Fat Friday

For New Year's some of our friends got together and one particular pregnant friend requested this brownie pizza. I normally think of it as a summer dessert, but there's no reason you can't have it year round so of course I made it. I forgot how much I enjoy the combination of chocolate and fruit.

Banana Split Brownie Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 (20-ounce) box fudge brownie mix (recommended: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix)
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 bananas, sliced and tossed in lemon juice to prevent browning
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  
• Chocolate ice cream topping or chocolate syrup, for drizzling

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a 15-inch pizza pan. Prepare the brownie mix according to box directions. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until done. Remove from the oven and cool. Beat the cream cheese, pineapple, and sugar together in a bowl. Use any reserved pineapple juice at this time, if needed, to soften the mixture to a good spreading consistency. Otherwise dispose of or save the juice for another use. Spread the mixture over the cooled brownie crust. Arrange the banana and strawberry slices over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with the chopped nuts and drizzle with chocolate ice cream topping. Refrigerate. To serve, slice as you would a pizza, and enjoy!