How to Make Pizza Dough: A Perfect Guide to Perfect Homemade Pizza Dough

There's something special about homemade pizza. The crunchy crust, the just-right amount of sauce, and the pride of knowing it was all done by your own hands.

But first, before we get to that yummy pizza, we have to discuss the most crucial ingredient of all—pizza dough. If you've ever been curious about how to make pizza dough from scratch, you're in the right place.

This guide walks you through step by step to create the perfect pizza dough recipe, whether you're a total novice or a seasoned pro.

What is Pizza Dough?

Pizza dough is a lean bread dough, or no-fat (with the exception of olive oil in most recipes) dough. It consists of a few ingredients: flour, water, yeast, salt, and sugar. The yeast rises the dough and gives it a chewy bite, and the flour offers structure and flavor.

Home-making of pizza dough is not as complicated as it seems. Using the correct pizza dough recipe and a bit of patience, you can have fresh and delicious homemade pizza.

Ingredients for Pizza Dough Recipe

You will require the following before you make this homemade pizza dough recipe:

1. Flour: 3 ½ cups all-purpose or bread flour. Bread flour for a chewy crust.
2. Yeast: 2 teaspoons of active dry yeast. Ensure it's fresh—old yeast can lead to a dough that doesn't rise as expected.
3. Water: 1 ¼ cups of warm water (around 110°F or 45°C). It's crucial to get the water temperature just right to activate the yeast.
4. Sugar: 1 tablespoon. Sugar is used to feed the yeast, allowing it to bloom and rise.
5. Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon. It helps to enrich the dough and to get a crisper crust.
6. Salt: 1 teaspoon. It provides flavor and regulates yeast development.

The Best Flour for Making Pizza Dough

It really does make a gigantic difference what flour you use when you make pizza dough. Here’s how you choose:

• Bread Flour: This is usually the best choice for pizza dough as bread flour contains more protein (around 12-14%) than all-purpose flour and will provide your dough with that wonderful chewy texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: If you do not have bread flour, you can substitute with all-purpose flour, but the crust will not be chewy.
• Gluten-Free Flour: When preparing gluten-free pizza dough, try a high-quality gluten-free flour blend, or better still, buy a gluten-free pizza dough mix.

How to Make Easy Pizza Dough (Step-by-Step Guide)

Now that you have your ingredients in hand, let's dive into the details of how to make pizza dough. Don't worry—it's simpler than it seems!

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Put 1 ¼ cups of warm water and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a bowl. Sprinkle the yeast atop the water and allow it to sit for around 5 minutes until it has turned foamy.

If the mixture doesn’t foam, your yeast may be expired, and you’ll need to start again with fresh yeast.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Mix them together until well incorporated. Once your yeast mixture is foamy, pour it into the bowl with the dry ingredients along with the olive oil.

Step 3: Combine and Knead the Dough

Combine the ingredients until they begin to come together in a dough. Then transfer the dough to a work surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, or until elastic and smooth.

The dough will be tender but not sticky. If the dough gets too sticky, add a little more flour gradually, about a tablespoon at a time.

Step 4: Let the Dough Rise

Put the dough into a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean cloth. Let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.

Pro tip: To accelerate the process, you can put the bowl into a warm oven (not heated) to make the dough rise quicker.

Step 5: Shape the Dough

Once your dough has risen, punch it down to remove any air bubbles. Divide it into 2-3 pieces, depending on how large you'd like your pizzas.

Roll each piece into a ball and then flatten it out using your hands or rolling pin to your desired pizza shape.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

A serving of home-made pizza dough contains approximately:

• Calories: 210-250 (this will vary depending on the flour used)
• Carbohydrates: 44g
• Protein: 6g
• Fat: 3g

This leaves pizza dough a pretty healthy base, particularly when you pile on the good toppings!

How to Stretch Pizza Dough

Your dough is now ready, so it's time to stretch it into a pizza base. Here's how you do it:

1. Flour your surface: Lightly flour your counter so that the dough does not stick.
2. Gently press: Begin by pressing the dough flat into a circle with your fingers.
3. Stretch: Once flattened, stretch it gently by holding the edges and turning it round and round. Or use a rolling pin. 
4. Don't overwork: The secret to a good pizza crust is to not overwork the dough. Overstretching thins out in some areas and creates holes.

Can I Flavor My Pizza Dough?

Yes! Pizza dough doesn't have to be boring. You can mix herbs and spices right into the dough for added flavor. 

Some of our favorites include:

• Garlic powder for a hint of garlic.
• Dried oregano for an Italian flavor.
• Grated Parmesan cheese for a cheesy, rich crust.

Mix these ingredients with the flour before adding the wet ingredients for a flavorful dough.

Can I Freeze Homemade Pizza Dough?

Yes, and it's so easy! Simply follow these instructions:

1. Divide the dough once it has risen.
2. Wrap each portion tightly with plastic wrap.
3. Store the wrapped dough in a freezer bag and freeze for no longer than 3 months.
4. To thaw, thaw the dough overnight in the refrigerator or leave at room temperature for 1-2 hours before shaping.

