Fruit Cookie

Now this is by no means original, but this is a reminder that you can do a super easy, delicious dessert that never fails to wow your culinary audience.  This fruit cookie (AKA fruit "pizza") comes together very quickly, and there is a lot you can do with it in terms of seasonal toppings and design.  Not only is it very tasty and visually striking, but most of the dry ingredients are probably already in the pantry!

There really isn't a recipe for this one because it's so simple, but here is the basic list anyway:
Sugar cookie dough (use your favorite here, as there are no rules on what to use)
1 block reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Sliced fruit and berries for topping

Make a batch of your favorite sugar cookie dough.  Roll it out thin on a pizza pan or baking sheet (I actually made mine too thick and probably could have divided the dough onto two pizza pans). Bake crust and cool.

Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla.  Spread onto cookie crust.

Top with your favorite fruit.  Have fun and be creative with the design.  Use what is in season for extra flavor!

Cut into squares and serve.

Ideas for variation:
Try smaller, individual servings and cut the dough into round cookies to bake and decorate.
Experiment with different flavors, like fruit preserves and citrus for a glaze.
Use a tart pan for a deeper crust.
Use shortbread dough instead of sugar cookie dough for a different texture.

A festive idea for variation with strawberries, blueberries, and leftover cookie dough

Best wishes for entertaining,
Jillian