Name: 17 Spectacular New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza Ideas You'll Love
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup all purpose flour: for the cookie crust; 1/2 cup butter, softened: to make the crust rich and tender; 1/4 cup granulated sugar: for sweetness; 1 egg yolk: to bind the dough; 1 tsp vanilla extract: for flavor; 8 oz cream cheese, softened: for the creamy frosting; 1/4 cup powdered sugar: to sweeten the frosting; Assorted fruits (strawberries, oranges, kiwi, blueberries, grapes): for the rainbow topping

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Nothing says “Happy New Year” quite like a dessert that’s as joyful and vibrant as the celebration itself. That’s why my New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza has become our family’s go-to treat every January 1st. I stumbled upon this idea years ago when I wanted something festive but not too heavy after all the holiday feasting. This colorful creation combines a sweet cookie crust with dreamy cream cheese frosting and fresh fruits arranged in a bright rainbow. It’s like edible confetti on a plate!

What I love most is how it brings everyone together. The kids go crazy for arranging the fruit colors, and let’s be honest, the adults secretly enjoy playing with their food too. It’s the perfect centerpiece for your dessert table, guaranteed to make people smile. Plus, it gives you that fresh start feeling we all crave in the new year, sweet enough to satisfy your dessert craving, but packed with real fruit so you don’t crash from a sugar coma before midnight.

Contents hide

1 Why You’ll Love This New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

2 Ingredients for New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

3 Equipment You’ll Need

4 How to Make New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

4.1 Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Crust

4.2 Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

4.3 Step 3: Assemble the Rainbow Fruit Topping

5 Tips for the Perfect New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

6 Ingredient Substitutions & Variations

7 Serving and Storing New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

8 Nutritional Information

9 Frequently Asked Questions

10 17 Spectacular New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza Ideas You’ll Love

10.4 Notes

10.6 Did you make this recipe?

Why You’ll Love This New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

Trust me, this isn’t just another dessert, it’s a celebration on a plate! Here’s why it’s become my must-make treat every New Year:

Effortless elegance: Looks fancy but comes together faster than you can say “Happy New Year!”
Instant party vibes: That rainbow fruit arrangement screams festivity without any food coloring.
Your rules: Swap fruits based on what’s seasonal or what your crew loves.
Kid magnet: Little hands love helping arrange the colorful toppings.
Instagram gold: The vibrant colors make it almost too pretty to eat (almost!).

Seriously, it’s the dessert that keeps giving, fun to make, gorgeous to look at, and absolutely delicious to eat. What’s not to love?

Ingredients for New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

Here’s everything you’ll need to create this edible rainbow magic. I’ve learned through trial and error that quality ingredients make all the difference in this recipe:

1 cup all-purpose flour: The foundation of our sweet cookie crust
1/2 cup butter, softened: Not melted! Leave it out for 30 minutes to get that perfect creamy texture
1/4 cup granulated sugar: Just enough sweetness to balance the tart fruits
1 large egg yolk: Room temperature works best for smooth mixing
1 tsp vanilla extract: Pure vanilla gives the crust that warm, bakery-style flavor
8 oz cream cheese, softened: Full-fat for the creamiest frosting
1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted: No lumps in our silky topping!
Assorted fresh fruits: Think strawberries, mandarin oranges, kiwi, blueberries, and purple grapes for that perfect rainbow effect

Pro tip: Let all refrigerated ingredients come to room temperature before starting – it makes blending so much easier!

Equipment You’ll Need

Don’t worry, you won’t need any fancy gadgets for this recipe. Here’s what I always grab from my kitchen:

Large mixing bowl: For combining that dreamy cookie dough
Hand mixer or stand mixer: Makes creaming the butter and sugar a breeze
12-inch pizza pan: The perfect canvas for our edible rainbow
Rubber spatula: For scraping every bit of frosting (no waste!)
Sharp knife and cutting board: Essential for prepping all that vibrant fruit

See? Just everyday tools for an extraordinary dessert!

How to Make New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

Okay, let’s turn these simple ingredients into something magical! I promise, each step is easier than it looks, and the results will wow everyone at your celebration.

Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Crust

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While that’s heating up, grab your mixing bowl and let’s make that dreamy cookie crust. Combine the flour, softened butter, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. I like to use my hands to mix until it forms a soft dough; it should feel like playdough but not sticky. Press it evenly into a greased 12-inch pizza pan (seriously, grease it well, nothing’s sadder than a crust that won’t let go!). Bake for 12-15 minutes until it’s golden at the edges. Let it cool completely, I mean it! Hot crust + cream cheese = melty mess.

Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

While your crust cools, let’s whip up that luscious frosting. Take your softened cream cheese (if you forgot to soften it, 15 seconds in the microwave works in a pinch) and beat it with the powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy. No lumps allowed! I usually taste test here, you know, for quality control. The mixture should be thick but spreadable. If it’s too stiff, add a teaspoon of milk. Too runny? More powdered sugar to the rescue!

Step 3: Assemble the Rainbow Fruit Topping

Now for the fun part, creating your edible rainbow! Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled crust like you’re icing a cake. Then start arranging your sliced fruits in rainbow order: red strawberries, orange slices (mandarins work great), yellow pineapple or banana slices, green kiwi, blue blueberries, and purple grapes. I slice everything about 1/4-inch thick, so they lay flat. Work from the outside in, overlapping slightly, it looks more professional that way. The key is to cover the frosting completely to prevent browning. Pop it in the fridge for at least an hour before slicing (the hardest wait ever, I know!) to let everything set.

Tips for the Perfect New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

After making this fruit pizza countless times, I’ve picked up some foolproof tricks that make all the difference. First, chill your dough for 30 minutes before baking, which prevents spreading and gives you that perfect cookie-like crust. Always pat your fruit dry with paper towels after washing to avoid a soggy crust (nobody wants a wet cookie!). And here’s my secret weapon: brush a thin layer of melted jam over the fruits right before serving, it makes them glisten like jewels! Oh, and cut strawberries vertically, they fan out prettier that way. Trust me, these little details take your pizza from good to “wow!”

Ingredient Substitutions & Variations

Listen, I know we don’t always have the exact ingredients on hand, or sometimes dietary needs call for swaps. Here’s how to tweak this recipe without losing that magic:

Gluten-free option: Swap the all-purpose flour with your favorite 1:1 gluten-free blend. I’ve had great results with Bob’s Red Mill.
Dairy-free dream: Use vegan butter and dairy-free cream cheese (Kite Hill makes a fantastic one).
Fruit flexibility: No kiwi? Try green grapes. Missing blueberries? Blackberries work beautifully, too.
Sugar shuffle: Coconut sugar works in the crust, and maple syrup can sweeten the frosting; just add it slowly.

The beauty? This recipe welcomes creativity, make it yours! If you’re looking for more creative holiday recipes, check out what other home cooks are making at familytastes.com.

Serving and Storing New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza

Here’s the thing about this beauty: it’s best served chilled straight from the fridge. I like to slice it into wedges (pizza-style!) right before serving so the fruits stay fresh and vibrant. If you’ve got leftovers (lucky you!), just cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container. They’ll keep happily in the fridge for about 2 days, though the crust might soften slightly by day two. Pro tip: Add any delicate fruits like bananas right before serving if you’re making it ahead!

Nutritional Information

Here’s the scoop on what you’re enjoying with each colorful slice (based on 8 servings): about 250 calories, 18g sugar, and 15g fat. But let’s be real, this is dessert with benefits! You’re getting real fruit vitamins and fiber along with your sweet treat. Remember, these numbers can change based on your fruit choices and exact measurements. My philosophy? It’s New Year’s, enjoy every vibrant, delicious bite without stressing the details!

Frequently Asked Questions

Over the years, I’ve gotten so many great questions about this fruit pizza. Here are the ones that pop up most often!

Can I make New Year Rainbow Fruit Pizza ahead of time?
Absolutely! The cookie crust can bake up to 24 hours in advance (store at room temperature in an airtight container). Frost and add fruits 2-3 hours before serving for the freshest look. Just don’t assemble it more than 4 hours early, or the crust might get soggy.

What fruits work best for the rainbow topping?
I swear by strawberries (red), mandarin oranges (orange), pineapple (yellow), kiwi (green), blueberries (blue), and purple grapes. But the beauty is you can mix it up, raspberries, mango, blackberries, or even pomegranate seeds work great too! For more festive dessert ideas, check out our New Year Confetti Macarons recipe.

How do I prevent the crust from getting soggy?
Two tricks: First, make sure your fruits are completely dry after washing. Second, that cream cheese frosting layer acts as a moisture barrier; just be sure it covers the crust completely before adding fruits. If you are looking for other great holiday recipes, you might enjoy our New Year Baked Brie with Apple Sage Chutney.

Can kids help make this?
Oh my gosh, yes! Little hands love arranging the fruit “pizza toppings.” I usually slice everything first, then let them create their own rainbow patterns. Just warn them not to eat all the blueberries before they make it onto the pizza! We have lots of fun, easy recipes perfect for family cooking, like our New Year Carrot Ginger Soup Shooters.