Cooking With Casey Crocker

The end of June is coming up fast and I'm seeing fireworks and sparklers in my future. So when Olivia and I got together for this shoot, I had spent a long time beforehand racking my brain for a patriotic recipe that you could take to your Fourth of July celebrations! It had to be something simple, sweet and red, white and blue. Here's what I came up with!

Dessert Pizza

Ingredients:

SUGAR COOKIE CRUST
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions:
- In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer, cream the softened butter for about 1 minute on medium speed until smooth.

- Add the sugar on medium speed until fluffy and light in color.

- Beat in egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides as needed.

- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

- With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 3 different parts.

- Once completely combined, cover the dough tightly and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

- Spray a 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. Remove chilled cookie dough from the refrigerator and press onto the pizza pan in an even flat circle.

- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the edges are very lightly browned. Allow crust to cool completely before decorating.

ICING:
- 8 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- In a medium bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.

- Add the confectioners’ sugar and 1 Tbsp cream. Beat for 2 minutes.

- Add the vanilla and 1 more Tbsp cream if needed to thin out. Beat for 1 minute.

- Spread in a thick layer over the cooled sugar cookie crust. Decorate with fruit.

- Cut and enjoy!

Cooking is such fun. It's a great way to inspire your own creativity as well as someone else's! Olivia and I have been at this project for almost a year and we both agree that we have learned so much about cooking, photography, styling, blogging and each other. And it all started with cake. :)

If you enjoyed this session, see the rest on Olivia's blog! It includes Charlie, just sayin'.

(Recipe adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction)