There's something undeniably festive about a dessert that doubles as patriotic flair—and this Easy American Flag Fruit Pizza does exactly that. With a sugar cookie crust, luscious cream cheese frosting, and a vibrant arrangement of fresh berries, it’s a showstopper at any Fourth of July gathering, summer barbecue, or Memorial Day picnic.
I first made this recipe for a neighborhood potluck, and it vanished before I could even grab a second slice. It's become our annual tradition and the kids love helping place the berries to “paint” the flag. Not only is it gorgeous, it’s also a breeze to whip up—perfect for when you need something crowd-pleasing and low-fuss.
Why You’ll Love This Easy American Flag Fruit Pizza
If you’re looking for a dessert that combines simplicity with show-stopping beauty, this fruit pizza is your answer. It’s sweet, creamy, fruity, and incredibly fun to make and eat.
No baking stress required. While the sugar cookie crust does need a quick bake, the rest of the recipe is no-bake and comes together in under 20 minutes. This makes it an ideal dessert when you're short on time but still want to wow your guests.
Budget-friendly ingredients. All you need are pantry basics like sugar cookie dough, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and some fresh fruit. Nothing fancy here—just simple, accessible components.
Kid-approved and interactive. Let the little ones in on the fun by helping decorate the flag. It turns dessert prep into a family activity and makes them extra excited to eat the finished product.
Perfect for patriotic parties. Whether it's Independence Day, Flag Day, or a summer cookout, this fruit pizza fits the theme beautifully. Plus, it’s easy to scale up for a crowd or down for a smaller gathering.
Once you make it once, it’s sure to become part of your holiday rotation. Let’s look at what makes this dessert shine from the inside out.
Ingredient Notes
The brilliance of this fruit pizza lies in its minimal yet flavorful ingredients. Each one plays a specific role in creating the dessert’s signature texture and look.
Sugar cookie dough forms the base of the fruit pizza. You can use store-bought refrigerated dough to save time, or make your own if you're feeling extra fancy. Once baked and cooled, it creates the perfect chewy-yet-firm foundation for all the toppings.
Cream cheese is the heart of the frosting layer. When whipped with a touch of vanilla and powdered sugar, it becomes silky smooth and slightly tangy, perfectly balancing the sweetness of the cookie base and fruit.
Fresh blueberries and strawberries are your key to the American flag design. The blueberries create the star field, while the sliced strawberries form the red stripes. Make sure to pat them dry before assembling to prevent sogginess.
Powdered sugar sweetens the cream cheese mixture just enough to give it that frosting-like quality without overwhelming the fruit’s natural flavors.
You won’t need any fancy gadgets—just a baking sheet or pizza pan, a hand mixer for the frosting, and a knife for slicing strawberries. A small offset spatula helps for spreading the frosting evenly, but a butter knife works fine too.
How to Make This Easy American Flag Fruit Pizza
Creating this festive fruit pizza is easier than you might think. The most fun part? It looks like you spent hours on it, even if the process is surprisingly simple.
Start by preheating your oven and pressing the sugar cookie dough into a lightly greased rectangular baking pan or sheet. Press it evenly to form one solid layer, then bake until the edges are golden and the center is set—about 12 to 14 minutes. Let the crust cool completely before moving on.
While the crust is cooling, whip together the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy. Taste and adjust sweetness to your liking.
Once the crust is fully cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the surface. Make sure to go all the way to the edges—you want every bite to have that creamy layer.
Now it’s time for the best part: decorating. Use the blueberries to form a blue square in the top-left corner. Then, arrange rows of strawberry slices horizontally across the rest of the pizza to mimic the red stripes of the flag. You can leave thin rows of frosting showing to represent the white stripes.
Pop the finished fruit pizza in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let everything set. When ready to serve, cut into squares and watch the compliments roll in.
Storage Options
Fruit pizza stores surprisingly well if you follow a few easy guidelines. You can even make parts of it ahead of time to simplify your prep.
If you’re planning ahead, bake the cookie crust a day in advance and store it tightly wrapped at room temperature. Keep the frosting in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.
Once assembled, cover the fruit pizza with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. It’ll stay fresh for up to 3 days, though the crust may soften slightly over time from the fruit's moisture.
To keep leftovers from getting soggy, blot any excess moisture from the fruit before storing, and place a paper towel inside the container to absorb condensation.
When reheating isn’t required (this dessert is served cold), simply take it out of the fridge about 10 minutes before serving for the best texture.
Variations and Substitutions
This patriotic fruit pizza is easy to customize to suit different tastes, dietary needs, or the fruit you have on hand.
Make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free sugar cookie dough. Many store-bought options are available, or you can make your own with almond or oat flour blends.
Switch up the fruit depending on what’s in season. Raspberries, blackberries, or even kiwi (if you're not going for a flag look) all work beautifully and add fresh, tangy pops of flavor.
Try a graham cracker crust for a no-bake version. Simply combine crushed graham crackers with melted butter and press into your pan, then chill before adding the frosting and fruit.
Lighten it up by swapping in Greek yogurt for some or all of the cream cheese. It’ll be tangier and lower in fat, but still creamy and satisfying.
Make mini versions using individual sugar cookies! Just frost and decorate each one individually—a great option for parties or kids’ gatherings.
Feel free to get creative. Once you’ve mastered the basic method, the possibilities are endless. Whether you stick with the flag theme or branch out into something totally custom, this dessert is sure to be a hit.
PrintEasy American Flag Fruit Pizza Recipe
Celebrate the 4th of July or Memorial Day with this Easy American Flag Fruit Pizza! This vibrant and patriotic dessert features a sweet sugar cookie crust, a smooth cream cheese frosting, and fresh strawberries and blueberries arranged in the shape of the American flag. Perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or holiday BBQs, this red, white, and blue fruit pizza is as eye-catching as it is delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (includes chilling)
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
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1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
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1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
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½ cup powdered sugar
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1 cup fresh blueberries
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1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Press sugar cookie dough onto a pizza pan or rectangle baking sheet into an even layer.
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Bake for 10–12 minutes, until lightly golden. Let cool completely.
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Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
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Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust.
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Arrange blueberries in the top-left corner for the “stars.”
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Use strawberry slices to create red “stripes” across the remaining area.
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Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
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You can substitute the cookie dough with homemade dough or a healthier alternative.
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Add banana slices or whipped cream for extra "white" contrast.
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Best served chilled and consumed within 24 hours for peak freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 160mg
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