Pizza Dough and Variations

Traditional pizza dough adds an easy-homemade touch to a thin crust pizza. Using a prepared pizza sauce, you can make and bake this pizza in an hour.

Yield: 2 (12 inch) pizzas

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 + 1/4 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast*

Instructions

Bread Machine Method

1. Have liquid ingredients at 80 degrees F, all others at room temperature. Place room temperature ingredients in pan in the order listed. Select Dough/Manual cycle. Check dough consistency after 5 minutes of kneading. The dough should be in a soft, tacky ball. If it is dry and stiff, add water, 1/2 to 1 tablespoon at a time. If it is too wet and sticky, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time.
2. At the end of the last kneading cycle, press STOP/CLEAR, remove dough from pan. Proceed to Rising, Shaping and Baking instructions below.

Hand-Held Mixer Method

1. Combine yeast, 1 cup flour, and salt. Combine liquids and heat to 120-130 degrees F.
2. Combine dry mixture and liquid ingredients in mixing bowl on low speed. Beat 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed. By hand, stir in enough remaining flour to make a firm dough. Knead on floured surface 5 to 7 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Use additional flour if necessary.

Stand Mixer Method

1. Combine yeast, 1 cup flour, and salt. Combine liquids and heat to 120-130 degrees F.
2. Combine dry mixture and liquid ingredients in mixing bowl with paddle or beaters for 4 minutes on medium speed. Gradually add remaining flour and knead with dough hook(s) 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Food Processor Method

1. Combine yeast, 1 cup flour, and salt. Combine liquids and heat to 120-130 degrees F.
2. Have all ingredients at room temperature. Place dry ingredients in processing bowl with steel blade. Process briefly to blend. While motor is running add water and oil. Process until mixed. Continue processing until dough cleans the sides of bowl.

Rising, Shaping and Baking

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Let dough rest for 15 minutes. Divide into 2 parts. Press each half into a generously greased 12-inch round pizza pan sprinkled with cornmeal. Prebake for 10-12 minutes in preheated 400 degrees F oven until edges of crust begin to turn light golden brown.
3. Add desired toppings and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Notes

* You can substitute Instant (fast-rising) yeast in place of Active Dry Yeast. When using Instant Yeast, expect your dough to rise faster. Always let your dough rise until ripe. Traditional methods: use equal amounts; Bread Machine: use 1/2 teaspoon Instant Yeast OR 3/4 teaspoon Active Dry Yeast per cup of flour in your recipe. Visit our Lessons in Yeast & Baking for more information on baking.

Baker's note: A whole wheat crust can be made by substituting 1 cup whole wheat flour and 2 cups bread flour for the 3 cups of bread flour called for in the recipe. A cheese crust can be made by adding 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend to the original recipe.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Red Star Yeast

This recipe is featured at Doughmesstic.