Pumpkin, Brown Butter Apples and Sage come together in this extraordinarily cheesy, Fall-inspired Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza.
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First of all.. major props to you for checking out this post. Pumpkin + Pizza ... well, I'm fully aware that the idea isn't necessarily palatable to the masses. But I'm a risk taker (in a 36 year-old Mom kinda way) so, I went for it.
Skipping out on this recipe... Big. Mistake.
Roasted pumpkin, brown butter apples and fresh sage on a pizza? Well, yes. Just yes.
Joe added a smear of hot pepper jelly to his and swore up and down it was the perfect combo (and was adamant that you needed this information). Bottom line, serve this pizza "as is" for a quick weeknight dinner option or slice it into strips, throw it on a platter with a jar of hot pepper jelly and call it a fancy appetizer. Just make it happen.
What is Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza?
Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza is a a savory + sweet recipe that can be used as either a main course OR as a fun festive Fall appetizer. Cooked apples mixed with a bit of honey bring the sweetness while the crunchy crust and variety of white cheeses bring the savory factor.
Is Pumpkin Pizza Healthy?
This pizza is full of good for you stuff. Granted, it's still pizza, BUT whole wheat crust, fiber rich pumpkin and fresh apples add a whole-food element that can't be found on your everyday pizza. The cheese amounts recommended in the recipe are really more of a suggestion (necessary for obtaining nutrition facts). It's pizza. If you want it cheesy, add more. Looking to go a little lighter, use less.
How Do You Make Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza?
First: Prep your ingredients by browning the sausage, cooking the brown butter apples, chopping the sage and preparing the pumpkin "pizza sauce" in a mixing bowl.
Next: Roll out the pizza dough and top it with the pumpkin marinara, browned sausage and brown butter sage apples.
Then: Top the pizza with mozzarella, Gruyere cheese and parmesan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to finish.
Finally: Bake the pizza according to the directions on your store-bought pizza crust.
FAQ's About Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza:
What Type of Pizza Dough should I use to make Pumpkin Pizza?
I used made-in-store pizza dough that I picked up from Whole Foods for this pizza. Trader Joe's also carries a whole wheat pizza dough made from real ingredients that tastes great. Whatever type of crust you like will work. Just make sure to follow the baking instructions for you particular crust or dough (not the suggested time in the recipe).
Can you do some prep-work to make this recipe easier to assemble during the week?
You can AND I recommend it. The brown butter apples and pumpkin puree mixture can both be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container or Ziplock bag.
Can Pumpkin Pizza be made ahead?
Yep. Just follow the recipe instructions, but don't bake the pizza. Instead, cover it in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, allow pizza to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes on the counter and then follow recipe directions. Be sure that you still pre-heat the pizza stone in the oven prior to cooking.
Can Pumpkin Pizza be frozen?
These taste great from the freezer. Follow recipe instructions, but don't bake. Instead wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then wrap a layer of parchment paper around the pizza. Store in the freezer for up to 1 month.
What type of apples are best for Pumpkin Pizza?
I recommend using an apple that is sweet as opposed to tart flavored. Honeycrisp and Gala are two of my go-to favorites.
Recipe
The Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 1 pizza
Description
Pumpkin, Brown Butter Apples and Sage come together in this extraordinarily cheesy, Fall-inspired Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. store-bought pizza dough
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 TBS honey
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt + more for seasoning
- ½ tsp pepper + more for seasoning
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 1 Tbs minced fresh sage leaves
- 1 TBS unsalted butter
- 1 sweet apple, finely diced
- 4 oz Gruyere cheese
- 4 oz Mozzarella cheese
- 1 ounce grated Parmesan
- flour for dusting
Instructions
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 450 (or whatever the directions on your store-bought crust recommend).
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine pumpkin puree, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 Tbs of olive oil and 1 Tbs minced sage. Set aside.
- Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, set aside.
- In a medium skillet, over high heat, add 1 TBS of butter. When butter is melted, add diced apples and cook, tossing and stirring frequently until tender an browned on most sides, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Stretch or roll pizza dough into a ¼ inch thick circle on a lightly floured work surface. Once the desired shape is achieved, transfer the crust to a pizza stone or baking sheet. Top with pumpkin mixture, brown butter apples, cooked sausage, Gruyere, mozzarella and parmesan. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and any chopped sage that you had left over.
- Bake according to pizza crust directions, or until cheese is bubbly and golden. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- I used Whole Wheat pre-made pizza crust from Whole Foods. I have also had success with the whole-wheat pizza crust from Trader Joes.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories:
- Sugar:
- Sodium:
- Fat:
- Saturated Fat:
- Trans Fat:
- Carbohydrates:
- Fiber:
- Protein:
- Cholesterol:
Recipes Like Ultimate Pumpkin Pizza
Erin G
What kind of sausage do you recommend for this!?
Bailey Sissom
Anything works, but I used a chicken sage sausage.
Sonia
The sausage is not on the ingredient list. how much have you used?
Thanks,
Sadie
Great pizza! Quick and easy to make. I added caramelized onions. The red pepper jelly worked well as a garnish. A balsamic vinegar reduction drizzled over the baked pizza was also delicious. The apples didn't really add anything, and I'll sub fennel for the apples the next time.