Blue Ribbon Group Sweet Savory Pear Dessert Pizza
Minnesota State Fair Winner
This Sweet-Savory Pear Dessert Pizza features an unexpected ingredient combination that works deliciously.
Sweet Meets Savory Ingredient Combination
There’s cream cheese and brown sugar, as well as onion, bacon, and pecans, plus a mix of provolone and mozzarella cheese. The gorgonzola cheese is key. It is buttery and has a bite to it. Pair all that with the sweetness of fruit and honey, and you’ve got an amazing, unique, and award-winning dessert. In fact, this “best recipe” won 1st place at the Minnesota State Fair. It’s another all-time favorite from our archives.
Recipe credit goes to Lynda Decker. She won the “best dessert pizza” that Fleischmann’s Yeast sponsored back in 2013. One of her tips is to try a flavored honey like raspberry honey, which she got at a Minnesota farmer’s market.
Delicious Crust, Creative Toppings
You start with an easy homemade pizza crust that you brush with butter and brown sugar. Make the dough ahead of time (two hours before baking or the day before). You par-bake the crust then add your toppings: a cream-cheese-brown-sugar layer, pear slices, onion, bacon, and two cheeses, including that slightly funky gorgonzola. You finish it with pecans and a drizzle of honey. Altogether it is a lot of ingredients, but wait until you taste it! Wow.
I was blown away when I first tasted this Sweet-Savory Pear Dessert Pizza. It is both creative and tantalizing to taste. This is a must make for any cheese lovers out there, as well as any foodies that like complex flavors, texture contrasts and surprising ingredient combinations.
Blue Ribbon Winning Recipe
At judging, long-time Minnesota State Fair Judge Mary Bartz shared her expert opinion about this pizza. (This pizza recipe has) a powerful combination…a savory and fruity sweet topping over a thin, tender, yet chewy crust…a dynamic result!
Be sure to bake this one up soon!
-Cyndi
Note: This is an edited repost from our former website, StateFairRecipes.com.
Sweet-Savory Pear Dessert Pizza
Crust:
1 (1/4 ounce) packet Fleischmann’s Pizza Crust Yeast
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup lukewarm water
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour
Toppings:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 pears, any variety, thinly sliced
1/4 cup onion, shaved or thinly sliced
1/4 cup bacon pieces
1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese crumbs
1/2 cup provolone/mozzarella shredded cheese blend
1/4 cup pecan pieces
1/4 cup honey
Crust: In a medium bowl, combine yeast, brown sugar and warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in milk, salt and melted butter. Add flour one cup at a time until three cups have been incorporated. Place dough on lightly floured work surface. Knead in additional 1/2 to 1 cup flour for 5 minutes. Roll into a ball, lightly oil the exterior, then place in a bowl covered. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rise in the refrigerator for 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove dough from bowl and roll into large pizza crust shape, 16-18 inches round. (For a thinner crust use 1/2 or 3/4 of the dough.) Brush crust lightly with oil. Bake 5 minutes or until slightly brown. Remove from oven.
Toppings: In a small bowl mix together cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Spread over warm crust. Top with onions, pears, bacon, pecan and cheeses. Return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted and slightly brown, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven. Drizzle with honey. Cut and enjoy. Serves: 6-10 people
