Red, white and blue dessert pizza puts pizzazz in picnics

    Red, white and woohoo!

No 4th of July picnic at a friend's house is generally complete without a dessert of some sort. With fresh berries available, this dessert takes playing with one's food to an entirely new level.

While the recipe may appear complex, the most difficult part is holding off from tasting until the party. Then let the fireworks begin!

Gluten-free, this is not an induction-friendly dessert due to the prolific use of fruit, the almond flour, and chopped pine nuts. For those who can afford a few of the extra carbohydrates, this is a recipe people will find themselves making more than once.

C'old Glory Dessert Pizza

Crust:

1 cup almond flour
2 Tbsp chopped pine nuts
5 packets SteviaPlus (or 10 packets Splenda, or 2 Tbsp Splenda mix)
¼ cup buttermilk  or 1 Tbsp buttermilk blend + ¼ cup water
2 Tbsp oil

 Mix ingredients with a fork until mixture forms into a ball. On a piece of cling wrap, flatten patty to about 4” wide. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

 Butter hands. On a greased cookie sheet gently pat and press dough until 1/8” thick or approximately 10” across.

Bake for 12 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove and cool.

Topping:

6 ounces cream cheese
2 Tbsp stevia loose granular or 1/2 cup Splenda mix
1 tsp vanilla
strawberries, sliced
blueberries, whole

 In bowl, beat cream cheese with sweetener. Add vanilla. Spread mixture over cooled crust. Arrange fruit slices and chill.

 Glaze:

1 Tbsp stevia granular or ¼ cup Splenda mix (to taste)
1 tsp lemon juice (or more to taste)

 In small microwave-safe bowl, combine sweetener lemon juice. Microwave for 20 seconds, stirring occasionally. Let cool. Spread glaze over fruit with a pastry brush. Chill 1 hour.

Keep refrigerated until serving.

 
Makes 8 servings.

 Nutritional Information (per serving): Calories: 168, Carbohydrates: 10g, Fiber: 4 g, Net Carbohydrates: 6 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 13 g