Whole Wheat Autumn Apple Pizza.
Like, none. You probably didn’t eat any last night either. And you probably, most definitely didn’t have to open up a bulk-sized box of the big candy bars for the last little straggler trick o’ treating at 7:59 PM
Nope. Not at all. Those sort of things just happen to me, the chocolate/candy/food addict.
Since you probably stuffed yourself with greens and salad and kale and lemons and no junk food yesterday, you can totally eat pizza today.
But wait. Before I tell you about that. Let’s talk about these trick or treaters. Um, since when did kids stop dressing up? Since when was it acceptable to wear a sweatshirt and jeans with a “scary” mask? Since when was it acceptable to wear a sweatshirt, jeans and a “scary” mask and just walk to the door with a scowl on your face? Since when was it acceptable to wear a sweatshirt, jeans and a “scary” mask, just walk to the door with a scowl on your face, grab THREE giant candy bars, then walk away without even uttering a “thank you!” or “happy halloween!” or “trick or treat!” or “hey, we heard you and your husband screaming at each other over the waffle maker on Saturday. You’re weird.”
What is up? Some kids didn’t even wear a costume. In those cases, I just wanted to sit on the stoop of my front porch chewing a Snickers and manage to say, “oops, I ate it all! But since you’re dressed as someone who can clean my kitchen, please come inside.”
Oooooh, also? Let me apologize in advance for the 500 recipes this week that will have sage thrown on top of them. If you don’t like it, don’t add it. Simple as that.
And yes, I’m sure I can magically find a way to fit 500 recipes into three more days. Don’t roll your eyes.
Anyhoo.
A few weeks ago a reader, Karia, emailed me an idea for an apple sausage pizza. I sort of have a “thing” for sausage… that “thing” being a major gag reflex anytime fennel seeds come near my face. So naturally, I added bacon. The food of the… blogger that lives in this house.
This is one pizza I will not forget. It’s light and thin-crusted, with not one, but two layers of slenderly sliced apples, caramelized onions, piles of gouda cheese and crispy, crunchy bacon squares. Total flavor explosion. Total pizza demolition.
Whole Wheat Autumn Apple Pizza
serves 2-4
dough (this is my go-to dough)
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
In the bowl of your electric mixer with an attached dough hook, combine warm water, yeast, honey and oil and mix with a spoon. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until foamy, then add in flour and salt. Mix on low speed until just combined, then turn to medium speed to knead the dough for 5-6 minutes. If it seems to sticky, add a bit more flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
Brush a separate bowl with olive oil, add dough, turning once, then set in a warm place to rise for 1 1/2-2 hours. Cover with a towel.
pizza
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large apple, very thinly sliced
5 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into squares
1 small red onion, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup freshly grated gouda cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
8-10 sage leaves
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
15 minutes for dough is ready to use, slice onions. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, then add onions with a sprinkle of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, soft and juicy. In the last minute, add garlic and cook for 60 seconds, then set aside off heat. While onions are cooking, cut bacon. Place on a paper-towel lined plate, and cover with another paper towel. Microwave for 3-4 minutes, just until the fat is rendered so the pizza is not incredible greasy. Set aside.
Remove pizza dough from the bowl and throw on a floured surface. Using a rolling pin or your hands, roll and shape it into your desired shape. I love making it into a rustic rectangle like above, but a circle works too. Brush with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with nutmeg. Slice apples (do not do this earlier unless you don’t mind brown apples), then add about 1/4 cup cheese onto the dough. Place a layer of apples on the cheese, then add the onions and garlic. Add the remaining cheese evenly over top, then finish with bacon and another layer of apples. Add a few pieces of sage if desired.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
Tomorrow I’m going to show you what to do with all of your leftover candy instead of, you know… making yourself sick with it. Well, at least I think I am. I may eat it all first.
209 Comments on “Whole Wheat Autumn Apple Pizza.”
Who doesn’t love sage?! Weirdos… ;)
I’d like to think I would’ve tol those kids to go get a real costume before taking my candy but I’m sure I would’ve wussed out and just thrown them a handful anyways. Who knows, we got a big fat 0 trick or treaters last night. Lame.
Oh man – what a great idea. Apples, Bacon, AND Cheese!! Thanks for the dinner idea!
geeez…bacon again! I’m not complaining! This looks awesome – sweet and salty!
That looks like a fabulous pizza and although I do like sausage, I’m thinking the bacon sounds better :)
Also, I totally agree about the kids just throwing on a mask and expecting treats. Also, thanks to them for constantly shoving in front of my preschoolers. Oh and to the ADULT who thought because she was 5 foot nothing she could get away with dressing up and getting candy…YOU SUCK!!
I may have anger issues over people who abuse Halloween :P
Yes. YES YES YES YES. Just yes! Everything about this is perfection.
ALL. OVER. THIS. Crazy delish!
I love that you took the biggest, cheesiest, center slice… my kind of woman.
