My mom had three brothers and my dad had a brother and a sister – which then yielded many cousins! Although my brother and I didn’t spend all that much time with our extended family as we often lived far away, on occasion we’d vacation with my mom’s brother Joe and his family. Uncle Joe was hilarious and quite the prankster. One thing I remember him liking so much was apple pie for dessert. But it couldn’t be a cold piece of pie – it always had to be hot. And he had a way of asking for it – hah’applepie…all in one word. Oh, and it had better be a la mode.
Eating this apple pie pizza – straight out of the oven conjures up memories of my sweet Uncle Joe – with a curling smile on his face, asking for his favorite – hah’applepie. The sharp cheddar cheese atop the apple pie filling helps to balance the flavor. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised when you serve up pizza for dessert!
1 pre-made pizza dough – found in dairy or freezer case
Topping:
2 tbs butter, melted
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
1 21-ounce can apple pie filling
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Method:
Preheat oven to 500°F. A hot oven is essential here! Once pre-heated, put your stone in the oven to heat up.
Flour your board or counter space and roll out your dough with your hands or a rolling pin – to an even thickness, no larger in diameter than your stone. Dough can be stubborn…if it keeps stretching back on you, give it a rest and return to it. Eventually you’ll be able to achieve the desire shape and thickness.
After about 5-10 minutes in the oven, carefully remove the stone. Place your dough on the stone – covering completely. Next you want to dock your dough by pricking it all over with a fork. You’re going to pop the dough (by itself) in the hot oven to partially cook it. By pricking it (or docking it) you’ll ensure the dough stays flat on the stone and won’t puff up too much. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle both sugar and cinnamon evenly to coat. Heat in the oven for about 5 minutes. Allow your nose to tell you if it’s close – if you can smell it – check it! Don’t let it burn.
Remove the dough on the stone from the oven – being careful not to burn yourself. Carefully spread apple pie filling, then cover with grated cheddar cheese. Pour any remaining melted butter over and sprinkle with a little more sugar and cinnamon. Bake for five minutes or until cheese is bubbling and starting to brown. Serve immediately and garnish with a side of your favorite vanilla ice cream.
A great day for me is preparing great meals for friends and family. I enjoy experimenting with new ingredients and also updating classics that I've enjoyed for years. I love to travel and try lots of new cuisines - and wouldn't be anything without the love of my family!
