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Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

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3.9 from 5 reviews

This easy homemade pizza dough recipe yields a soft, chewy crust with a golden, crispy edge perfect for any pizza night. Made with simple ingredients like instant yeast, flour, olive oil, and water, the dough is designed to be kneaded and risen at room temperature before being shaped and baked to perfection. Whether topped with classic mozzarella and sauce or customized with your favorite ingredients, this versatile dough recipe delivers delicious, pizzeria-quality results at home.

Ingredients

Dough

  • 1 and 1/3 cups (320ml) warm water (about 110°F/43°C)
  • 1 Tablespoon (13g) granulated sugar
  • 2 and 1/4 teaspoons (7g) Platinum Yeast from Red Star instant yeast (1 standard packet)
  • 3 and 1/2 to 4 cups (438–500g) unbleached all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed
  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Sprinkle of cornmeal, for dusting the pan

Toppings (makes 2 pizzas, halve amounts for 1 pizza)

  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)
  • 1 cup (250g) store-bought pizza sauce
  • 4 cups (1lb/454g) shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast: In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment, whisk together the warm water, granulated sugar, and instant yeast. Cover and rest for 5 minutes until foamy. If mixing by hand, combine in a large bowl and proceed to the next step.
  2. Add dry ingredients and mix: Add 3 1/2 cups of flour, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until the dough pulls away from the bowl’s sides.
  3. Knead the dough: Continue kneading in the mixer for an additional 5 minutes or knead by hand on a lightly floured surface. Add flour a teaspoon at a time if too sticky, aiming for a soft, slightly tacky dough. Test dough readiness with the windowpane test or finger poke method. The dough should bounce back slowly.
  4. First rise: Lightly grease a bowl and place the dough inside, turning to coat all sides with oil. Cover with foil or a towel and let rise at room temperature for 60–90 minutes or until doubled in size. For a warmer rising spot, use the turned-off oven method.
  5. Preheat the oven: Preheat oven to 475°F (246°C) for at least 15–20 minutes. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat as well. Lightly grease a baking sheet or pizza pan and sprinkle with cornmeal for extra crunch.
  6. Shape the dough: Punch down the risen dough to release air. Divide in half (freeze one half if only making one pizza). On a lightly floured surface, flatten each half into a 12-inch circle about 1/2-inch thick. Create a lip by pinching the edges. If dough shrinks back, rest covered for 5–10 minutes and try again. Place dough on prepared pan or cornmeal-dusted peel.
  7. Rest dough: Cover the shaped dough lightly with plastic wrap or a towel and let rest a few minutes while preparing toppings.
  8. Add toppings and bake: Press dents into the dough surface to prevent bubbling. Brush lightly with olive oil, sprinkle minced garlic if using, spread 1/2 cup (125g) pizza sauce over the crust, then top with 2 cups (227g) shredded mozzarella cheese and any additional desired toppings. Bake for 13–15 minutes until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
  9. Serve and store: Slice the hot pizza and serve immediately. Store leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • Use warm water around 110°F (43°C) to activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Don’t add too much flour; the dough should be slightly tacky for a soft crust.
  • The windowpane test helps ensure proper gluten development for a chewy crust.
  • If the dough is shrinking when shaped, resting it for a short period relaxes the gluten.
  • Preheat your oven and stone/pan well for the best crust texture.
  • Freeze half the dough if you don’t want to make two pizzas at once; thaw in the refrigerator before using.
  • Customize toppings according to preference, but avoid too many wet ingredients to keep crust crisp.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/easy-homemade-pizza-dough-recipe/