Introduction
Oh, hello there! Gather ’round, because I’ve got a treat for you that’s going to make your taste buds sing. Imagine this: a warm, slightly chewy pizza crust, slathered with creamy, dreamy cheesecake filling, dotted with sweet-tart raspberry jam, and finished with a delightful crumbly streusel. Yep, we’re talking about a Raspberry Cheesecake Dessert Pizza, and trust me, it’s pure bliss in every bite! This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a whole vibe, perfect for cozy nights in or sharing with your favorite people. It’s so incredibly easy, you’ll wonder why you haven’t made it sooner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: While the dough needs a little rest, the actual prep time is super quick!
- Easy: No complicated techniques here, just simple steps anyone can follow.
- Giftable: Wrap it up beautifully, and you’ve got a show-stopping homemade gift.
- Crowd-pleasing: Who can resist cheesecake and raspberries on a pizza base? It’s a guaranteed hit!
Ingredients
Let’s talk about what you’ll need to bring this magic to life. Don’t worry, it’s all pretty straightforward!
For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups (185 g) all-purpose flour: The foundation of our deliciousness.
- ½ teaspoon instant yeast: Our little helper to make the crust rise and be wonderfully airy.
- ¼ teaspoon salt: Just a pinch to balance all those sweet flavors.
- ⅔ cup (155 ml) warm water: The perfect temperature to wake up our yeast!
For the Sauce/Topping:
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened: The star of our cheesecake show. Make sure it’s soft so it blends smoothly!
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar: For that classic cheesecake sweetness.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract: A little splash of pure vanilla goodness.
- ¼ cup raspberry jam: My personal favorite is a good quality, slightly tart jam. It cuts through the sweetness perfectly.
- ¼ cup white chocolate chips: These little gems melt into pockets of sweet, creamy delight.
For the Streusel:
- 3 Tablespoons (42 g) salted butter, melted: Melted butter makes for the best crumbly texture.
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract: A touch more vanilla to tie everything together.
- ⅓ cup (42 g) all-purpose flour: Our base for the streusel.
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar: For sweetness.
- 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar, firmly packed: The brown sugar adds a lovely caramel note and extra moisture to the streusel.
How to Make It
Alright, chef, let’s get our hands a little flour-y and create something amazing!
1. Prepare the Crust:
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and salt. Gradually pour in the warm water, mixing as you go. Once it starts to come together, get in there with your hands (or a stand mixer with a dough hook!) and knead. You’re aiming for a smooth, elastic dough, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Pop the dough back into the bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rest in a warm spot for 30-60 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s puffed up and about doubled in size.
2. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Surface:
While your dough is getting cozy, it’s time to get your oven ready! Preheat it to 400°F (200°C). Grab your favorite baking sheet or pizza pan, and either lightly grease it or line it with some parchment paper. Parchment paper is my go-to for easy cleanup, always!
3. Shape the Crust:
Once your dough has had its beauty rest and doubled in size, it’s time to give it some shape! Gently punch down the dough to release the air, then carefully transfer it to your prepared baking surface. Pat and stretch it into a nice 12-inch circle. Don’t worry about it being perfectly round – rustic charm is part of the appeal!
4. Prepare the Cheesecake Sauce:
In a separate bowl, beat your softened cream cheese until it’s wonderfully smooth and creamy. This is key to a luscious filling! Then, stir in the granulated sugar and vanilla extract until everything is just combined and tastes like pure magic.
5. Assemble the Pizza:
Now for the fun part! Spread that glorious cream cheese mixture evenly over your pizza crust, leaving about a ½-inch border for that classic pizza edge. Next, artfully dollop spoonfuls of your raspberry jam over the cream cheese layer. Finally, sprinkle those sweet white chocolate chips all over. They’ll melt into little puddles of joy.
6. Prepare the Streusel:
In a small bowl, combine the melted salted butter, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and that firmly packed light brown sugar. Use a fork to mix everything together until it forms lovely coarse crumbs. This is going to add the perfect crunchy topping!
7. Add Streusel and Bake:
Generously sprinkle your prepared streusel mixture evenly over the top of your assembled pizza. Make sure to get good coverage for maximum crunch! Pop your creation into the preheated oven.
8. Bake:
Bake for about 15-20 minutes. You’re looking for a beautifully golden-brown crust and a topping that’s just starting to bubble with happiness. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
9. Cool and Serve:
Once it’s out of the oven, let your Raspberry Cheesecake Dessert Pizza cool for a few minutes. This helps it set up a bit, making it easier to slice and serve. Then, grab a slice (or two!) and enjoy this incredible homemade treat. It’s best served warm or at room temperature.
Substitutions & Additions
This recipe is fantastic as is, but we love a little creativity, right? Here are some ideas to make it your own:
- Different Berries: Swap the raspberry jam for strawberry, blueberry, or even a mixed berry jam.
- Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Drizzle with melted dark or milk chocolate after baking for an extra decadent touch.
- Nutty Crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel for an extra layer of texture and flavor.
- Lemon Zest: A little bit of lemon zest in the cream cheese filling can add a lovely bright note.
