Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza is a sweet twist on traditional pizza, made with soft homemade dough, buttery caramelized apples, and rich cream cheese frosting. It bakes up warm and tender with sweet, buttery edges that taste like apple pie on a pizza crust.
I love to serve up a dessert pizza on pizza night. It is a family favorite way to a sweet ending to our Friday night meal. If you love my Apple Hand Pies, this brings that same apple-cinnamon comfort in an easy shareable round.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Sweet comfort: warm caramelized apples meet soft, buttery pizza dough for the ultimate dessert comfort food.
Simple ingredients: everything you need is pantry-friendly, and the dough is easy to make from scratch.
Perfect for sharing: great for family gatherings or dessert nights with friends, each mini pizza feels special.
Key Ingredients for Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and instructions.
- Apples: choose firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best flavor and texture.
- Brown sugar: adds deep caramel notes that b alance perfectly with the apples.
- Cream cheese: the base of the frosting that adds tang and creaminess to the sweet topping.
- Cinnamon: gives the dessert that classic fall spice aroma.
- Olive oil: keeps the pizza dough soft and tender inside while giving it a slight crisp edge.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Apples: try pears for a softer, milder flavor.
- Brown sugar: use coconut sugar for a less refined sweetness.
- Cream cheese: swap for mascarpone for an even richer frosting.
Variations on Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza
- Salted Caramel Drizzle: add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce before serving.
- Nutty crunch: sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the apples before baking.
- Apple pie style: substitute the apple pie filling for a jar of Mom's Apple Pie in a Jar.
Caramel Apple Pizza Tips
- Cook slowly: stir to apples often while caramelizing to prevent burning and achieve that deep golden color.
- Don't rush the dough: let the pizza dough rise fully for that soft, airy texture.
- Cool before frosting: wait util the pizza cools slightly before adding the frosting so it doesn't melt.
How to Store and Reheat
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven at 325°F for about 3-5 minutes untl warmed through. Avoid microwaving to keep the crust crisp.
Serving Suggestions for Dessert Pizza
This Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce. Serve it as part of a dessert buffet alongside Pumpkin-Spice Latte Cookies for a fall themed spread.
More Apple Recipes You'll Love
If you enjoyed this dessert, you might also like my Apple Cider Glazed Donuts, Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls, Apple Cheesecake Empanadas, and Chocolate Coated Caramel Apples.
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110℉)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2¼ teaspoons dry yeast
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ cup cornmeal
For the Caramelized Apples
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 large apples
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 6 tablespoons butter , softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Extra topping
- 3 tablespoons butter , softened
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Instructions
Make the Pizza Dough
- Add warm water and yeast to a large bowl. Stir and mix. Allow yeast to proof for five minutes.
- Stir sugar, flour, olive oil, and salt into yeast water. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured flat surface and knead for 10 minutes.
- Transfer dough ball to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a clean towel for 1 hour, or until it's doubled in size.
Make the Caramelized Apples
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over high heat. When butter is melted, add the sugar, water, and diced apples. Cook and stir until sugar is melted, about 3 minutes.
- Turn heat to medium-low and consistently stir apple mixture while cooking for 8 minutes.
- Add the cinnamon and cook/stir 1 minute longer. Remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes. Place in storage container and cool for 1 hour.
To Assemble Dessert Pizzas
- Roll dough with a rolling pin until 8 inches in diameter.
- Dust air fryer pan with cornmeal and transfer dough to pan. Press to flatten down on the bottom of the pan.
- Cook dough for 4 minutes.
- While dough is cooking, in a large bowl, mix the caramelized apples, 3 tablespoons of melted butter, and ¼ cup brown sugar.
- Remove dough from air fryer and top with ¼ of the apple topping. Return to air fryer and cook another 4 minutes.
- Repeat steps for each pizza.
- While pizza is cooking, add frosting ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine. Once all pizzas are cooked and cooled, drizzle frosting on pizzas.
Comments
No Comments