Making Flaky Pizza Crust Food

SOFT AND FLUFFY HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a stand mixer bowl add 1 3/4 cups warm water (about 110°F), 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, and 1 tbsp granulated sugar. Give it a stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. The mixture will start to bubble.
• In 5 minutes, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour.
• In a stand mixer, using a dough attachment, mix the ingredients on low speed until combined. After it's mixed, let it knead for 5 minutes on low speed. The dough will be a little bit sticky. (If you don't have a stand mixer, first, mix all ingredients with spatula, then knead with your hands.)
• NOTE: Because different brands have different flour texture and moisture, you might need to use less or more flour. If your dough is too sticky, simply add a little bit more flour. Though, make sure you don't add to much. It should be soft and a little bit sticky. That will help you to have a chewy and soft texture.
• When done, add another 2 tablespoons olive oil to coat the dough from all sides.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a clean towel. Let it rise for 2 hours, it will double in size.
• When ready, preheat the oven to 475°F.
• Then take off the towel and plastic wrap from the bowl and gently press the dough to deflate. Divide it in half.
• Place one half of the dough on a round baking pan. Using your hands, flatten and stretch the dough into a 12-inch disk, leaving the edges lifted.
• Top with pizza sauce (or Homemade Marinara Sauce), cheese, pepperoni, and bake at 475°F for 15-18 minutes on a middle rack.
• When done, let it rest for 5 minutes, cut into 8 slices with pizza cutter and serve.

FLUFFY YET CRUSTY PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

Steps:

• Add all the dry ingredients into the bread machine pan; add the oil and then pour the warm water over. Set cycle to dough settings and allow the bread machine to do its thing. (My cycle was 1 hour and 30 minutes.)
• DIRECTIONS FOR STAND MIXER: Dissolve the yeast in warm water and set aside. Place the dry ingredients into the bowl of the mixer; add the oil. Turn the mixer on low speed and slowly pour in the water/yeast mixture. Knead the dough for 10 minutes. Cover and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour or until doubled. Roll the dough out; top with toppings and allow another hour or so to rise before baking.
• Cut out two (16" wide) pieces of parchment paper. Place on a flat surface; dust with flour and set aside.
• Once the dough cycle has finished (or when the dough has finished rising after kneading) transfer dough onto a floured surface.
• Cut the dough into two equal pieces and flip over. Take the ends of each piece and pinch together to form a ball.
• Roll the dough out into an 11"-12" circle. Transfer onto parchment paper; top with desired toppings and allow prepared pizzas to rise for 45 min.
• Place two baking sheets upside down onto the bottom rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 415 degrees F with the baking sheets inside. While the oven is preheating allow the dough to rise an additional 15 min (about the time the oven preheats.)
• Slide the parchment paper with the pizza on top onto a large tray or cutting board. Then carefully slide the parchment paper onto the hot baking sheets and bake one pizza at a time for 14-16 minutes.
• Remove the pizza by dragging the parchment paper onto a cutting board and slice.

THE BEST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar; add yeast and whisk until dissolved. Let stand until bubbles form on surface. In a large bowl, whisk 3 cups flour, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon sugar and, if desired, dried herbs. Make a well in center; add yeast mixture and oil. Stir until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead, adding more flour to surface as needed until no longer sticky and dough is smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a large greased bowl; turn once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes; transfer bowl to refrigerator and chill overnight. Allow dough to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes, before rolling.

PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and combine. While the mixer is running, add the water and 2 tablespoons of the oil and beat until the dough forms into a ball. If the dough is sticky, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together in a solid ball. If the dough is too dry, add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead into a smooth, firm ball.
• Grease a large bowl with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, add the dough, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm area to let it double in size, about 1 hour. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Cover each with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rest for 10 minutes.

MAKING FLAKY PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• 1. On dry work surface, roll dough into 15- by 12-inch rectangle. 2. Spread softened butter over dough leaving 1/2-inch border along edges. 3. Starting at short end closest to you, roll dough into tight cylinder. 4. Flatten cylinder into 18- by 4-inch rectangle. Halve crosswise. 5. Fold each dough piece into thirds; pinch seams to form balls. 6. Let balls rise in refrigerator 40 to 50 minutes to chill butter. 7. Roll out each ball into 13-inch disk about 1/4 inch thick. 8. Transfer disks to pans; press into corners and up sides.

NO-KNEAD FOOD PROCESSOR THIN CRUST PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Pulse flour, yeast, and salt in food processor until blended.
• With motor running, add water and oil. Process for 1 minute, or until a ball forms.
• With floured hands, remove dough and form into a round ball. Place in a greased bowl, turning over to grease all around.
• Let rise for 10 minutes for thin crust.
• Stretch into pizza pan and top as desired.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until browned.

