Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza Dough

Often when we think of homemade “anything-bread”, we think hours of rise time.  But, Homemade Pizza Dough doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. This Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza Dough includes a rest time of about 20 minutes but doesn’t need to rise, so you can have pizza crust ready for topping in about 30 minutes!  If, however, you prefer a thicker crust and want to take the time, it can be left in a warm place for an hour or so to rise.  Either way, it’s delicious!  

Here’s the Recipe:

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 package yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2-3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning 
• 1 tsp minced garlic

Other things needed:

• Electric mixer with dough hook (can be done by hand)
• parchment paper
• baking stone or pizza pan

*This can be mixed by hand but an electric mixer with a dough hook is much easier*

In bowl of stand mixer, combine yeast and warm water and stir to dissolve

Allow to sit for 1 minute.  It should become bubbly

Add salt, garlic, Italian seasoning and 2 cups of flour

Using dough hook attachment, mix until dough pulls away from sides and forms soft ball

Add more flour as needed

*Or mix by hand until dough forms a soft ball then knead by hand until elastic*

Cover with towel and let dough rest 15-30 minutes

*For thicker crust, allow dough to rise for about an hour*

Turn oven to 400 and place pizza stone or pan in oven to get hot while oven is preheating

*Hot pizza stone or pan allows the bottom of the crust to get crispy*

When ready to use, dust parchment paper lightly with flour and roll dough into 12-15 inch circle

Rolls edges in, slightly over themselves, in order to form edge of crust

*The key to transferring pizza crust is the parchment paper.  

Leaving the crust on the parchment paper, place both on hot pizza stone or pan and bake for 2-3 minutes.  *This keeps the crust from getting soggy when you add the sauce*

Remove from oven and top with your favorite sauce and toppings