PS – We didn’t have a single trick or treater. I now have a popcorn bowl full of candy and a sugar hangover circa 1994.
What a creative pizza- I love the apples with the bacon and gouda! Genius, I tell you!
Now, can I just say that I totally agree with you about the trick-or-treaters? First of all, aren’t they supposed to say “trick-or-treat” when you answer the door? Aren’t they supposed to accept your candy and say thank you? The children in my neighborhood shoved their little hands into my candy bowl and rifled through it, saying “I already have Starburst, I already have Skittles, I already have a Blow Pop, I already have a Reeses’s”! I felt so violated, having four young kids rummaging through my candy bowl! I felt like saying, well then go home if you already have everything! One group of children arrived just as my pizza delivery guy arrived, and one of the boys started screaming “Pizza? I don’t want no pizza! I want candy! I don’t want no pizza!” (bad grammar, I know) Do you know what I said? I said, “Well, it’s a good thing you don’t want pizza because you aren’t getting any”! Ha! Take that! I have never experience such rude, obnoxious trick-or-treaters. That said, I will be better prepared for them next year. I’m going to hand out tooth brushes and dental floss- I bet none of them got that! :-)
Oh, my family is going to love me! They say they don’t like fruit mixed with savory, but they will when they see this. YUM. Thank you.
And I forgot, we had like 20 year old men come to our door with sheets over them with holes cut out. I guess they thought that would hide the super deep voice saying “trick or treat”. I guess at least they said “trick or treat” and I figured if they really wanted free candy that bad who am I to judge (but they didn’t say thank you – rude old men).
I agree with you on the fennel thing. Ewww…I make sure it is well crushed or ground. I will be making this tasty-looking meal on Friday night pizza night. Thanks! I also agree with you on the costume front. Those teens are a drag. When my son was a teen he made up the best costumes. He had fun with it. This year he found a HUGE skull and put that on his head and covered up the bottom with a black cloak. So cool and creepy looking yet so simple. The trick or treater’s loved it. Come on people! Let’s up the ante and get creative! Halloween is all about fun.
I still pick the fennel seeds out of rye bread. I’m an adult. I should be over this by now.
And that, my dear, is why I don’t do Halloween anymore. My light stays off. I once had a kid dressed in his street clothes ask, “Is that it?” when I gave him a couple pieces of candy. Then his MOTHER asked for candy as well cuz, “Momma’s got a sweet toioth.” Yep, done with it.
Looks deeelicious!! I’ve got a bucket of candy I don’t know what to do with….we had like, TWO trick or treaters. wah-wah!
1. That pizza looks perfect and like something I need in my life.
2. You had my trick or treaters from last year. As in, wearing a football jersey for their costume and too busy on their iPhone to say trick or treat. We were out of town this year but next year I am totally stealing your idea. Besides, I love snickers bars.
That looks so yummy! I’ll totally have to try this.
On a Halloween note: we had one kid (around 10 years old – maybe older?) who looked at the candy selection we had, sighed and then said, “I really wish you had kit kats.” I replied, “well, you don’t have to take any if you don’t like it.” He just stared at me and took a handful of the treats we had. I thought, geez. Trick or Treaters shouldn’t be picky – they are getting FREE CANDY. At least he had an actual costume, though.
I so desperately want to wax rhapsodic about the pizza in these pictures. However, it’s 11:30 a.m. (lunchtime!) so all I can do is stare, and drool. O.o
Oh my. I so wish I was having this for lunch! I should not read your blog when I am starving. It’s pure torture. :-)
That looks soo amazing!! I want to make that right now
yeah…i might be leaving work early to go home and make this. seriously, could you post later in the day so i’m able to focus on something other than your recipes this early in the morning?!
When I was a teen I would hand candy out to the kids with my Dad. We had so much fun messing with the non-costume and over 14 crowd. If they wanted candy they had to sing and to our amazement and excitement they would! So much fun. I only got about 5 kids this year all at the same time and all dressed as Harry Potter, very strange.
I totally agree trick or treating has become a mess! I in a packed area in a smallish city, but it is one of the nicer and safer parts of town so tons of families definitely drive in to trick or treat in our neighborhood. I’m fine with that, but the result is we give away literally hundreds of pieces of candy. So, we ask the trick or treaters to just take one. I can not tell you how many people (mostly tweens and teens) still grabbed handfuls and *ran* off. Several were just spoiled brats whose parents found it funny and just rolled their eyes, or told their kids, ‘”grab one for mama then”. I couldn’t believe it. But I think the best -ok the worst- was the pregnant teenager who was still trick or treating. It was NOT a costume.
….a pizza after my own heart. I love apple pizza! We haven’t handed out Halloween candy for a long time, but I can remember eating it like a maniac well before the holiday. You are too funny.
This looks delicious. I’m always looking for new pizza ideas. Love this one.
Can you tell me what brand of bacon you buy? Yours always comes out so crispy and perfect looking, and I’ve been having a hard time with different brands. Maybe its just the way I’m cooking it? help!
