Strawberry churros in pizza form are a fun and nostalgic summertime dessert! Puff pastry brushed with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar gives that crispy churro feel while fresh strawberries and a dollop of cinnamon mascarpone make this pizza feel completely fresh and distinct. Perfect for your next summer party!
When I was little, one of my favorite treat-night dinners was the Pizza Hut buffet. It had everything — every kind of pizza, breadsticks, a salad bar, dipping sauces. For a kid, it felt completely magical.
But the very best part was always the dessert breadsticks.
They were buttery, absolutely covered in cinnamon sugar, and completely irresistible. Somewhere between a churro and a breadstick, they were soft, doughy, sweet, and honestly one of the desserts I remember most from childhood. I don’t even know if Pizza Hut still does the buffet, but at the time I was convinced those dessert breadsticks were the greatest dessert on earth.
So when I started planning my Romantic Pizza Party menu, I kept coming back to those nostalgic cinnamon sugar flavors. I loved the idea of taking the spirit of those dessert breadsticks and turning them into something a little more elevated and unexpected.
That train of thought eventually led me to this Strawberry Churro Pizza.
And honestly? This combination is so good.
I start with a square of puff pastry, then brush the outer crust with butter and coat it generously in cinnamon sugar. The center gets layered with juicy strawberries before being baked until golden and flaky. A dollop of cinnamon mascarpone and a drizzle of balsamic glaze at the end gives the strawberries a little richness and makes the whole thing taste surprisingly sophisticated while still feeling playful and nostalgic.
This pizza is such a fun ending to the Romantic Pizza Party menu. The square shape gives it a modern feel next to the savory pizzas, and the bright strawberries make it especially beautiful for serving at a gathering. It’s the kind of dessert that immediately catches everyone’s attention when it hits the table.
Try this Strawberry Churro Pizza the next time you want a dessert that feels equal parts nostalgic, whimsical, and romantic.
And maybe order a side of dessert breadsticks for old time’s sake.
Strawberry Churro Pizza
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- In a small bowl, toss strawberries with sugar and vanilla. Set aside to macerate a few minutes.
- Roll puff pastry sheet on a piece of parchment paper directly on a baking sheet. Roll it out to 1/4". Press a fork around the edges of the pastry. Brush butter along the edges.
- In a small bowl combine cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle around the edges of the puffed pastry.
- Scatter strawberries over the center of the pizza and use a spoon to spread evenly.
- Bake 20-25 minutes until puffed and golden brown.
- While the pizza is baking whip mascarpone with confectioner's sugar and cinnamon. Once the pizza has cooled, pipe or spoon the whipped mascarpone on top of the pizza. Drizzle balsamic glaze on top and sprinkle with pistachios and orange zest. Slice and serve–enjoy!
Hosting Tips
- The strawberry churro pizza can be made in advance and kept in the fridge in an airtight container until it’s time to serve. I would store it without the mascarpone on top and then dollop it when it’s time to serve. You may lose something in terms of the crispness of the puff pastry by storing in the fridge, so if you want it extra crispy bake it off just before the party.
- If you’re serving to kids, omit the balsamic vinegar and then just add a drizzle to individual slices rather than the entire pizza.
- When working with puff pastry, keep it as cold as possible until you’re ready to use.
- If you would like to add an extra sprinkle of cinnamon sugar to the crust or on top of the mascarpone, that would also be delicious.
- Don’t let the strawberries mascerate too long–you don’t want them too liquidy when added on top of the pizza or the pizza will be soggy. If they’ve become too wet, strain before adding to the pizza.
- You could try adding a splash of water to the cinnamon mascarpone to loosen it, then drizzle it on top.
- This pizza works with a number of fruits–the sky is the limit! Try apples, peaches, blueberries–whatever fits your party.
A Sweet Pizza
My Strawberry Churro Pizza was designed as the dessert for my Romantic Pizza Party menu. It’s the sweet ending after elegant and unexpected pizzas featuring shrimp and potato.
This pizza would make a conversation starter of a dish for brunch. I can see it alongside the Citrus and Vanilla Macerated Fruit on my Last Minute Brunch Menu. It fits the efficiency theme of that menu as well. Or add it into my Springtime Brunch Menu alongside orange ricotta muffins and a Boursin frittata.
You could also add this strawberry churro pizza in to my Romantic Farmer’s Market Menu. Replace the blueberry lemon crumble, or just make both! No one will complain.
