes.
- Use the rest of the cream cheese mixture to pipe the white stripes.
- Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