CHICAGO-STYLE BUTTER AND GARLIC PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• In large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup lukewarm water.
• Add 1/4 cup flour and the sugar, stir together.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
• Stir the remaining 1 cup lukewarm water, 3 cups flour, the cornmeal and salt into the yeast mixture.
• Combine the butter and garlic; mix into the dough.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, 10-12 minutes.
• Lightly grease a large bowl, add the dough and turn to coat.
• Cover and set in a warm place until the dough is doubled in size, 1 hour.
• Punch dough down, then knead for 2-3 minutes.
• Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan, then press in dough to cover the bottom and 2 inches up the sides; let rise for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Top the pizza dough with your favorite toppings.
• Lower the oven to 450 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.

THIN CRACKER CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• In a heavy-duty stand mixer (e.g., KitchenAid) fitted with dough hook, add the water, oil, yeast, salt, and sugar. Mix thoroughly until yeast has fully dissolved. Add flour and mix on low speed until all of the flour and water have mixed and a stiff dough ball forms, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stop mixing as soon as the dough ball forms as this type of dough should not be kneaded.
• Place the dough ball into a large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for 24 hours in the refrigerator before using.
• Preheat your oven to 500 °F about one hour before you plan to bake the pizza.
• Turn the dough out onto a large surface and dust with flour. Using a heavy rolling pin (or dough sheeter), roll the dough out very thin to form a 24-inch or larger circle. If you're using a cutter pizza pan (recommended), dust the pan lightly with flour, place the dough in the pan and dock. Use the rolling pin to trim off the excess dough drooping over the sides of the pan. If you wish to cook the pizza directly on a pizza stone (not using a pan), then place the dough on a dusted pizza-peel, dock, and fold the edge over 1-inch all the way around and pinch it up to form a raised lip or rim.
• Optionally, pre-cook the crust for 4 minutes before adding any sauce or toppings. Remove the crust from the oven and pop any large air pockets that may have formed. Add the sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings. Continue baking, on the lowest oven rack, rotating the pan half way through so that it cooks evenly, until crust is sufficiently browned and crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pizza from the oven and slide pizza out of cooking pan onto a large wire cooling rack or cutting board. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a serving pan. This step allows the crust to stay crisp while it cools, otherwise the trapped steam will soften the crust.

SUPER CRISPY THIN PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat pizza stone in oven at 500°F.
• Warm water for 20 seconds in microwave.
• Dissolve yeast and sugar in water; allow to rest for 8 minutes.
• In the meantime, combine flour, salt and Italian seasoning.
• Pour yeast over flour mixture and mix well with a heavy spoon.
• Add 1 tbsp flour if needed.
• Turn dough on to a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes.
• Dust more flour on surface if needed .
• Using a rolling pin, roll dough into a 12" circle of even thickness (about 1/4") flipping over to roll each side (don't press too hard when rolling or dough may stick to surface).
• Cut off any excess edges to make a neat circle.
• Palm down, slide your hands under dough and lifting carefully place on to a hot pizza stone.
• Bake at 500°F for 4 minutes.
• Remove from oven and top with your favorite toppings (don't go too crazy with the toppings, a little goes a long way).
• Return to oven for 6-8 minutes.
• Helpful hint: Top pizza in this order to prevent the crust from getting soggy:.
• chopped basil.
• minced garlic.
• pepperoni.
• cheese.
• (6-8) 2 tbs dollops of pizza sauce evenly spaced.

FLAKY THIN CRUST CHICAGO INSPIRED PIZZA

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the cubed, chilled butter and using your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture until it is mostly incorporated, you want to have small butter lumps. Add the chopped garlic. In a large measuring cup, combine the warm water and instant yeast. Add to the flour mixture and, using a fork, combine until the mixture is evenly moistened. Knead the dough in your hands or on a lightly floured surface for one minute or so until the dough is smooth. Divide the dough in two, shape into balls, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and let rest for at least 30 minutes.
• While the dough sits, you can start on the tomato sauce. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring for about 30 seconds. Add the herbs, salt, and both black and red peppers, and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, wine and sugar, and bring it all to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it thickens, usually 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sauce cool before using.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (or as hot as your oven will get). Seriously, the hotter the oven, the better. If using a pizza stone, preheat it along with the oven.
• It's time to shape the dough. Take one piece of dough and shape into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. I use a rolling pin to make it completely even, but you can also just use your hands (use a light touch). With a fork, prick the entire surface of the dough and bake for approximately 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, and let it cool for 5 minutes. Top with tomato sauce, and add your favorite toppings. Going TOO thick on toppings may result in a soggy crust so be careful. Return to the oven and bake for another 8-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and begins to brown. Repeat with the second half of dough or store it in your fridge for later!