Delicata Squash Dessert Pizza

By Amanda Paa – Updated April 22, 2023

We spent five days in Michigan earlier this month. Traverse City to be exact, nestled in-between two peninsulas that jut into Lake Michigan. Flourishing off its natural beauty of beaches and rolling hills, cherry and apple trees, vegetable farms, one after the other, and some really genuine people. It’s an area I fell in love with this summer when I was visited for the first time, and when I returned, starting planning when I could introduce Brian. It didn’t dawn on me until a few weeks later that I had booked our flights the day after the election. Regardless of opinions, we can all agree that that was a very emotional day for this country, and it was actually a breath of fresh air to be traveling, away from my phone and the TV.

Upon returning home, all the leaves had left the trees, which should have meant that fall was on its way out, yet it was nearly 60 degrees. We’ve been blessed with a long, warm, beautiful couple of months, but I even tweeted – I’m ready for cold and snow. The holidays. Gatherings. Bundling up in sweaters. Christmas music.

And the one time of year I get into festive colored eats, with traditional red and green…. like this Sweet Delicata Pizza with squash, fried sage, pomegranates, and honey yogurt.

Sweet Delicata Pizza with Honey YogurtSweet Delicata Pizza with Fried Sage, Pomegrante, and Honey Yogurt Sweet Delicata Pizza with Fried Sage, Pomegrante, and Honey Yogurt

This pizza, made on an Udi’s Gluten-Free crust (my go-to! It’s light and thin, which is my ideal base), was created in an attempt to recreate the quite dated phenomenon of dessert pizza, which defines the 90’s in my mind. I have very fond memories of mom a shortbread crust, painting it with sweet cream cheese, berries, kiwi, and canned pineapple. And don’t forget a sugary glaze made from the pineapple juices. Then there was the cinnamon crumble dessert pizza served at the local Godfather’s  (any Midwest reader will remember this pizza place), baked on a sweet dough crust, almost mimicking a coffee cake, vanilla drizzle and all.

Don’t get me wrong – I loved both of these. But my palette sways less sugary these days, and my ingredient choices flow with the seasons. So I decided to give dessert pizza a modern facelift, with a candy-like natural sweetness from squash and honey kissed yogurt. Delicata is my favorite, favorite squash for multiple reasons. It has amazing flavor, you can eat the skin, and nothing looks prettier than those rings!

With only 8 ingredients (which also makes this recipe very easy), even the little things are big players. Pomegranate seeds add a pop of tart, and the fried sage is there for a crackly, earthy depth. Don’t go without either. Or without Mariah’s “All I Want For Christmas” playing in the backround as you make this. Trust me. xo

Sweet Delicata Pizza with Fried Sage, Pomegrante, and Honey Yogurt {made on a gluten-free crust}Sweet Delicata Pizza with Fried Sage, Pomegrante, and Honey Yogurt {on a gluten-free pizza crust}Sweet Delicata Pizza with Fried Sage, Pomegrante, and Honey Yogurt {on a gluten-free pizza crust}

Sweet Delicata Pizza with Honey Yogurt and Fried Sage
Recipe Type: gluten-free
Author: Amanda Paa
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 delicata squash, cut into rings leaving skin on, seeds scooped out
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 Udi’s gluten-free pizza crust
  • 3/4 cup greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup honey, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 12 sage leaves
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss squash with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and salt, using your hands to mix.
  2. Lay on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, until soft, turning over halfway through.
  3. Put crust on bottom rack while squash is baking, on a pizza pan, and bake for 5-8 minutes, until golden brown. Remove and set aside. Meanwhile, mix yogurt with 3 tablespoons honey, cinnamon, then set aside. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet, to medium high. Fry sage leaves for 2-3 minutes, until crisp, but not burned.
  4. Set on a paper towel.
  5. When squash is done roasting, spread yogurt on baked crust, then top with delicata rings (might be best to cut them in half to make eating easier). Then top with pomegranate seeds, fried sage, and remaining honey. Slice and serve.

Did you make this?

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November 23, 2016

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5 comments

  1. Emily

    Such a classy update to fruit/dessert pizza! Fried sage adds the perfect touch. Always fun to hear about your Michigan adventures too. I used to take all the beauty for granted, but there is so much to appreciate. and just out of curiosity- how many shots did it take to get that perfect honey swoop?! Very nice. :) Hope your thanksgiving was wonderful!

    • amandapaa

      It was time for a little makeover! This is more my style. I have to plan a visit to your part of your Michigan too.
      Oh, and the honey shot…. it took at least 20 shots. Let’s the say that yogurt was a little sweet. :) Lol.

  2. Tori//Gringalicious.com

    What a lovely and delish looking pizza! Definitely going on my to-try list!

  3. Abby @ Heart of a Baker

    I don’t know why I still haven’t been to Traverse City yet, but it’s always gotten rave reviews! I’m all for a sweet pizza and that swoop of honey is just drawing me in :) Cheers to Thanksgiving friend!

    • amandapaa

      It would be such a short trip for you to get there! I’ve actually wanted to drive it sometime, so maybe we should plan that. I think you’d absolutely love it. And there are so many wineries on my list that I haven’t gotten to, so obviously I need to get back. :) xo