Cherry Cheese "Pizza"

By 1For_Him

Ingredients

• TOPPING:
• 1 * 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 * 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 * 1/4 cup cold butter
• 2 * 2 tablespoons shortening
• 3 to 4 * 3 to 4 tablespoons water
• 1 * 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 * 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 * 2 eggs
• 1 * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 * 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• *
• 2-1/2 * 2-1/2 cups fresh or frozen pitted tart cherries or 1 can (15 ounces) tart cherries
• 1/3 * 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 * 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 * 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/8 * 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/8 * 1/8 teaspoon red food coloring
• * Whipped cream and fresh mint, optional

Details

Servings 10

Preparation

Step 1

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 25 min. + cooling

In a large bowl, combine flour and baking powder; cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball.

Roll out into a 14-in. circle. Place on an ungreased 12-in. pizza pan. Flute edges to form a rim; prick bottom of crust. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in nuts. Spread over crust. Bake 10 minutes longer. Cool. Drain cherries, reserving 1/3 cup juice. Set cherries and juice aside.

In a large saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in reserved juice until smooth. Add cherries. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes longer

Remove from the heat; stir in butter, extract and food coloring. Cool to room temperature; spread over cream cheese layer. Top with whipped cream and mint if desired. Yield: 10-12 slices.


Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 slice) equals 329 calories, 20 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 83 mg cholesterol, 144 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 5 g protein.

Cherry Cheese Pizza published in Taste of Home February/March 1999, p25