Homemade Pizza Dough

When I was growing up, my parents loved hosting birthday parties at our favorite local pizza joint, where we would make our own individual pizzas.

All of us kids would be set up in a big room at a long table, decorated to excess in whatever the ‘90s pop culture obsession was at the time, with appearances by the Little Mermaid and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And each of us was given a small mound of freshly made pizza dough.

When we weren’t repeatedly ninja-chopping it with our pudgy little hands or tearing off tiny pieces to eat when the parents weren’t looking, what I remember most was proudly standing over my small disc of a badly formed crust, spooning some sauce on it, and topping it with white strings of cheese.

I felt like such a cool cook!

From those moments on, I knew that pizza would be part of my life forever.

I like the artisanal ones that are served at nice restaurants, the frozen ones packaged in cardboard boxes at the grocery store, and even something as simple as mozzarella and marinara sauce heaped high on a bagel and toasted.

It’s hard for me to hate any iteration, and easy for me to fall in love.

But even a hardcore fan like myself has to admit, homemade dough that’s crafted and formed with your own hands is so special. It’s a truly unique food experience unmatched by any takeout, restaurant, or grocery store option!

This article is all about learning how to make a basic pizza crust that’s easy to prepare. It’s fun and so versatile in terms of what you can do with it.

When you think about how inexpensive and readily available the ingredients are for a good crust, it’s a shame not to do it yourself, at least once!

You only need the following: water, yeast, sugar, olive oil, flour, and salt.

The process of forming it takes some time (so plan ahead for this meal!), but it is a beautifully choreographed combination of mixing, kneading, resting, and shaping.

As long as you have the patience and know-how that’s required to complete each step, the end result is a crust that’s chewy and substantial, one that holds up well to any variety of toppings.

The recipe makes two round pizzas about 12 to 14 inches in diameter, depending on how thick you want the finished product to be.

It will be the perfect dough for when you are planning your next DIY pizza party at home!

Follow our recipe, and make sure you review the Cooking by the Numbers section below for even more tips and tricks that will help you every step of the way.

Print

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep and Measure Ingredients

Measure out the warm water that you will use to activate the yeast separately from the room temperature water. Measure out the yeast, sugar, olive oil, flour, and salt.

You can use either all-purpose or bread flour, both with deliciously successful results. The bread flour will yield a chewier, slightly crispier crust.

Step 2 – Make the Dough

Pour the 1/4 cup of warm water into a medium bowl.

The water should be warmed to 110 to 115°F in order to activate the yeast. If it is any colder, the yeast will be activated at too slow of a pace. If it is any hotter, the heat may kill the yeast, eliminating any opportunity for growth.

Evenly sprinkle the yeast and sugar onto the water, and whisk to blend. The sugar helps to feed the yeast.

Yeast tends to clump if it is sprinkled all at once in one spot, so it is best to spread the yeast around the entire surface of the water before whisking.

Let the mixture sit for 5 to 15 minutes, or until the yeast is activated and the mixture looks frothy.

Pour the activated yeast mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Add 1 1/4 cups of room temperature water and the olive oil. Extra-virgin olive oil will provide the most depth of flavor. For a less intense flavor, choose pure olive oil.

Add the flour, and then the salt. The salt is added last, because it can potentially slow the growth of the yeast if added while it is being activated.

Knead on low speed for 2 minutes, or until the mixture forms a thick, cohesive mound. It will not be a smooth mixture.

Is there some flour on the bottom of the bowl that wasn’t thoroughly mixed in? You may need to remove the hook and use a pliable rubber spatula or bench scraper (or your hands!) to incorporate any remaining flour into the main mass.

You can also choose to make this recipe completely by hand without a stand mixer, working on a large surface or in a large bowl to knead.

Step 3 – Hydrate

At this stage, the dough is going to appear very thick, and not as smooth as what you might expect. No worries – everything is going according to plan!

The next step is to allow it to rest. The flour will continue absorbing the water, which will soften the mound over a short period of time, and more readily activate the gluten network as you continue kneading in the next step.

Remove the bowl from the stand mixer, leaving the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp, lint-free cotton towel. Let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature, or until it looks and feels softer and begins to rise.

Step 4 – Knead

Remove the plastic wrap or towel from the bowl. Return the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment.

Knead at medium speed until the mound is firm, elastic, and smooth, for about 6 to 8 minutes.

To test the elasticity, you should be able to remove a small piece and gently stretch it out without it breaking immediately.

Step 5 – Proof

Remove the bowl from the stand mixer. Form the dough by hand into a smooth ball, and transfer it to a lightly oiled large bowl.

