I have been making homemade pizza with my kids since they were old enough to eat it. However, I didn’t start making my own dough until sometime in the last decade. That being said, I am surprised that I haven’t shared my pizza dough recipe. Not only is it ridiculously easy to make, it also is tender, which allows it to be rolled to the desired thinness without effort.
So, after writing for Think Tasty for seven years, what made me think of sharing this recipe now? There are a couple reasons. First, March is bread month, so I was thinking about new creations to share. Second, our elementary aged nephews spent the weekend with us, so an evening of homemade pizza and cartoons seemed like a good way to end the first day with them. Thus, my pizza dough recipe is now being published.
It isn’t anything earth shattering, but if you have an extra hour to prep for dinner, it is well worth the effort. For the little bit of work, you will have dough that is soft on the inside, crisps nicely on the edges, and provides entertainment for your diners as they make their meals.
- 2-1/4 teaspoon rapid rise yeast
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2-1/2 – 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Combine yeast, water, salt, oil, and 2 cups flour in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Using the dough hook, mix on speed 2 for about 1 minute.
- Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough clings to the hook and cleans the sides of the bowl. (This should take about 2 minutes).
- Continue kneading for an additional two minutes.
- Place dough in a greased bowl (I often use the stand mixer bowl, which I remove the dough from, grease, and then return the dough to), turning to grease the top.
- Cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and place in a warm place to rise for an hour.
- This recipe can be divided into 4 pieces to make smaller, thin crust pizzas, or can be divided in half to make 2 larger, medium-thick crust pizzas.
- Make pizza according to your favorite directions.
