• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chef Dennis
  • Recipe Index
  • On the Road
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Pizza Recipes

    Apple Butter Pizza Recipe

    Published: Oct 3, 2012 · Modified: Jun 19, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    71 shares
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    5 from 3 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Try my Apple Butter Pizza when fall is in the air.

    Spending most of my life in the New Jersey, I’ve been spoiled by all of the wonderful produce we have available, and this time of year as we see the last of the summer crop at the market, the fall selections are taking their place. Winter squash in so many shapes, and colors, pumpkins of all sizes, sweet potatoes, pears and my favorite apples….sigh

    Spending my early childhood in Texas, I grew up loving apple butter and lately it’s been finding it’s way into different dishes, and Lisa jokingly suggested I use it for a pizza, and the more I thought about it the better it started to sound!

    apple butter pizza with a slice cut out sitting on a pizza peel. A jar of apple butter and a bowl of apples behind them.

    I didn’t want to make a dessert pizza, I wanted a savory pizza , one with a blend of complex flavors…..a tribute to fall and everything I love about it. So I started testing.

    I went through a variety of tomato products trying to find just the right one, but it was worth it. If you’re expecting a traditional style pizza, you’re not going to be happy. But for that fall afternoon, when the weather has turned a little cool and you need a sweater, my apple butter pizza will be a just what the doctor ordered, as you celebrate the season!

    half view of an apple butter pizza on a pizza board

    If you love homemade pizza you might want to try these recipes:

    • How to Make Homemade Pizza
    • Southern Style Pizza
    • Chicken Parm Pizza
    • Italian Hoagie Pizza
    • Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    pizza with piece cut out with a jar of apple butter and a bowl of apples behind it
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 3 votes

    Apple Butter Pizza

    Enjoy my tribute to Autumn with my Apple Butter Pizza. You’ll love the combination of flavors. A crisp pizza crust, Gorgonzola cheese, baby arugula leaves, and toasted pine nuts will make you happy it’s getting colder outside.
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time6 mins
    Total Time31 mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 623kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    Pizza Dough

    • 3 ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 ¼ cup water
    • 1 ¾ tsp active dry yeast
    • 1 ¼ tsp sugar
    • 1 ¾ tsp sea salt
    • 1 tbsp olive oil

    Pizza Topping

    • ½ cup apple butter
    • ½ cup tomato paste
    • ½ tart apple –sliced thin
    • ½ cup gorgonzola cheese
    • ½ cup baby arugula leaves
    • 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Pizza Dough

    • In your stand mixer bowl, add 1 ¼ cups of warm water (100 -105 degrees F or 38-40 C)
    • Sprinkle dry active yeast and sugar on top of water, allow to sit for 10 minutes until yeast gets creamy
    • In another bowl, mix flour with sea salt
    • Add flour to yeast mixture and using a dough hook, mix until a coarse ball has formed on the dough hook (approx., 2-3 minutes)
    • Allow dough to rest in bowl, with a damp towel covering the bowl, for 5 minutes.
    • Continue to mix using dough hook on medium to low speed for about 2 more minutes
    • (if the dough is too sticky to hold its shape add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until its firm enough. If the dough is too dry add water one tablespoon at a time until moist enough)
    • Coat a bowl with extra virgin olive oil and place the dough into the bowl and coat dough with olive oil, place a damp kitchen towel over the bowl and allow to rise for 40 minutes or until doubled in size.
    • Divide dough into 2 dough balls and place on a floured surface and cover with a damp kitchen towel (not terry) and allow to rise until doubled in size (about 2 hours)
    • Form dough into 12-14 inch pizza (free form) placing on pizza peel or cookie sheet .
    • I used a pizza stone on my grill (my grill goes to 650 degrees when closed), you can make the pizza in a household oven if you like, just increase the time and set your oven to 450. Preheat your oven 20 minutes before you are ready to use it
    • Mix apple butter and tomato paste together to make your pizza sauce

    Pizza Topping

    • Spread apple butter pizza sauce on your formed dough
    • Place sliced apples randomly on top of sauce
    • Use ½ of gorgonzola cheese, sprinkle on top of your pizza (try to hit the apples with some of the cheese)
    • Bake until bottom of pizza crust is browned 5-6 minutes in a grill 11-14 in your oven
    • Remove pizza from oven and top with baby arugula leaves and the remainder of the gorgonzola crumbles, and toasted pine nuts.
    • Cut into slices and serve immediately with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and crushed red peppers if you like a little heat on your pizza.

    Notes

    I used my grill for this pizza, it cooks at 650 F degrees (343 C) If you use a conventional oven at 450 degrees F, (232 C) increase your cooking time to between 10-14 minutes depending upon your oven.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 623kcal | Carbohydrates: 110g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 1486mg | Potassium: 597mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 665IU | Vitamin C: 8.8mg | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 6.4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

    More Pizza Recipes

    • Southern Style Pizza with Pimento Cheese, Fried Green Tomatoes and Bacon
    • Chicken Parm Pizza – Let’s Make Pizza Night Fun!
    • Homemade Pizza is easier to make than you think!
    • Seven Cheese Pizza Roll Ups for a Back to School Lunch

    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cristina Morganti-Kossmann

      September 12, 2020 at 6:37 pm

      Hi chef! Lovely recipes today I’ll try the Jewish Apple cake. For sure
      Regarding the pizza my classic is a white pizza where I use thinly sliced pears, small pieces of Gorgonzola Distributed regularly on top and broken walnuts. A little, giro d’olio, e.v. olive oil, pepper and quick in the oven. Try. Delicious !

