Ingredients:
- All-purpose flour — 1 3/4 cups (220 g)
- Baking powder — 1/2 teaspoon (2 g)
- Salt — 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g)
- Unsalted butter, room temperature — 1/2 cup (113 g / 4 oz)
- Granulated sugar — 2/3 cup (135 g)
- Large egg — 1 (about 50 g)
- Vanilla extract — 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
- Milk (optional, only if dough seems dry) — up to 2 tablespoons (30 ml)
- Cream cheese, full-fat, softened — 8 oz (225 g)
- Mascarpone (or full-fat Greek yogurt) — 1/2 cup (120 g)
- Powdered (confectioners’) sugar — 1/3 cup (40 g), sifted
- Vanilla extract — 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
- Lemon juice — 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
- Heavy cream, lightly whipped — 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) (optional)
- Strawberries, hulled and sliced — 1 cup (150 g)
- Blueberries — 1 cup (150 g)
- Kiwi, peeled and sliced — 1 medium (75 g)
- Mango or peach, thinly sliced — 1 small (150 g)
- Raspberries or blackberries — 1/2 cup (75 g)
- Apricot preserves (or peach preserves) — 1/2 cup (160 g)
- Water — 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
- Optional garnish: Fresh mint leaves, finely grated citrus zest (lemon or orange), flaked toasted coconut or chopped pistachios
Instructions:
- Prepare and bake crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-inch pan with parchment.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until combined.
- Cream butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in the egg and vanilla until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture; if dough is crumbly, add up to 1–2 tablespoons milk to bring together.
- Press dough evenly into the prepared pan, leaving a slight edge if desired, aiming for 1/4–1/3 inch (6–8 mm) thickness.
- Bake the crust 12–16 minutes until edges are lightly golden and center is set; cool completely on a rack (important to prevent sogginess).
- Make the cream-cheese mascarpone spread: Beat softened cream cheese and mascarpone until smooth, add powdered sugar, vanilla and lemon juice and beat to combine.
- Fold in lightly whipped cream if using to lighten texture; chill briefly 10–15 minutes if mixture is too soft to spread.
- Prepare fruit and glaze: Wash and dry fruit, slice uniformly. In a small saucepan warm apricot preserves with 1 tablespoon water until runny; strain if a clear glaze is desired.
- Assemble the pizza: Spread an even layer (about 3/4–1 cup) of the cream-cheese mixture over the cooled crust using an offset spatula or piping bag, leaving a small border if desired.
- Arrange fruit in decorative patterns (spirals, concentric rings, mosaic), starting with larger slices and filling gaps with berries.
- Brush the arranged fruit lightly with the warm glaze to add shine and seal the fruit; fruit should look glossy, not soggy.
- Chill the assembled pizza 15–30 minutes to set the glaze and firm the spread; optionally garnish with mint or citrus zest.
- Slice like a pizza or cut into wedges and serve within 24 hours, keeping refrigerated for best texture.