Dessert Style Pizza Pi (with Pictures)

For Pi day this year, I decided to make a dessert style Pizza π (or if you really want to go crazy, a πzza π). This is a simple and adaptable recipe that can be done a number of ways and for multiple occasions.

First Step: Making the "pizza" dough

I used the ingredients listed below to make my cookie base, but if you prefer, you can use a favorite sugar cookie recipe, or even pre-made cookie dough. I would advise following the instructions for a given recipe if using an alternate cookie base.

Cookie Ingredients
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Hardware
• Oven
• Mixing bowls
• Pizza pan* - I used a 16 inch pan, but a 14 inch should work

* Any cookie sheet will work, non-stick is best, though no guarantees on the shape

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Then mix in the egg until it is all combined.

3. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt into a second bowl; stir the dry mix into the creamed mixture until just blended. Press the dough into an ungreased* pizza pan. If using a rolling pin, cover the dough with wax paper first, it keeps things from sticking.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool completely to room temperature; the cookie should not even be warm to the touch.

* The ungreased pan will work, especially if it is non-stick

Second Step: The "Pizza" Toppings

Topping Ingredients
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips*
• 1/2 pint raspberries*
• 1/2 pint blackberries*
• 1 pint blueberries*

* These are all optional and up to personal preference. I like berries, and the smaller ones are easier to make into a design. I also like chocolate, and so decided to make a part of the design out of chocolate chips, smaller being once again better. If you like strawberries and kiwi or bananas better, use them. If you prefer to use chocolate frosting, or caramel, or some other easy to write with substance, go ahead... it will probably be less time consuming than the chocolate chips ended up being anyway.

Hardware
• Colander - for rinsing fruit
• Mixing Bowl
• Electric Mixer (optional - though recommended)
• Offset Spatula (if you have one, otherwise - a butter knife)

Directions

1. Rinse the fruit off under running water and place on paper towel to dry completely (if the fruit is wet, it will make things soggy).

2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until light and even colored. Spread evenly on cooled crust (A warm crust will make this melty and more trouble than it's worth).

3. Arrange desired fruit on top of filling, and chill in fridge until ready to serve.

For my design I wrote π out in chocolate chips around the edge, 3.14159265358979323846264338... to be exact, then did a circle of blackberries with a π symbol of raspberries in the middle. I then sprinkled chocolate chips in the inner circle (for a little extra sweetness) and filled the space up with blueberries. A mathematically delicious dessert.