Pizza Dough Recipes

Homemade Pizza Dough Recipes

Good pizza dough recipes are to pizza what a good foundation is to a home—essential. Of the Basic, Honeyed, Sourdough, and Whole Wheat dough recipes, at least one is bound to please.

When you're finished here, take a look at Pizza Sauce Recipes and the Perfect Pizza Rules for professional pizza-making tips and interesting sauce ideas. You may be surprised.

Scroll down for good ready-made crust ideas.

The Basic Pizza Dough Recipe

Three more great dough recipes follow; use the same cooking directions as for the Basic Pizza Dough Recipe.

1 package active dry yeast (2 teaspoons)
1 cup warm water (105° to 115°, no more)
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus a little for coating

How to make pizza dough from scratch:

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Set aside and follow the instructions below for the method you choose.

By hand: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the olive oil and yeast mixture into it. Stir until it begins to form a ball, then turn it out onto a clean, floured surface and knead for about 4 or 5 minutes.

In a mixer: Using a dough hook, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Add the liquid ingredients and mix on low until the dough begins to clump around the dough hook. Remove and knead as above.

In a dough-capable food processor: Use a plastic blade, if possible. Place the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of the food processor and mix briefly. Add the liquid ingredients slowly and process the mixture low and slow for about 2 or 3 minutes, just until the dough begins to form a ball. Remove and knead as above.

In a bread machine: Set the machine for "dough" and follow the manufacturer's instructions; pick up the pizza dough recipe directions where the bread maker leaves off.
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Whichever method and pizza dough recipe you've chosen, your pizza dough should be a smooth, elastic ball. Lightly oil the ball and the inside of a large glass bowl. Place the dough in the bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled, about an hour. For better crust, punch down the dough, reshape into a ball and let it rise again. You can refrigerate or freeze the dough at this point.

Divide the dough into 4 equal portions, about 6 ounces each. Roll each portion into a ball, then, working on a lightly floured surface, stretch the dough and work it with your fingers or a rolling pin to form an 8-inch circle. (Let your guests prepare their own.) The outer edge of the circle should be a little thicker than the body, forming a rim. Add toppings.

Transfer to a pizza pan or pizza stone. Bake in a 500° pre-heated oven until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, 10 to 13 minutes, or perhaps a little longer if your oven does not reach 500°.

Pizza Stone and Peel Set If you want that crisp, restaurant-quality pizza crust in your own home, cook your pizza on a pizza stone.

A pizza peel is a handy tool, too, for transferring your pizzas to and from the oven. A Pizza Stone and Peel Set is inexpensive and adds professional pizzazz to the occasion.

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe

1 package active dry yeast (2 teaspoons)
1 cup warm water (105° to 115°, no more)
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose or bread flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus a little for coating

Prepare as above. Whole wheat dough may take longer to rise.

Sourdough Pizza Dough Recipe

1 cup sourdough starter (recipe below)
1/2 cup warm water (105° to 115°, no more)
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus a little for coating

Prepare as above. Sourdough may take longer to rise. Sourdough Starter Recipe

Honeyed Pizza Dough Recipe

1 package active dry yeast (2 teaspoons)
1 cup warm water (105° to 115°, no more)
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus a little for coating

Follow directions for the basic pizza dough recipe, above.

Ready-made pizza crust ideas: Want homemade pizza but don't have the time or inclination to make the pizza dough? Try one of these:

Prepared pizza shells from your grocer.
Focaccia bread if you like thick-crust pizza.
Ready-made pizza dough at better-stocked supermarkets.
Order a pizza with absolutely nothing on it!

Pizza Topping Suggestions

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