How To Cook A Sweet Pizza With Maple Syrup, Raspberries And Banana In The Alfa Wood Fired Oven

Indulge your sweet tooth with this delicious dessert pizza topped with fruit

If you are making pizzas why not also make a dessert pizza, just make double the quantity of dough. You can easily vary the toppings depending upon what you have ready in the garden or what is in season at the supermarket. If you are going to use a hard fruit like apple or pear they will need to be poached beforehand as they won’t be in the oven long enough to soften. You can also substitute the maple syrup for jam, just make sure you allow it to cool before eating as hot jam can cause serious burns, so probably best to avoid this option if you have children. We have also used a Curly Wurly chocolate bar but you can also substitute this for your favourite bar; Mars and Finger of Fudge work particularly well.

 Ingredients

• raspberries
• banana
• maple syrup
• Curly Wurly
• good quality dark chocolate

Pizza Dough

• 2teasp fast acting dried yeast
• 1teasp sugar
• 350g (12 ½oz) plain flour
• 1teasp salt
• 200ml (6 ¾fl oz) warm water
• 1 – 2tbsp olive oil

1. Mix yeast, flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in the centre, add warm water and olive oil.
3. Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface until smooth.
4. Put into a clean bowl, cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

After the dough has proved take off a piece about the side of an orange and form into a smooth ball, tucking any stray ends underneath. Roll from front to back on a well-floured surface, turning regularly to achieve the circular shape. Turning regularly ensures that the pizza doesn’t stick to the surface. Once you have got a circle about 20cm (8”) in diameter stretch it gently over your knuckles, you may have to remove any rings which could tear the dough. If you do tear the dough, place one side of the tear over the other and press down gently to seal the two pieces.

Drizzle on the maple syrup, keeping it away from the edges, if it gets underneath the pizza it will burn in the oven and stick it to the ceramic base. Add sliced banana and broken pieces of chilled Curly Wurly. Finish off with some sharp raspberries and grated good quality dark chocolate; these will counteract the sweetness of the maple syrup and bananas. Slide the pizza onto a dry, floured paddle and transfer to the pre-heated oven. Watch the pizza to make sure the side next to the fire doesn’t burn, turn regularly to ensure an even bake.

Depending upon the temperature of your oven the pizza will take around 4 minutes to bake. Let it cool before eating to make sure you don’t burn your mouth on the maple syrup.