Pizza Dough Recipe

Get into Italian mode by preparing Pizza Dough for your favorite pizza flavors! With this recipe, you won’t ever need to order pizza or buy pizza dough!

Creating pizza dough in the comfort of your home has never been this easy, so come on and give it a try now!

For the best snacks for the weekend, throw in your favorite toppings with this delicious and classic pizza crust recipe.

How to Make Pizza Dough

The best pizza starts with the delicious and nutritious dough, so let’s make one like a pro!

Ingredients

Two of the primary ingredients are all-purpose flour and dry yeast. It’s almost impossible to create pizza dough without these essential ingredients. 

Dry yeast

The yeast functions to make the crust thick and fluffy. It is accessible and easy to use to make pizza dough. Using the right dry yeast can greatly impact your dough, so make sure to purchase and use quality dry yeast. 

I’ve tried using this for Donuts, Air Fryer Bread, and Puff Puff!

All-purpose flour

All-purpose flour contains less gluten compared to other kinds of flour. It also helps create a flexible dough perfect for pizza and noodles. This flour makes the crust more crisp and chewy after baking. 

I always have this in stock because I need it for Flat Chin Chin, Nigerian Coconut Egg Rolls, and Chicken Pie!

Water

Water seems like a simple ingredient, but it actually provides essential dehydration for the dough. It affects elasticity, stickiness, fermentation, crusting, and crispiness. However, it must be at the right temperature and measurement to become effective.

Olive oil

Olive oil will also be used to grease a bowl to let the dough rise properly. For seasoning, the recipe uses powdered milk, sugar, and salt. 

Milk powder

Powdered milk is an excellent option to add sweetness and protein. Moreover, it helps create a beautiful browning on the crust and softens the pizza’s crumbs. I recommend mixing powdered milk with dry ingredients to prevent clumps in the batter. 

Now, for the fun part, let’s begin making the pizza dough!

Directions

1. Mix the dry yeast, sugar, and water in a glass bowl, and let the mixture bloom.
2. Use a fine-mesh strainer to sift the all-purpose flour, sea salt, and milk powder into the mixer’s bowl.
3. Pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and add some olive oil. 
4. Then, use the kneading attachment of the mixer to make the dough smooth, silky, and soft. 
5. Lightly grease the bowl with olive oil before placing the dough side. Ensure that the dough is not sticking to the bowl; otherwise, add a bit more olive oil to the bowl. 
6. Finally, cover the bowl with a clean cloth and set it aside for 15 minutes before making the pizza. 

Congratulations, you are one step closer to becoming a pizza master! From there, you can flatten it out and add Classics Homemade Pizza Sauce to go with it and your preferred toppings before popping it into the oven for a healthy, flavorful, and savory pizza!

Tips

How to Make Better Pizza Dough

• Select and use the best flour to take your pizza dough to the next level.
• Since flour provides the foundation for the dough, always opt for quality flour.
• Bread flour is also commonly used for making pizza but has higher gluten content than all-purpose flour. 
• You may still use bread flour if you want a crunchy and chewy texture and use all-purpose flour if you prefer a softer crust.
• Furthermore, it is always best to be precise about the measurements because making pizza dough is also about proportion.
• Use measuring cups, spoons, or a kitchen scale to prepare the ingredients. 
• Also, never forget to add your water. You must hydrate the dough to allow it to cook longer in the oven without burning.
• Additionally, don’t over-knead the dough because it might be too firm and tight to make the pizza.
• If you’re using a stand mixer with a dough hook, knead the dough for up to 8 minutes and if you’re kneading it by hand, massage the dough for up to 25 minutes. 

How to Store Dry Yeast

Another simple thing you can do to get better dough results is to store dry yeast properly. If the dry yeast is unopened, it can last up to two years in the pantry. It’s also best stored in the fridge or the freezer. 

Store the opened dry yeast in an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 4 months or freeze it for up to 6 months. Before using it, check the expiration date and use the freshest dry yeast you have. 

How to Store All-purpose Flour

Refined flour, like all-purpose flour, is best stored in a cool and dry place in your pantry to last up to one year. If you live in an area with a warm climate, you can also store it in the freezer for up to two years. 

Variations

For vegan pizza dough, you can omit powdered milk from the ingredients. On the other hand, for gluten-free pizza dough, you can substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour instead, and you can omit powdered milk as an ingredient. 

Additionally, for a baby-friendly pizza dough recipe, you can use dry yeast, bread flour, olive oil, and warm water for a healthier version. 

Recommended Tools

• Stand mixer: With the dough hook, use the mixer to form the dough.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Measure the ingredients perfect pizza dough
• Fine mesh strainer: Filter the ingredients before making the dough. 
• Whisk: Utilize the whisk to mix the wet and dry ingredients. 
• Spatula: Mix the wet ingredient using a spatula. 
• Cloth: Use a clean piece of cloth to cover the dough during its resting phase.
• Bowl: Use a  bowl to mix the ingredients and let the dough rise and rest.

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How to Use Pizza Dough

Of course, the pizza dough must be flattened, decorated, and baked before serving! 

1. Ensure your dough is at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. 
2. Then, prepare your workspace or flat surface with either flour or olive oil.
3. To form the pizza dough, use your palm to press the dough down until it flattens. 
4. Next, press down from the center of the dough using your three middle fingers to form a circle.
5. Then, spread the Pizza Sauce on the dough using a spoon before including other ingredients of your choice as toppings.
6. After that, pop it in a preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is brown. 

After that, the pizza is ready to serve! 

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Don’t let the pizza dough sit out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Otherwise, it will overproof, and it won’t expand during baking. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is basic pizza dough made of?

Basic pizza dough ingredients include flour, water, salt, olive oil, and yeast.

What is the best type of dough for pizza?

Yeasted dough is always best for pizza because it can give the proper rise and texture. It’s also easy to store for long-term use.

Is it cheaper to buy or make pizza dough?

It depends on your ingredients, but homemade pizza dough is generally more affordable, practical, and healthier!

How can you check if the gluten has proofed enough?

You can perform a poke test or a windowpane test to check gluten elasticity. 

For the poke test, press a finger half an inch into the dough and observe as it springs back. In case it springs back, it will rice easily and quickly. If the indentation lingers on the pizza dough, the gluten is under-proofed. 

On the other hand, you can also do a windowpane test where you stretch the dough as thinly as possible. If it does not rip apart, the gluten is ready but if it tears a hole, knead the dough a bit more.