Cover the bowl with a new film of plastic wrap or a damp cotton towel. Let it rise at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Depending on the temperature of the room, it may need to rise for a shorter or longer period of time.

The main goal in this step is for the dough to rise until it has doubled in size. Taking a picture before you wrap the bowl can help you to determine when it has grown sufficiently.

Step 6 – Preheat the Oven and Portion

At this point, you need to prepare your oven, depending on the type of pan you are using.

Make sure the rack is in the middle of the oven for the most even heat distribution.

If using a pizza stone, place the stone in the oven and preheat the oven to 500°F.

If using a baking sheet (a rimless half sheet or a 16-inch circular pan is exactly what you need), set out the sheet and preheat the oven to 425°F.

A metal baking sheet will conduct heat differently than a pizza stone, and as such, it needs a lower setting and a longer cooking time for the crust to bake evenly. If the temperature is set to 500°F, the exposed crust of the pizza will brown far more quickly than the middle and bottom of the crust.

And no one wants a soggy bottom.

Once you have prepped the oven and pans, and the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and transfer it to a lightly floured work surface.

Is it sticking to the bowl a little? Use a pliable bench scraper to help scrape what remains from the bowl.

Divide the dough in half and shape each piece into a round ball. Cover the balls with plastic wrap or a towel, and let them sit for 20 minutes at room temperature.

This step will help to relax the tight gluten network, making it easier to stretch and shape in the next step.

Step 7 – Form the Round

Work with one half at a time, leaving the remaining half under plastic wrap or a towel on the kitchen counter. The half that you set aside will dry out and develop a skin if it is not covered!

Dust the top of the dough lightly with flour, and flatten and stretch it with your fingers or a rolling pin into a disc about 14 inches in diameter, with a slightly thicker edge to create the crust.

Transfer the pizza to a peel (if using a stone to bake) or a circular sheet pan. Both options will need to be lined with a piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Step 8 – Add Toppings

Apply your preferred toppings, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge for the crust.

If you need some savory inspiration, consider these fun flavor combos:

• Buffalo Chicken
• Nacho
• Steak and Potato

Your options are limitless here!

Step 9 – Bake and Serve

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes on the pizza stone or 20 to 25 minutes on the baking sheet, until the crust is golden brown around the edge.

If using a pizza stone, remove the pizza with from the oven with a peel and transfer to a clean, heatproof surface.

If using a baking sheet, remove the sheet from the oven and place on a heatproof surface.

Let the pizza cool slightly for 5 minutes before cutting into 8 slices. Serve immediately.

Repeat the above steps with the remaining ball of dough.

Last-Minute Plans? Store the Dough!

Forgot you made some plans, and you’re right in the middle of making your most delicious pepperoni pizza yet?

No need to throw anything away! You have a few options to store the dough for later use.

The best place to stop production is before the final proof in Step 4. You can either store it in the refrigerator or in the freezer, depending on when you wish to continue cooking.

In the Fridge

If you’re planning to serve this dinner within the next couple of days, store it in the refrigerator.

Form it into a smooth, tight ball. Put the ball in a large, lightly oiled bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap, or in a large, lightly oiled airtight container. You want the container or bowl to be about 3 times as large as the original round, since it will continue growing and proofing slowly in the refrigerator.

Store for a maximum of 2 days in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to move forward with cooking, remove it from the container and place it on a lightly floured surface, gently covered with plastic wrap or a towel. Let the dough double in size at room temperature, for about another 1 to 2 hours. Since the dough is cold, it may take longer for it to proof fully.

In the Freezer

You can freeze the dough for up to 2 months for long-term storage.

Line a baking sheet with lightly floured parchment paper. Divide it in half and roll each portion into a smooth, tight ball. Place the balls on the baking sheet, and loosely cover them with plastic wrap. Freeze for about 4 hours, or until completely solid.

Tightly wrap the frozen balls individually in plastic wrap. Store in the freezer.

To thaw, transfer the balls to the refrigerator and keep them there overnight.

When you’re ready to move forward with cooking, remove a ball from the fridge and remove the plastic wrap. Place on a lightly floured surface, gently covered with plastic wrap or a towel. Let the ball double in size at room temperature for about 1 to 2 hours. Again, because it is cold, it may take a bit longer for it to proof.

Note: If you have already fully proofed the dough, and ran out of time or you won’t be serving dinner until later on in the evening, that’s fine! You can still store it in the refrigerator or the freezer. You will need to let the dough come to room temperature for 30 or so minutes before you’re ready to use it from the fridge, or after you have thawed it in the fridge after you’ve removed it from the freezer.

Just keep in mind that you don’t want to risk over-proofing, so don’t leave it in the refrigerator for more two days max.