      Reply
    2. rosemary merrill

      November 21, 2019 at 1:07 pm

      when I click on Classic Thanksgiving Sides, all I get is Apple Butter pizza???????

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        November 21, 2019 at 2:48 pm

        sorry Rosemary- I made a mistake with that link. This is the correct link -> https://www.askchefdennis.com/thanksgiving-leftover-ideas-recipes-around-kitchen-table/

        Reply
    3. Donna

      November 18, 2019 at 6:57 pm

      I used your dry brine recipe for my turkey last year and it was great! Planning to do the same this year. Sooo much easier than liquid brine and it just absorbed such great flavor and moistness!

      Thank you!!

      Reply
    4. Kimby

      October 08, 2012 at 9:09 am

      Dennis, your photos look like fall during these transitional weeks — from green to color — the best of both. What a marvelous creation!

      Reply
    5. Jane

      October 08, 2012 at 8:00 am

      This recipe looks and sounds just fantastic. It would never have occurred to me combine these flavors on a pizza. I love your original recipes, Chef Dennis. You continually come up with the most wonderful flavor combos. Love your blog, as always!

      Reply
    6. All That's Left Are The Crumbs

      October 08, 2012 at 2:40 am

      Fall is also my favorite season, even though we don’t really get it here where I am. I don’t think there is a prettier sight than leaves changing color. This pizza has some of my very favorite ingredients on it so it looks like it is time to fire up the grill.

      Reply
    7. Mallory

      October 06, 2012 at 6:27 am

      Love this…I have a similiar recipe coming up soon! Apple butter is pretty much the best stuff on earth!

      Reply
    8. RavieNomNoms

      October 05, 2012 at 7:57 am

      Wow Chef! What an amazingly creative pizza! I love everything about it, those flavors probably merry so well on that crust. YUM!

      Reply
    9. Dana @ This Silly Girl's Life

      October 04, 2012 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, this looks really good! Love the addition of gorgonzola, one of my favs!

      Reply
    10. Kath

      October 04, 2012 at 11:13 am

      I think you have created a masterpiece!

      Reply
    11. Lynn

      October 04, 2012 at 11:26 am

      Just picked a bag full of pears with plans to make pear preserves and butter. I’ll save a little pear butter to make a rendition of this pizza. And just made some tomato paste for the first time. Perfect! Thanks for the “slow down and enjoy the season” reminder 😉

      Reply
    12. Betty Ann @Mango_Queen

      October 04, 2012 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea for the Musselman’s apple butter jar I have right now! Must try this one. Thanks for sharing, Chef Dennis! Have a terrific fall season 🙂

      Reply
    13. Renee

      October 04, 2012 at 6:52 am

      When I first saw the title I thought sweet pizza. I love how you made it savory and with the gorgonzola cheese. Would be great as a flatbread appetizer too.

      Reply
    14. mj@cardamomhills

      October 04, 2012 at 2:01 am

      5 stars
      Ohhhh…chef, that looks gorgeous…..I got a bottle of apple butter just yesterday and am definitely gona try this 🙂 Thanks for posting!
      Mj

      Reply
    15. Elin

      October 04, 2012 at 12:56 am

      Hi Chef Dennis….I don’t mind having this for lunch. I am drooling for it is my lunch time now 🙂 Looks delish ! Have a great day .

      Regards,
      Elin

      Reply
    16. Laura (Tutti Dolci)

      October 03, 2012 at 11:40 pm

      What a scrumptious pizza, I love it!

      Reply
    17. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com

      October 03, 2012 at 11:09 pm

      Oh my lordy! THat’s a pizza I want to have all day long!!

      Reply
    18. Jeanette

      October 03, 2012 at 9:59 pm

      What a creative way to try apple butter – apples, gorgonzola, and arugula all go together.

      Reply
    19. Dara

      October 03, 2012 at 8:52 pm

      Love this! What a gorgeous fall pizza.

      Reply
    20. The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time

      October 03, 2012 at 8:37 pm

      Oh man, that looks delicious. I’m a fan of Musselman’s too and I love all the other elements of this pizza. What a perfect fall meal.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar


    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Fan Favorites

    • Almost No-Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
    • Baked Maryland Crab Cakes Recipe
    • Chicken Parmesan Recipe
    • Best Baked Chicken Legs {Drumsticks}
    • German Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich) Recipe
    • Best Tiramisu Recipe {step by step}
    • Easy Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
    • Restaurant Style Veal Parm Recipe

    Featured In

    logos of all the places chef dennis has been featured

    Popular Posts

    • Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
    • Authentic Guinness Beef Stew Recipe
    • Maryland Style Jumbo Lump Crab Imperial
    • Best Chicken Salad – Deli Style
    • How to Make Restaurant Style Oysters Rockefeller
    • Easy Oven Baked Beef Brisket Recipe
    • Oven Roasted Rack of Pork {Pork Rib Roast}
    • Best Meatloaf Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    INFO

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    SUBSCRIBE

    Sign Up Today and start getting my easy-to-make restaurant-style recipes!

    CONTACT

    • About
    • Contact
    © 2009-2023 · Ask Chef Dennis ·

    Proud Member of:
    Mediavine Publisher Network