Have you ever wished you could make a perfect pizza dough? Does working with yeast intimidate you? If you have never worked with yeast and if you like to save money while having endless possibilities of different meals and snacks you can make for your family and friends, this is the perfect recipe to start with!
Pizza dough can of course be made into a great pizza or calzone. But, don’t forget cheesy bread with a marinara dipping sauce, hot dogs wrapped in pizza dough, bread sticks, or even sugar and cinnamon twists, yum! The possibilities are endless once you have a good basic dough under your belt.
This recipe is easier if you have a stand mixer of course, but totally doable if you only have your own two hands, remember Italians have been making pizza for long before electricity was even invented!
Start with some super warm water, about 110-115 degrees.
Add water into the bowl of an electric mixer.
(I keep my yeast in a resealable bag in the fridge because I use so much of it, I don’t buy in packets) Use one packet of Active dry yeast or 3 tsp.
Add yeast into warm water.
Add sugar into water with the yeast.
Stir.
Add one cup of the flour.
Stir.
Don’t worry if there are lumps.
Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
This is what it should look like… if your mixture is not foaming, your yeast may not be good.
Add in the remaining flour. Stir.
Add in salt.
When your dough starts to look like this, it’s time to use the dough hook on your mixer.
This is my dough hook.
Mix for about 30 seconds to see how wet it is… This one is a bit too wet.
Add in one tablespoon at a time and mix until the dough isn’t quite as sticky, but not too dry either.
I set my mixer’s timer for 5 minutes and knead on level 2. If your mixer does not have a time, be sure to set one.
Add in oil.
Continue to knead another 2 minutes until oil is incorporated. Move to an oiled bowl and let rise 20 minutes.
This is what your dough will look like. Remove and place on a floured surface and knead by hand into a ball this should take about 2-3 minutes.
Pizza Dough
Makes 2 full size pizza crusts
Ingredients:
5 – 6 cups All purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar (shallow cup)
3 tsp. Active dry yeast
Shallow 1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. salt
2 cups warm water (110°-115°F)
Instructions:
Bloom yeast in warm water with sugar for 2 minutes, once bubbling add one cup flour, mix, cover and let sit for 10 minutes. Once bubbly continue.
Add 4 cups flour and salt. Add remaining flour 1 Tbs. at a time if too wet and not kneading well. Once desired consistency is reached, knead for a timed 5 minutes. Add in most of the oil saving some to oil bowl. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover and let rise for about 20 minutes.
Turn out onto a floured surface, knead by hand about 2-3 minutes until dough comes into a ball.
