This is my week to get in the mood for fall and post all the apple recipes I can. Earlier in the week, I posted a recipe for Peanut Butter Apple Muffins, do if you’re looking for a healthy muffin recipe packed with fall flavors, start there. But I know you guys all came for the gooey, appley goodness of this pizza; pure caramel apple heaven. It is so much easier to make this pizza than a real caramel apple, and easier to eat too!
This has been the first week that is has actually felt like fall here, so I don’t feel quite so guilty posting apple and pumpkin recipes. Mornings and evenings are crisp enough to want a toasty jacket, and even the midday temperatures still have a cool breeze that rustles the few leaves already on the ground. It all makes me want to pull out my boots and grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte and go apple picking. I’ve never actually done all those three things at once together, but it sounds idyllic!
If you have a chance to try all three of those things together, let me know how it is! I do know the first thing I would make with those apples, after I pick them: this apple pizza. It might be a hard choice between this pizza and apple pie. They are actually pretty similar, the only difference being the pizza has a traditional dough crust and the apple pie is has a normal pie crust. So if you’re not comfortable with making pie crusts, start here. (Although, I have perfect confidence you could master the pie crust. You should have seen my first few attempts!) Please don’t compare this apple dessert pizza to varieties you may have had elsewhere. Some versions are basically all crust with a sprinkling of apples. This version has a thick layer of soft cinnamon apples and sweet streusel. Plenty of apple goodness for every bit of crust.
The crust for pizza is very easy to make. It is an adaptation of my ever day pizza crust recipe, (which I don’t have on my blog, yet), but basically I swapped out the bit of regular sugar for a little extra brown sugar. It gives the crust a hint of sweetness without taking away from the apple flavors. After the crust comes a layer of apples and cinnamon, topped with the best streusel. It bakes up like a regular ole pizza, but is so much better. The best way to serve it is warm with extra caramel and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 Tablespoon instant yeast
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 & 1/2 cups apples, peeled and finely diced
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cold butter
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- Homemade Caramel Sauce to drizzle on top
Instructions
- To make the crust, combine hot water and yeast in a large bowl. Let sit for a few minutes until a foam develops. Stir in the brown sugar, olive oil, salt and flour. Knead for a few minutes until dough is stretchy. Let sit for 30 minutes to rise.
- Meanwhile, peel and dice the apples. Toss them with the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Grease and lightly dust a pizza pan with cornmeal. Preheat oven to 400 F. Pat out the dough into a 12 - 15 inch circle. Lightly brush with olive oil. Spread the apples on top of the dough.
- To make the streusel, mix together the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the cold butter until it makes pea-sized crumbs. Gently stir in oatmeal. Sprinkle over the apples.
- Bake at 400 F. for 28-22 minutes or until the apples are tender and the crust is browned. Let cool slightly. Serve warm with caramel and vanilla ice cream.
For more awesome dessert recipes, check out:
Pumpkin Toffee Cookies with Brown Butter Glaze
You are rockin’ my world! I love everything about this!
Thanks, Amanda!
Love this dessert pizza! Extra caramel and ice cream are a must!
Absolutely, Jessica!
What an awesome idea!!! Nothing beats caramel apples here. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and it’s the perfect treat!
That streusel crust is making me drool. I just adore it.
Great minds thing alike! I posted a caramel apple dessert pizza this week too! Yours looks amazing Mallory!
YUM, I could eat this whole pizza! Looks delicious!
One of our favorite restaurants has an apple dessert pizza, but they need to add the caramel like you!
Again, you got me with the streusel! I love dessert pizzas! Looks fantastic!
Thanks, Amber. The streusel is one of my favorite parts too!
Oh my! This looks delicious!
Hmm….I have half a whole wheat pizza dough recipe sitting in the fridge, I wonder if it would work? Maybe if I brush the crust with some reduced apple cider and caramel
Thanks for the inspiration!
Yeah, it will be a bit heavier than a normal crust, but I’m sure it would work out great!
This looks delicious! Funny enough I’ve made a similar pizza and this just reminded me that I should definitely resurrect that pizza – yum yum!
Oh dear – I need a towel – I am drooling like a flowing river over here! the streusel topping …the apple filling…the cinnamon…I cannot even think …so so good!
can I unroll a pre-made crust for this?
Absolutely, that makes it a super easy dessert. Just be sure to bake it according to the package and to use nice ripe apples. Enjoy!