I actually buy my local store’s brand… Market District. It’s thick cut!
YUM. love apples on pizza.
and i’m with you on those lazy trick-or-treaters…i don’t think they deserve a treat. you gotta put forth some effort if you’re gonna get free candy, right? maybe they should get a trick instead?!
Fennel makes me want to cry. Thank you for loving bacon so much,
Oh.My.God. I want to eat my computer screen. These are my favorite flavors all together! In pizza form! I love you. :-)
oh my that pizza looks soooooo good!!
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Apples on pizza sounds delicious…I have some apples I need to use. Thanks for the recipe!
Great idea! This might even fall under the healthy category!
Gouda??? Apples??? Onion??? Bacon??? Sage??? – I’m pretty sure you just listed all my favorite mouth flavors in the world! How perfect are you??
Someone had posted this on facebook and I think it might be a good thing for everyone to be reminded of:
The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say trick or treat or thank you might be shy or non-verbal. The child who looks disappointed when he sees your bowl might have an allergy. The child who isn’t wearing a costume at all might have SPD or autism. Be nice. Be patient. Its everyone’s halloween. Make a mom feel good by making a big deal of her special child.
I KNOW there are people that abuse Halloween and trick or treating, and it’s frustrating, but you never know what is going on with the people who come to your door.
In those cases, as a parent, I think it’s important to have the holiday spirit for your child. My ex and I made sure to wish every house we visited with our daughters, a Happy Halloween. That goes a long way. :)
i’m in love with the idea of apple, bacon and pizza all in one dinner! dreamy!
Please deliver this to my house pronto! Looks sooo gooooood!
I’ve tried apples and cheese before – can’t do it. I just can’t. Not my thing. But bacon. Now that I can totally do. :)
That looks so, so good. I’m a sucker for sage, too – the smell! Oh, the lovely smell.
That’s not why I’m here though, I’m here to join in with you and the other commenters about the sacrilege of trick-or-treating by kids today. I don’t like it! One of my friends posted on Facebook that a kid came to her door on his cell phone. Good lord.
ahhh yup the golden houses that used to give out king candy bars. Just a quick change of costume was all it took to snag more than one ;)
This pizza sounds amazing! I can’t wait to make it.
O.M.G. I honestly never eat bacon–I just don’t like the texture or flavor. But this recipe makes me want to eat that whole pizza (bacon and all!) Thanks so much for sharing.
The pizza looks delicious. I can believe about the not wearing a costume but I can’t believe they took 3 candy bars and didn’t say thank you.
The last time I went trick or treating with my brother he was about 13 and did not dress up. When asked by curious bearers of candy who he was supposed to be dressed as he simply replied myself. :)
Hide those extra candy bars in various places and it might curb your temptation. My mom does that when she gets candy for gifts and it lasts about 10x longer then any candy I get since it keeps calling me till I eat it all :)
I was wondering the same thing! We had waaaaayyyy too many kids in a sweatshirt and jeans. Not to mention they were pretty past trick-or-treating age!
I want this pizza in my face.
There are not enough dinners in the week for me to try all of your recipes that catch my eye. I may have to take one weekend this month and just cook for the whole weekend so I can try them all.
AMEN! And also…when did wearing 1/2 a costume so you look like a victoria’s secret angel at age 12 become ok? Where are your parents? Apple on pizza? I’m in!
a great combination of ingredients once again, a must try of course.
now on to halloween, i hate children and adults who don’t dress up, it’s so wrong. but really what’s wrong is the adults without children, drunk and trick or treating. it’s called go to a party and buy your own candy, mmm ok?
I do NOT usually appreciate apples on anything other than… apples, or pie (obviously), but this pizza looks fantastic enough to give cooked apples a second chance. And about the trick or treaters- if mean kids in sweats can trick or treat, what the heck is stopping, say, adults like us to go trick or treat, aka beg for free candy from neighbors?
I was drooling over your posts this morning as I was catching up on my reading.
This pizza sounds delicious whether it was sausage, bacon, or seitan. I love sage. So, I don’t mind seeing it 500 times plus. It makes my meatloaf taste great, cleanses my house of evil spirits, and I love the smell of sage, too.
I just bought a big bag of apples and the daughter n I were just talking about making some homemade pizzas. I think this one will hit the spot! Thank you much. :D
I had the same thought as I was walking my daughters around the neighborhood to trick-or-treat. And I know they were annoyed as I was telling them at every house, “Okay, now say ‘Trick-or-Treat’ really loud!”…but candy isn’t cheap and people don’t put all that effort to have some jaded teenager in a plastic mask and street clothes, come take all the fun out of it (and take all the candy).
I think that the quality and quantity of the candy given should depend on the thought put into it. That way when the kids who trick-or-treat without any holiday spirit show up at your door, you can give them a single, stale circus peanut and send them on their way.
This looks amazing!!!
ahhh i hate fennel seeds too!! so thanks for making this pizza with bacon! yum yum yummm