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4.86 from 7 votes

Maple-Bacon Pizza with Apples and Cheddar

This maple-bacon pizza is the perfect mix of salty and sweet, balanced with sliced apples, Cheddar cheese, and fresh thyme.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: apple pizza, bacon, fruit pizza
Makes: 1 (12- to 14-inch) pizza
Cost: $10

Equipment

  • Cutting board and knife
  • pastry brush
  • Skillet
  • Large rimmed baking sheet or baking stone/steel
  • Rolling pin (optional)
  • Pizza peel (optional)

Ingredients

  • ½ pound thick-cut bacon chopped
  • 1 (14- to 16-ounce) ball pizza dough
  • ½ medium red-skinned apple (such as Pink Lady) cored and thinly sliced
  • ½ medium green-skinned apple (such as Granny Smith) cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 heaping cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • pure maple syrup for drizzling

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 500°F (if using a baking sheet) or as high as it will go (if using a baking stone/steel; place the stone/steel in the bottom third of the oven before you start preheating). Let the oven preheat for at least 30 minutes. Then, if you’re using a baking stone or steel, switch the oven to Broil on high.
  • Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it renders its fat and just begins to brown at the edges. (Be careful not to let it get crispy. Remember: It will continue cooking in the oven!) Remove the skillet from the heat and use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Reserve the bacon grease in the skillet.
  • Stretch or roll out your dough to a 12- to 14-inch circle, then transfer it to a baking sheet / pizza pan or a lightly floured pizza peel (if using a baking stone/steel).
  • Brush the dough lightly with some of the reserved bacon grease. Arrange the apple slices on top in a single layer (pretty pattern optional), then scatter the bacon over top, followed by the cheese.
  • Transfer the pizza to the oven and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese has browned in spots, 8 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet, 6 to 8 minutes on the baking stone/steel.
  • Remove the pizza from the oven. Top with the fresh thyme and a drizzle of maple syrup; slice and serve.