1-First Step: Get the oven and baking sheets ready Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper so the cookies lift off easily after baking. This also helps with clean-up, which is always a win when you are baking for a crowd or making dessert after a long day.

2-Second Step: Mix the dry ingredients In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Whisking now helps spread everything evenly through the dough. That means your Fruit Pizza Cookies will bake up with a more even texture from edge to center.

3-Third Step: Cream the butter and sugar In a mixer, beat the granulated sugar and 1 cup softened butter until the mixture looks light and fluffy. This step adds air to the dough, which gives the cookies a softer bite. If your butter is still a little firm, let it sit on the counter until it presses easily with a finger.

4-Fourth Step: Add the egg, yolk, and vanilla Mix in the egg, egg yolk, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. The egg yolk is one of the secrets to the chewy texture in these sugar cookie fruit pizzas. It helps the dough stay tender without turning dry.

5-Fifth Step: Bring the dough together Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix just until a dough forms. Stop once the flour disappears. Overmixing can make the cookies tough, and this recipe works best when the dough stays soft and gentle.

6-Sixth Step: Scoop and shape the cookies Scoop the dough into 1 1/2-tablespoon balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each one so they have room to spread. If you want fun shapes for holidays or parties, roll the dough and cut it with cookie cutters instead.

7-Seventh Step: Bake until just set Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centers should still look slightly underbaked. That is the sweet spot for chewy fruit pizza cookies. If you want a firmer cookie that holds toppings even better, bake them a minute or two longer.

8-Eighth Step: Cool completely Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then move them to a wire rack. They need to be fully cool before frosting, or the cream cheese topping will melt. This is a good time to wash the fruit and get your toppings ready.

9-Ninth Step: Make the frosting Beat the 5 tablespoons softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, then beat until fluffy. The frosting should be thick enough to spread, but still soft and creamy. If you want a slightly sweeter frosting, you can add a little more powdered sugar.

10-Tenth Step: Frost and top with fruit Spread frosting over each cooled cookie, then top with fresh fruit. Diced strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi work especially well because they are colorful and easy to arrange. Keep the toppings simple so the cookies stay neat and easy to serve.