BreadsPizzaRecipesEasy Homemade Pizza Dough

Ingredients

• Prepare and chop up all toppings and veggies you would like to add (E.g. Cherry tomatoes, black olives, green peppers, mushrooms, green onions, etc)
• 1 package pepperoni (I like turkey pepperoni)
• 1 jar of pizza sauce or tomato sauce (which you can add your own spices, salt, garlic, and flavorings to)
• 1 bottle of your favorite flavorful ranch dressing (to use as a sauce base option)
• TO MAKE THE DOUGH:
• 1 1/2 cups of lukewarm water
• 2 teaspoons rapid acting yeast (usually in a small packet - check expiration date)
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Canola oil to oil the surface of a bowl and the top of the dough if waiting to use the dough later.
• OTHER:
• Olive oil
• Mozzarella (regular shredded size, not thin because it will burn easily)
• Optional: garlic salt to season the crust
• EQUIPMENT:
• Microwave safe bowl or glass measuring bowl
• Large bowl
• Silicone mat or non-stick work surface
• Whisk
• Plastic wrap
• Parchment paper cut into sheets to place underneath each pizza you make
• Pizza stone
• Optional: Pizza peel to lift the pizza and pizza cutter

Instructions

1. Preheat your pizza stone in a cold oven to 450°F.
2. Place the water in the microwave safe bowl and warm it to lukewarm temperature. This will likely take about 10 to 25 seconds, but every microwave is different.
3. Add in the yeast and granulated sugar and stir gently to combine. Set this aside for about 10 min to allow the yeast to ferment/bubble up.
4. Put 3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour in a large bowl, reserve the last 1/2 cup of flour for later. Whisk to break up any lumps. Add the salt and mix together.
5. Now add in the fermented/bubbling yeast mixture to the flour and salt bowl. Use a spoon to incorporate it and start creating a dough.
6. Dump the lumpy dough onto your lightly floured silicone mat and start to knead it together. If it feels too sticky, add in the flour (use that leftover 1/2 cup of flour) a little at a time until it's not very sticky at all. You should not need more flour than the recipe asks for. Kneading should take about 5 min or less. Form this into a big flattened ball.
7. At this point, you can cut the dough into portions and use it right away, or if you are waiting to use it later, just place a light layer of oil into a bowl and a light layer on top of the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
8. When ready to use the dough, cut it into 4 equal portions. Protect dough you are not working with yet with plastic wrap.
9. Take 1 portion (the dough shouldn't be sticky - if it is, add a little more flour and knead it again). Form it into a small ball or an oval ball and roll it out onto the parchment sheet. I like to roll mine into an oval shaped pizza which can look very pretty and rustic.
10. Here is where you decide what kind of crust you want - if you want it thicker, don't roll it out too much. If you want it thinner, roll it to about 3/8" thick.
11. Lightly brush on some olive oil, add a little garlic salt on top to season if desired, add sauce, and add all toppings of choice.
12. Put pizza peel (alternatively you can use a flat-edged cutting board) under the parchment and place the parchment with uncooked pizza onto the hot pizza stone. Be careful.
13. Bake for 12-15 min or to desired doneness and crustiness. Remember if you want a chewier crust, the dough will not be as browned on the edges and it will take the shorter time. If you want it crispier, leave it on the stone for the longer time and you will likely see browner edges. Try not to burn it.
14. TIP: The crust will harden a bit as it cools - so test your oven and time your own pizzas to the desired doneness.
15. Remove the pizza and its parchment from the oven using the pizza peel or cutting board and cut it into slices as desired.
16. Allow it to cool slightly before eating. Enjoy!

Notes

https://glamourandsugar.com/2021/10/19/easy-homemade-pizza-dough/