Pears are the star of this cozy deep-dish dessert pizza. A simple homemade pizza crust cradles a layer of caramelized, spiced pears, topped with a generous cinnamon streusel and finished with a buttery maple-vanilla glaze. Elegant, quick to assemble, and perfect for autumn gatherings.
Pears may not be the first fruit you imagine on a dessert pizza, but they shine here. Softer than many fruits, pears caramelize quickly and pair beautifully with warm fall spices. The tender, spiced pear slices contrast with a lightly sweet, crisp crust and a melt-in-your-mouth streusel topping.
Deep Dish Pear Dessert Pizza with Cinnamon Streusel — an overview
Start by making a quick pizza dough and let it rise for an hour. The dough is easy to mix and knead by hand, producing a soft base that bakes up golden and slightly crisp at the edges.
While the dough rises, prepare the pear filling. Sliced ripe pears are cooked briefly with butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and warming fall spices until they’re caramelized and syrupy. Because pears are naturally tender, this step only takes a few minutes.
When the dough has risen, press it into a well-greased 9-inch round pan, building the edges slightly so the filling stays contained.
Spoon the pear filling over the crust, leaving most of the excess cooking liquid in the pan so the crust doesn’t get soggy.
Finish by generously sprinkling the cinnamon streusel over the pears. It may feel like a lot, but using the full amount creates a satisfying topping that crisps up beautifully in the oven.
Bake at 425°F for about 18 minutes, until the crust edges and streusel are golden brown. While it bakes, whisk together a quick glaze of melted butter, powdered sugar, maple syrup and vanilla. Drizzle the glaze over the warm pizza for a glossy, buttery finish.
Slice and serve warm. This dessert pizza makes a lovely autumn treat and can even double as a special breakfast—after all, it features fruit! Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for a few days and reheat nicely in the microwave.
Happy baking! If you enjoy fruit dessert pizzas, try variations like peach cobbler or caramel apple on your next baking day.
Deep Dish Pear Dessert Pizza with Cinnamon Streusel
Ingredients
For the Pizza Dough
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 TBSP granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Pear Filling
- 3 medium ripe pears (about 4 cups, sliced)
- 1 1/2 tbsp salted butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp ground ginger
- 3/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp allspice
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Streusel
- 3 tbsp cold salted butter
- 2 tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated or cane sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
For the Glaze
- 2 tbsp salted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Tiny pinch of salt and cinnamon
Instructions
- Make the Pizza Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk warm water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Add the yeast and let sit, untouched, for 5 minutes until foamy. Stir in flour, olive oil, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla until a shaggy dough forms. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes. Spray the mixing bowl with nonstick spray, shape the dough into a ball, place it in the bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise 1 hour.
- Make the Streusel: While the dough rises, pulse streusel ingredients in a food processor until crumbly and clumping. Set aside.
- Make the Filling: Rinse and slice pears into 1/4″–1/2″ slices. In a medium or large nonstick skillet over medium heat, combine the pears, butter, flour, brown sugar, spices, salt, and vanilla. Cook, stirring gently, for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Assemble the Pizza: Press risen dough into a well-greased 9-inch round pan, pressing up the sides slightly. Spoon pear filling over the crust, leaving most of the extra liquid in the pan. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the pears.
- Bake: Bake for about 18 minutes, until the crust edges and streusel are golden brown.
- Make the Glaze: Just before the pizza is done, whisk melted butter, maple syrup, vanilla, powdered sugar, and a tiny pinch of salt and cinnamon until smooth.
- Serve and Store: Drizzle glaze over the warm pizza and serve. Best fresh and warm; store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for a few days and reheat individual slices as needed.
Notes
Note: To check pear ripeness, gently press near the stem—if it gives slightly, the pear is ripe. If pears are underripe when purchased, leave them at room temperature to ripen, then refrigerate until ready to use.