Harvest Apple Pizza
This savory apple pizza has all the best flavors of fall including a sweet cranberry and savory garlic base, tangy goat cheese, sweet onions, and crispy walnuts on top. Serve it warm or room temperature with fresh peppery arugula sprinkled over the top.
Ingredients
- 1/2 batch whole wheat pizza dough use the other half to make breadsticks or a second pizza, see notes below
- 6 tablespoons dried cranberries minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup caramelized onions I substituted 1/4 cup diced red onion, either one would be delicious options
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 apple thinly sliced, we prefer red delicious or granny smith
- 1/4 cup goat cheese crumbles
- 1 cup fresh arugula
Instructions
Prep the Toppings
- If you're using a homemade pizza dough, get it started 2.5 hours before you want to bake the pizza. If using a pre-made dough or crust, this is not a concern.
- To make the cranberry-garlic base, chop the dried cranberries into a fine mince and add them to a small mixing bowl. Add the minced garlic, olive oil, and dried thyme to the bowl and stir everything together. Set aside.
- Shred the Monterey Jack cheese brick and set aside. Prep the caramelized onions or chop the red onion. Set the chopped walnuts in a bowl by your working station.
- The last topping you should prep is the apple. Slice it just before you're ready to assemble the pizza so the apples don't turn brown before they bake.
Assemble the Pizza
- Brush olive oil around the edge of your pizza crust. Spoon the prepared cranberry-garlic base over the center. Scatter the cranberry pieces evenly, this may be easiest to do with your fingers.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top. Top with the onions and chopped walnuts. Then scatter the apples evenly over the top.
Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Bake the pizza for 12 - 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Add the Final Toppings
- When the pizza comes out of the oven, immediately sprinkle the goat cheese crumbles on top. The warmth of the pizza will soften and melt them. Let the pizza cool for at least 5 minutes before adding the arugula or the heat will immediately wilt it.
- Serve the pizza warm or at room temperature. Once the arugula leaves have been added, the pizza will not warm up well. If you prefer to make it in advance, leave the arugula off until after you've warmed the pizza up.
Recipe Notes
How to Use the Other Half of Homemade Pizza Dough:
If you make my homemade whole wheat pizza dough for this recipe, you will only use half of the ball of dough from that recipe. You can use the other half to make:- Whole Wheat Breadsticks
- A second pizza with toppings of your choice