Shelly's Recipe

CHERRY CHEESE PIZZA

Category: Fruit Desserts

1 cup flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cold butter
2 tbsp shortening
3-4 tbsp water
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cu chopped pecans or almonds

Topping
2 1/2 cup fresh or frozen pitted tart cherries or 1 (15 oz) can tart cherries
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp butter
1/8 tsp each almond extract and red food coloring
Sweetened whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder; cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Roll out into a 14 inch circle and place on an ungreased 12 inch pizza pan. Flute edges to form a rim; prick bottom of crust. Bake for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make filling: beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in nuts. Spread over crust and bake 10 minutes longer. Cool.

Drain cherries, reserving 1/3 cup juice. Set cherries and juice aside.

In a saucepan, combine sugar nd cornstarch; stir in reserved juice until smooth. Add cherries and cook. Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook adn stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat; stir in butter, extract and food coloring. Cool to room temperature; spread over cream cheese layer. Garnish with whipped cream.