Poached Pear Pizza

A sweet homemade pizza crust is topped with cream cheese icing and pears brushed with red wine syrup to make this poached pear potluck dish.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 24 mins
• Total Time: 54 mins
• Calories: 612 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• ¼ cup dry red wine
• 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 3 very firm Bartlett pears, cored and sliced 1/8-inch thick
• 5 tablespoons brown sugar, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.

Step 2

Sift flour and salt together together in a bowl.

Step 3

Whisk egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract together in a small bowl.

Step 4

Combine butter, white sugar, and 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in egg mixture. Add flour and salt gradually, beating until dough comes together.

Step 5

Turn dough out on a large piece of plastic wrap; wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours.

Step 6

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; spread dough in an even layer on top.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until center is firm and edges are golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.

Step 8

Whisk cream cheese, 1/4 confectioners' sugar, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth. Spread icing over the cooled crust.

Step 9

Cover icing with sliced pears, overlapping slices slightly.

Step 10

Combine 3 tablespoons brown sugar and red wine in a small saucepan over low heat; stir until brown sugar is dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and ginger. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until reduced to a syrup, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 11

Coat pear slices with syrup using a pastry brush. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar on top.

Step 12

Broil pizza until brown sugar melts and browns, about 3 minutes. Grate fresh nutmeg over pizza; cut into squares.