Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza Recipe

Dessert pizza sounds unusual, but once you try it, you will want more. This sweet treat combines soft pizza dough with creamy custard and a crunchy topping.

My local Cicis Pizza used to serve this amazing dessert every time I visited with my husband. The smell of baked custard and sweet icing filled the whole buffet area. Many people lined up just to grab a slice before it ran out.

Sadly, most Cicis locations stopped offering their dessert pizzas regularly, though some still make them during special promotions.

The Bavarian version tastes like a cream-filled pastry meets pizza crust. The custard layer gives you a smooth, vanilla sweetness while the streusel adds a buttery crunch.

The cream cheese icing drizzle on top ties everything together perfectly.

Today I am sharing this copycat Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza Recipe so you can enjoy it anytime at home.

Why This Bavarian Dessert Pizza Is So Popular

People love it because the combination of textures is incredible – you get a soft, pillowy dough base, a smooth custard middle, crunchy streusel on top, and a sweet icing drizzle that brings everything together.

It’s not too heavy, yet it feels special and indulgent. The vanilla flavor throughout the whole dessert appeals to both kids and adults.

Many people discover it by accident at Cicis and then keep coming back for more. The fact that this dessert pizza feels homemade but looks bakery-quality makes it extra appealing.

Once you taste it, you understand why so many customers ask for it at the restaurant.

Bavarian Dessert Pizza vs. Regular Pizza: How They Differ

You might think all pizza is the same, but this one is very different from your normal pepperoni pie.

The Crust: Both start with a dough, but the dessert pizza crust is often a little sweeter and softer.

The “Sauce”: Instead of tomato sauce, this pizza uses a smooth, vanilla custard. It is sweet and creamy.

The Toppings: You will not find cheese or meat here. The main topping is a buttery, crumbly streusel, like what you find on a coffee cake.

The Finish: A regular pizza might get Parmesan cheese. This pizza gets a drizzle of sweet cream cheese icing.

Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza Ingredients

For the Pizza Dough:

• 2 cups bread flour: This type of flour makes the dough chewy and strong. All-purpose flour works well too, but the crust might be a little softer.
• 1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast: This tiny ingredient makes the dough puff up and become light.
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt: Salt is important. It makes all the other flavors taste better and balances the sweetness.
• 1 cup warm water: The water needs to be warm, not hot, to wake up the yeast. Think of the temperature of a nice bath.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil: Oil makes the dough soft and easy to work with.

For the Custard Filling:

• 1 cup sugar: White granulated sugar sweetens the custard. You can use a bit less sugar for a less sweet version.
• ¾ cup flour: Flour thickens the custard as it cooks. Cornstarch can substitute—use about ½ cup instead.
• 1 teaspoon salt: Just a small amount balances the sweetness and makes other flavors stronger.
• 3 egg yolks: Yolks make the custard rich and give it a beautiful yellow color. Whole eggs can work but won’t be as creamy.
• 3 cups milk: Whole milk creates the smoothest custard. You can use 2% milk, but it will be slightly thinner.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: Vanilla adds warm, sweet flavor. Vanilla bean paste or almond extract can substitute.
• 2 tablespoons butter: Butter makes the custard silky and adds richness. It also helps give it a glossy appearance.

For the Streusel Topping:

• 6 tablespoons melted butter: Melted butter coats the dry ingredients and helps create clumps. Coconut oil can substitute.
• ½ cup flour: All-purpose flour creates the crumbly texture.
• ½ cup brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a caramel-like sweetness and darker color. Light or dark brown sugar both work.
• ¼ cup white sugar: Regular sugar adds extra sweetness and helps with browning.
• Pinch of salt: Salt balances the sugar and enhances flavor.

