This might be bold, but I think pizza is one of the greatest foods ever created. It is so versatile and so adaptive to anyone’s taste. It can be topped with red sauce, white sauce, barbecue sauce and even no sauce. The toppings are endless too from vegetables to fruits to meats. There are so many different combinations you can create. I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to not like pizza.
The crust is a vital part of the creation though. It has to be able to hold all of the toppings and needs to add a touch of flavor to the finished product. If the crust doesn’t taste good the whole pizza isn’t going to taste as good. This recipe is one I keep coming back to. I’ve tried several recipes for pizza crust; some didn’t have enough flavor and others just didn’t have the right texture. This one is perfect! Not only is it delicious, but it is so fast and easy too. You can have this made and ready to eat before any pizza delivery person makes it to your door. The hardest thing about it is deciding what to top it with!
To make the dough, add the warm water, yeast, honey, oil, and salt into a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer (or just a large bowl if you are doing it my hand). Using the dough hook, mix the ingredients briefly, then add the flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is no longer sticky. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until it is soft and elastic.
Cover the dough and let it rise for about 10-20 minutes. If you are in a hurry, you can even skip this step and it won’t hurt the flavor or texture of the finished pizza.
Remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly greased or floured surface (I like to use a silicone mat for this step). Divide the dough in half and roll each half into approximately a 16″ circle. Carefully place the dough onto a greased pizza pan (or onto a pizza paddle if baking on a pizza stone) and lightly press the dough to fill the area of the pan. I like to roll the edges of the dough to form a crust.
Add your choice of sauce and toppings to the crust and bake at 475 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Slice and enjoy!
Easy Pizza Dough
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 Tbsp instant yeast
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 2 tsp salt
- 5 1/2-6 1/2 cups flour
Yields 2 large pizzas
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer; using the dough hook (or in a large mixing bowl if preparing by hand), add the water, yeast, oil, honey and salt. Mix briefly. While kneading, add the flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is no longer sticky.
- Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Cover the dough and let it rise for about 10-20 minutes (if you are in a hurry though you can skip this step and your pizza will still taste amazing).
- Remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured or greased surface. Divide the dough in half and roll each half into approximately a 16" round. Carefully transfer the dough onto a greased pizza pan and press the dough softly to spread and fill the pan. Roll the edges of the dough to form a crust.
- Add your favorite sauce and toppings to the dough.
- Bake at 475 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Slice and enjoy!