- Cinnamon Spice: A pinch of cinnamon in the streusel is always a welcome addition for a warm, cozy flavor.
Tips for Success
A few little secrets from my kitchen to yours to ensure this recipe turns out perfectly every time:
- Don’t Over-Knead: While you want a smooth dough, over-kneading can make it tough. Aim for that elastic texture and then let it rest.
- Soften Your Cream Cheese: This is crucial! If your cream cheese isn’t soft enough, your filling might be lumpy. Leave it on the counter for about an hour or microwave it for very short intervals (10-15 seconds), stirring in between.
- Jam Consistency: If your jam is very thick, you might want to stir in a teaspoon of water to make it a little more spreadable.
- Prep Ahead: You can make the streusel topping a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Watch the Oven: Ovens can be finicky! Keep an eye on your pizza towards the end of the baking time to prevent the edges or streusel from burning.
How to Store It
If, by some miracle, you have any leftovers (which I doubt!), you can store them easily. Wrap the cooled dessert pizza tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It should stay fresh at room temperature for about a day, or in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to enjoy a slice again, you can serve it chilled, or gently warm it in the oven or microwave.
FAQs
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can! After the first rise, punch down the dough, wrap it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before shaping and assembling.
What if I don’t have instant yeast?
You can use active dry yeast, but you’ll need to “proof” it first. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water with a pinch of sugar and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it gets foamy. Then, proceed with the recipe as usual.
Can I make this gluten-free?
You can try substituting a good quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the flour in both the crust and the streusel. You may need to adjust the liquid slightly, as gluten-free flours can absorb moisture differently.
Raspberry Cheesecake Dessert Pizza
Equipment
- Medium-sized bowl For mixing crust ingredients.
- Clean kitchen towel To cover dough while resting.
- Baking sheet or pizza pan For baking the pizza.
- Parchment paper Optional, for easy cleanup.
- Separate bowl For preparing the cheesecake sauce.
- Small bowl For preparing the streusel.
- Fork To mix streusel ingredients.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour The foundation of our deliciousness.
- 0.5 teaspoon instant yeast Our little helper to make the crust rise and be wonderfully airy.
- 0.25 teaspoon salt Just a pinch to balance all those sweet flavors.
- 0.67 cup warm water The perfect temperature to wake up our yeast!
For the Sauce/Topping
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened The star of our cheesecake show. Make sure it's soft so it blends smoothly!
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar For that classic cheesecake sweetness.
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract A little splash of pure vanilla goodness.
- 0.25 cup raspberry jam My personal favorite is a good quality, slightly tart jam. It cuts through the sweetness perfectly.
- 0.25 cup white chocolate chips These little gems melt into pockets of sweet, creamy delight.
For the Streusel
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter, melted Melted butter makes for the best crumbly texture.
- 0.25 teaspoon vanilla extract A touch more vanilla to tie everything together.
- 0.33 cup all-purpose flour Our base for the streusel.
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar For sweetness.
- 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar, firmly packed The brown sugar adds a lovely caramel note and extra moisture to the streusel.
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and salt. Gradually pour in the warm water, mixing as you go. Once it starts to come together, get in there with your hands (or a stand mixer with a dough hook!) and knead. You’re aiming for a smooth, elastic dough, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Pop the dough back into the bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rest in a warm spot for 30-60 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s puffed up and about doubled in size.
- While your dough is getting cozy, it’s time to get your oven ready! Preheat it to 400°F (200°C). Grab your favorite baking sheet or pizza pan, and either lightly grease it or line it with some parchment paper. Parchment paper is my go-to for easy cleanup, always!
- Once your dough has had its beauty rest and doubled in size, it’s time to give it some shape! Gently punch down the dough to release the air, then carefully transfer it to your prepared baking surface. Pat and stretch it into a nice 12-inch circle. Don't worry about it being perfectly round – rustic charm is part of the appeal!
- In a separate bowl, beat your softened cream cheese until it’s wonderfully smooth and creamy. This is key to a luscious filling! Then, stir in the granulated sugar and vanilla extract until everything is just combined and tastes like pure magic.
- Now for the fun part! Spread that glorious cream cheese mixture evenly over your pizza crust, leaving about a ½-inch border for that classic pizza edge. Next, artfully dollop spoonfuls of your raspberry jam over the cream cheese layer. Finally, sprinkle those sweet white chocolate chips all over. They’ll melt into little puddles of joy.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted salted butter, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and that firmly packed light brown sugar. Use a fork to mix everything together until it forms lovely coarse crumbs. This is going to add the perfect crunchy topping!
- Generously sprinkle your prepared streusel mixture evenly over the top of your assembled pizza. Make sure to get good coverage for maximum crunch! Pop your creation into the preheated oven.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes. You’re looking for a beautifully golden-brown crust and a topping that’s just starting to bubble with happiness. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
- Once it's out of the oven, let your Raspberry Cheesecake Dessert Pizza cool for a few minutes. This helps it set up a bit, making it easier to slice and serve. Then, grab a slice (or two!) and enjoy this incredible homemade treat. It’s best served warm or at room temperature.