Spring has finally arrived here in Minnesota, classes are wrapping up and graduation is just around the corner. This all means one thing: SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE! This summer will mean something very different to me, as it will be my first as a college graduate. My summer plans involve traveling with friends and family to Norway, London, Spain and Portugal. I am excited for the adventures and memories ahead, but am probably more excited for all the food I will get to eat this summer.
I will enjoy new food from around the world this summer, but most of my excitement comes from day dreaming about the normal, summer food I will get to eat. Thoughts of barbeque, picnics, potlucks, vine-fresh tomatoes and fruit fill my head. Summer fruits like peaches, watermelon, cherries and strawberries are my absolute favorite.
Summer fruit has inspired this week’s recipe. I have grown up eating a variation on this recipe: sugar cookie fruit pizza. A crust of sugar cookie dough topped with cream cheese frosting and fresh fruit. How could you make this summer delicacy any better? Make the crust brownie instead of sugar cookie!
I saw this idea floating around Pinterest for some time now and finally was inspired to try it out. I was not disappointed. The brownie makes the dessert a little sweeter, but I was not complaining.
Try adding your favorite summer fruit. Since summer is still not here yet, I used what I could find in the store and ended up with raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Any fruit would work great for this recipe.
All you need is:
· 1 store bought brownie mix (or make your own brownies)
· 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, room temperature
· ½ cup sugar
· ½ teaspoon vanilla
· Fruit! Like strawberries, blueberries, rasberries
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Prepare the brownie mix. Spray a pizza pan with cooking spray. Bake brownies in the pizza pan for 18-20 minutes.
2. Once the brownie crust is baked, cool for at least an hour.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: mix with a handheld blender cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Wash and cut up fruit into edible pieces.
4. Once brownie is cooled, frost with the frosting.
5. Arrange fruit over cream cheese.
Eat ASAP. If not, it should last a day or so in the fridge.
Adapted from Betty Crocker