This is a dessert and potluck recipe I received from an old friend during my time as a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois. As I flip through an old binder filled mostly with printed recipes from sites like ammas.com, bawarchi.com, and various Usenet groups and forums, I’m reminded that food has always been a genuine passion of mine.

Blogs didn’t exist back then—I’m talking about 1999–2000—but there was still a strong urge to keep a recipe diary of sorts. It’s incredible to reflect on how much Web 2.0 has transformed the way we browse, share, and connect. What is now a simple blog link shared on Facebook or Twitter was once a printed email from a friend. Even more surprising is the fact that I held on to that printed note for all these years—the recipe for a fruit pizza she brought to a school potluck that I never actually tasted at the time.

I’m not sure she would even remember me today, but this post is dedicated to Gloria.

I finally made this recipe earlier this year for our Super Bowl party, and it turned out to be the perfect dessert—simple, colorful, and a definite crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

  • 1 log store-bought or homemade sugar cookie dough
    (I used the Nestlé brand, but any will work)
  • 2 bananas, thinly sliced
  • 10–12 strawberries, thinly sliced
  • 4 kiwi fruits, sliced into small “C” shapes
  • Blueberries
  • 1 (8 oz) block strawberry cream cheese
    (Any flavored cream cheese can be used)

Method

  1. Roll out the sugar cookie dough onto a round cookie sheet. You can shape it however you like, but since I call it “fruit pizza,” I rolled it into a large circle. The dough should be about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. Bake according to the package instructions, or for about 10–12 minutes at 350°F (175°C). Allow the cookie base to cool completely to room temperature.
  2. While the cookie cools, slice all the fruit thinly and set aside.
  3. Beat the cream cheese until soft and easy to spread. Spread a generous layer evenly over the cooled cookie base. Arrange the fruit on top in any pattern you like.
  4. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Slice into wedges using a pizza cutter and serve.

A nostalgic recipe with a modern feel, this fruit pizza is as meaningful as it is delicious—proof that some recipes are worth waiting years to finally try.