For the Icing Drizzle:

• 2–3 tablespoons cream cheese: Cream cheese makes the icing tangy and thick. Regular or low-fat cream cheese both work.
• ½ cup powdered sugar: Powdered sugar dissolves easily and creates a smooth icing. Regular sugar won’t work here.
• Splash of vanilla extract: Vanilla adds flavor depth.
• Splash of milk: Milk thins the icing so you can drizzle it easily. Heavy cream can substitute for a richer icing.

Kitchen Essentials for This Recipe

1. Large mixing bowls – for mixing dough, custard, and toppings.
2. Measuring cups and spoons – to keep ingredient amounts right.
3. Whisk – for smooth custard.
4. Saucepan – to cook the custard.
5. Baking sheet or pizza pan – to bake the pizza evenly.
6. Rolling pin (or hands) – for stretching the dough.
7. Plastic wrap or towel – to cover the dough while rising.
8. Spatula – to spread custard easily.
9. Electric mixer – helps whip the icing until creamy.

How to Make Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza

Step 1 | Make the Dough

In a big bowl, mix the flour, yeast, and salt. Slowly add warm water and olive oil. Stir until it starts to form a sticky dough. If it feels too dry, add a tiny splash of water.

Knead the dough for a few minutes. It should feel soft and a little sticky. Rub a little oil in another bowl, put the dough in, and cover it with plastic wrap.

Let it sit in a warm place for about 2–4 hours until it doubles in size.

Step 2 | Prepare the Custard

In a saucepan, mix sugar, flour, and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Slowly pour in the milk and whisk it all together. Pour this mix into the saucepan.

Heat it on medium while whisking. It will look thin at first but then get thick like pudding.

Once it’s thick, turn off the heat. Add butter and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Let it cool a little while you work on the next part.

Step 3 | Make the Streusel Topping

Melt the butter in a bowl. Add flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and a pinch of salt. Use your hands or a fork to mix it. It should look crumbly, not wet.

Step 4 | Make the Icing

In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Whip it with an electric mixer or whisk until smooth. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk.

Step 5 | Shape the Dough

Once the dough has risen, sprinkle a little flour or semolina on your counter or pan. Gently stretch or roll the dough into a round shape. You don’t have to make it perfect. Place it on your pizza pan.

Step 6 | Add the Toppings

Spread the custard evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the streusel on top. This is the best part because it starts looking like the real Cicis dessert pizza.

Step 7 | Bake

Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Bake the pizza for 12 to 15 minutes or until the crust turns golden and the streusel looks slightly brown.

Step 8 | Drizzle the Icing

Take it out of the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Drizzle the icing over the top. It melts a little into the warm crust and tastes amazing.

Pro Tips For Making This Recipe

• Check Your Yeast: To make sure your yeast is active, you can mix it with the warm water and a pinch of sugar first. Wait 5-10 minutes. If it gets foamy on top, it is good to use.
• Prevent Lumps: When making the custard, whisk constantly and do not stop. This is the secret to a perfectly smooth filling with no lumps.
• Cool the Custard: Let the custard cool for at least 20-30 minutes before spreading it on the dough. If it is too hot, it can start to cook the raw dough underneath.
• Customize Your Drizzle: For a different look, try a simple powdered sugar glaze instead. Just mix powdered sugar with a little milk until it is drizzle-able.

Best Ways to Enjoy Your Bavarian Dessert Pizza

This pizza is best served warm, right after you drizzle the icing. The contrast of the warm pizza and the cool, melty icing is perfect.

At Cicis restaurant, they serve it cut into small squares right from the buffet. You can enjoy it just like that.

It is a fantastic end to a pizza night. It also makes a great treat for a birthday party or a weekend brunch.

For an extra special touch, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. The cold ice cream with the warm pizza is a classic combination that everyone loves. It turns a simple dessert into a real event.

Make-Ahead and Storage

1. Make-Ahead: You can prepare the dough and custard a day before. Keep the dough covered in the fridge and store the custard in an airtight container. When ready to bake, let both come to room temperature before using.

2. How to Store: Leftover dessert pizza can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store it in an airtight container or wrap it in foil to keep it soft.

