Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe

What’s your favorite pizza topping? For many, it’s pepperoni or sausage. Others prefer mushrooms or peppers. But what about peaches, strawberries or pears? 

Pizza has been around in some form or another since the time of the ancient Greeks. The dish became a mainstay in Italian culture and toppings ranged widely, including both sweet and savory. Eventually, the familiar tomato sauce and cheese became the preferred toppings throughout Europe and, ultimately, college dormitories everywhere.

Although the toppings range wildly, modern pizza is commonly considered a savory dish. There are always exceptions, of course. In Brazil, dessert pizzas featuring bananas, chocolate or berries are popular. And some American pizza chains have experimented with dessert-style pizzas.

In an eternal quest to put new twists on old ideas, dessert pizzas have begun to make limited appearances in some restaurants. High on the list of toppings are fresh, seasonal fruits and the marriage of sweet, succulent fruit and a thin, crispy crust. It's a combination I’m happy to find back on the menu.

This sweet spin on the old favorite tops a lightly sweetened crust with juicy apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and rolled oats. Inspired by classic apple crisps and old-fashioned apple pie, it has the great taste of those fall favorites and the familiar appeal of the world’s most popular finger food. It may not replace pepperoni as America’s favorite topping, but this apple topped pizza is fun to make and even more fun to eat!

Apple Crisp Pizza

• 3/4 cup warm water
• 3 teaspoons yeast
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 cups flour
• 2 pounds apples
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 stick cold butter
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons milk

Combine water, yeast, sugar, salt, oil and flour in a mixer with dough hook attachment and mix at medium until dough comes together into a pliant ball.

Knead dough and roll out flat on a pizza stone or baking sheet.

Peel, core and thinly slice apples.

Toss apples with lemon juice.

Add cinnamon, brown sugar, flour and oatmeal and toss or stir until ingredients are combined and apples are fully coated.

Spread apple mix evenly over dough.

Cut butter into small pieces and spread evenly over apples.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until crust begins to brown.

Whisk powdered sugar, vanilla and milk together until fully combined.

After pizza has cooled for at least 5 minutes, drizzle glaze over the top.

Serve warm.