Strawberry pizza

If you make anything with strawberries this summer, you’ve got to try this recipe for strawberry pizza.  It is soooo delicious!  Jim and I practically ate the whole thing by ourselves.  Look at these pictures and you’ll see why.  Prepare to drool.

See what I mean?  It’s just the perfect summer dessert.  Plus, it’s easy to make and the presentation is wonderful.

Recipe:  Strawberry Pizza

8 ounce package of cream cheese, divided  (I used light cream cheese)

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, chilled

1 c. baking mix, such as Bisquick

2 Tbsp. honey

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1/4 tsp. lemon zest  (I substituted with 1/2 tsp. pure lemon extract)

1 1/2 quarts of strawberries, cleaned and hulled, sliced in half and lightly patted to dry

white or dark chocolate, for garnish

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Lightly spray a 12″ pizza pan with cooking spray.

Cut 3 oz. cream cheese and 2 Tbsp. butter into baking mix.  Mixture will resemble coarse crumbs.  Form dough into a ball, then pat out onto the pizza pan.  The crust will be very thin.  (Take your time with this step.  At first it doesn’t seem like you will have enough dough, but as you work it toward the edges it will cover the whole pan.) Bake for 6-8 minutes or until crust is lightly brown.  Cool completely.

Cream together 5 oz. of cream cheese, honey, sugar, and lemon zest or extract until smooth.

Assemble pizza just before serving, if possible.  The crust becomes softer if made too far in advance.  Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the cooled crust.  Arrange the sliced strawberries in a circular pattern over the crust, starting with one berry in the center.

Melt chocolate in the microwave at 30 second intervals, at reduced power, until melted.  Drizzle over strawberries.   Cut into 10-12 slices and serve.  (Unless you invite Jim and me over!)