How to Use Homemade Pizza Dough

Homemade pizza dough is extremely versatile and can be utilized for much more than pizza. Once you learn to make pizza dough, you'll discover that there's a wonderful variety of dishes you can prepare with it.

Some ideas for utilizing your homemade dough are as follows:

• Calzones: A calzone is essentially a pizza folded in half and sealed to create a deliciously stuffed pocket. If you’re craving pizza but want something a little different, calzones are a great option.
• Garlic Bread: Garlic bread made from pizza dough is a real treat. It’s soft, buttery, and has the chewy texture of homemade pizza dough.
• Pizza Rolls: These little pizza rolls are ideal for parties or simply a snack. Roll them up with your favorite pizza toppings and bake crispy.
• Breadsticks: Homemade pizza dough makes excellent breadsticks. Soft, warm, and a great side dish to any meal.
• Focaccia: Focaccia is Italian flatbread, and it's an excellent way to repurpose your pizza dough. The dough is usually pressed into a baking pan, topped with olive oil, rosemary, and other seasonings, and baked.

Also, here’s a quick homemade pizza recipe from scratch, detailing all the pizza ingredients, pizza base and everything else you will need! 

Troubleshooting Common Pizza Dough Problems

Making pizza dough at home can be a blast, but sometimes everything doesn't work out. Don't worry; even experienced pizza makers have issues!

Following are quick tips to guide you through how to troubleshoot and fix some typical pizza dough problems.

1. Too Sticky Dough

The most common problem in making pizza dough is that dough can get too sticky to handle. Sticky dough can become difficult to knead or mold like pizza.

Solution: One quick solution is to add more flour to the dough and knead again. Do not overdo it, as this may dry out the dough.

2. Dough Doesn't Rise

If your dough fails to rise, the problem may be with the yeast or the rising conditions.

Solution: Ensure that your yeast is fresh. At times the dough will take longer. Allow it to rise for a longer duration and ensure it has doubled in volume before shaping.

3. Too Dry Dough

If the dough is dry and crumbly, then the dough may lack moisture or excessive flour was used.

Solution: Add water little by little (a teaspoon at a time) until it can hold together. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes after adding water to determine if it relaxes.

4. Dough Turns Hard After Baking

If your dough turns hard or rubbery when it comes out of the oven, it's probably because it was over-kneaded when it was being kneaded or baked too long.

Solution: Knead the dough just enough to make it smooth and elastic. Over-kneading can make the dough too tough.

Use a Pizza Stone: If you’re not using a pizza stone, try adding one to your kitchen arsenal. A preheated pizza stone helps the dough cook more evenly and crisply.

5. Dough is Too Soft and Doesn’t Hold Shape

Sometimes the dough will be too sticky to stretch or shape into a base for the pizza. It will most likely occur when the dough is over-wet or under-kneaded.

Solution: Add more kneading time for another couple of minutes. This provides the dough with gluten, which provides the dough with structure.

By employing these tips and tricks, you can repair most issues with pizza dough and achieve the ideal crust every time.

Don't get discouraged if it doesn't turn out right at first—it's all part of the learning curve. With practice, you'll be a pizza dough master in no time!

Final Thoughts

Working with homemade pizza dough is an enjoyable and simple process. Before long, after gaining some experience, you'll have the perfect crust every time. Whether you're a pizza aficionado or a beginner cook, this recipe will bring you to pizza perfection.

Want to get expert guidance? Try out this super amazing pizza making workshop by Vivre Experiences and explore the secrets of pizza making as you knead and top your way to perfection.

So get your ingredients out, roll up your sleeves, and have a good time—because one of the pleasures of life is making pizza from scratch. Happy baking!

FAQs

1. For how long does homemade pizza dough rise?

A general time is 1-2 hours, depending on the temperature. The dough will have doubled in size when you are ready to use it.

2. Can I make pizza dough using all-purpose flour?

Yes! All-purpose flour works perfectly for pizza dough, but if you want chewier crust, then you can use bread flour.

3. Can I make pizza dough without yeast?

You may, but it will not have the same consistency or taste. If you omit the yeast, you may use a baking powder dough.

4. How do I store leftover pizza dough?

Wrap the dough securely in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 days. It can be frozen for 3 months as well.

5. Can I freeze pizza dough?

Yes! Punch the dough down, ball it, and cover it after it's risen. Store in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 months.

6. How do I properly stretch pizza dough?

Stretch dough slowly with hands on a surface lightly floured. Never roll out with a rolling pin in order to preserve the crust's texture.

7. How can I tell whether my yeast is still active?

Mix together sugar and warm water and yeast. If it foams or bubbles in 5-10 minutes, then it's active and can be used.

8. Can I prepare the pizza dough in advance?

Yes! Prepare the dough 24 hours before and keep it refrigerated. Bring to room temperature when ready to use.

9. Why is my pizza dough sticky?

This may be caused by too much moisture or insufficient flour. Gradually incorporate some flour to make it manageable.

10. Can I season my pizza dough?

Yes! You can even include herbs such as garlic, rosemary, or oregano in the dough for additional flavor before baking.