3. How to Reheat: Warm the pizza in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 8–10 minutes. It will taste freshly baked again. Avoid the microwave — it can make the crust soggy.

4. Freezing Option: Freeze un-iced slices in a zip bag for up to a month. When ready to eat, thaw and warm them up, then drizzle fresh icing.

Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza Recipe FAQs

1. What makes this dessert pizza “Bavarian”?

The name comes from the Bavarian-style custard, a rich vanilla filling used in many European desserts. It’s thicker and creamier than regular pudding, giving the pizza a unique flavor.

2. How do I know when it’s done baking?

The crust should turn golden and the topping should look lightly browned. The center will be soft but not wet. If unsure, check the bottom – it should be firm but not dark.

3. Why did my custard turn out lumpy?

Custard can get lumpy if the heat is too high or if you stop whisking. Always cook it over medium heat and whisk it nonstop. If you do get a few lumps, don’t worry.

You can push the warm custard through a fine-mesh strainer with a spatula. This will remove any lumps and give you a perfectly smooth filling.

4. My dough is too sticky to handle. What should I do?

A little stickiness is normal. If it is so sticky that you cannot work with it, put a small amount of flour on your hands and the counter.

Gently knead the dough, adding a tiny bit of flour at a time, just until it is manageable. Be careful not to add too much extra flour, as this can make the crust tough.

5. My custard is too runny. What did I do wrong?

A runny custard usually means it did not cook long enough. You need to keep it on the heat until it thickens like pudding. Another reason could be not using enough flour. Make sure you measure your flour correctly.

Do not pack the flour into the measuring cup. Instead, spoon the flour into the cup and level it off with a knife for a perfect measure.

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Yield: 8

Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza Recipe

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Make Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza Recipe in 3 hrs! Sweet crust, creamy custard, and icing drizzle—just like Cicis. Easy dessert pizza at home!

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Bake Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the Pizza Dough

• 2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Custard Filling

• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup flour (or ½ cup cornstarch substitute)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 cups milk (whole or 2%)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons butter

For the Streusel Topping

• 6 tablespoons melted butter
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• Pinch of salt

For the Icing Drizzle

• 2–3 tablespoons cream cheese
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• Splash of vanilla extract
• Splash of milk

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, and salt. Add warm water and olive oil, stirring until a sticky dough forms. If it feels too dry, add a small splash of water. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until smooth. Place it in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rest in a warm spot for 2 to 4 hours, or until doubled in size.
2. In a saucepan, whisk together sugar, flour, and salt. In another bowl, whisk egg yolks and milk until smooth. Gradually pour the milk mixture into the saucepan while whisking constantly. Cook over medium heat, whisking nonstop until the mixture thickens like pudding. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Let cool for about 30 minutes before using.
3. Melt the butter in a medium bowl. Add flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and a pinch of salt. Use your hands or a fork to mix until crumbly and coarse. Set aside.
4. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Whisk or mix with a hand mixer until smooth and drizzle-ready. Add more milk if needed.
5. Once the dough has risen, lightly flour your counter or pizza pan. Stretch or roll the dough into a 10–12-inch round. Transfer it to your pan and smooth out any bubbles.
6. Spread the cooled custard evenly across the dough, leaving a small border around the edge. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the custard.
7. Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the streusel turns slightly brown.
8. Let the pizza cool for 5 minutes, then drizzle the icing across the top. The icing will melt slightly, creating that classic Cicis dessert look and taste. Slice and serve warm.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 365Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 260mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 1gSugar: 28gProtein: 7g

This homemade version of the Cicis Bavarian Dessert Pizza Recipe captures all the flavors you remember from the restaurant.

The creamy custard, crunchy streusel, and sweet icing combine into something truly special. Every slice delivers that same comfort and happiness the original created.

Now you can enjoy this treat anytime without waiting for a restaurant visit. Gather your ingredients, follow these steps, and soon your kitchen will smell just like that beloved buffet.