Thin Crust Pizza Dough

I have always cooked my pizzas on a pizza pan and have been happy with that method. However I recently discovered a new and better way to cook my homemade pizzas. This new method is an alternative for those who do not have a pizza stone, like me, and it cooks the pizza perfectly.

Here is how you do it. Take a baking sheet and turn it upside down and place it in the oven before you preheat the oven. You want the baking sheet to be the same temperature as the oven when you put the pizza on it. Next you make the pizza on a piece of parchment paper and transfer the parchment paper and pizza to the preheat oven and baking sheet.

This particular pizza recipe is all about the crust, the thin crust. You can top it with any toppings you prefer and use any sauce you choose. Our favorite toppings happens to be pepperoni, green olives and banana peppers so that is what I used. I also used my go to homemade pizza sauce recipe which you can find here. This recipe makes two pizzas.

Thin Crust Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

Dough

• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon rapid rise yeast
• 1 1/3 cups ice water
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Toppings

• pizza sauce (not included in nutritional info)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• desired pizza toppings (not included in nutritional info)

Directions:

1. In a food processor add in the flour, sugar, yeast and process for 2 seconds.
2. While the machine is running slowly add in the water and process until all the ingredients are combined and no dry flour remains, about 10 seconds.
3. Let the dough rest in the food processor for 10 minutes.
4. Add the oil and salt to the dough in the food processor and process until it forms a sticky ball the cleans the sides of the food processor.
5. Remove the dough from the food processor and knead on a lightly oiled surface for about 1 minutes or until dough is smooth.
6. Shape the dough into a tight ball and place in a large lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 24 hours or up to 3 days.
7. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it in half.
8. Shape each half into a tight ball and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray. Let rest for 1 hour.
9. Place a baking sheet upside down on the middle rack in the oven and preheat the oven and pan to 500º F.
10. Coat one ball lightly with flour and place on a floured surface. Gently flatten the dough into an 8 inch disk making the outer edge slightly thicker then the middle. Use your hands to gently stretch the dough, turning it 1/4 inch with each stretch, until it is roughly 12 inches round. Place the dough onto a large piece of parchment paper.
11. Spread on your desired amount of pizza sauce, half of the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and your desired pizza toppings.
12. Place parchment paper and pizza on preheated baking sheet in oven.
13. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and begins to brown.
14. Remove parchment paper and pizza.
15. Repeat with other pizza dough.

Enjoy!!!

Serves: 8
Calories: 284
Total Fat: 8.1g
   Saturated: 4.1g
   Polyunsaturated: 0.7g
   Monounsaturated: 2.8g
   Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 23.6mg
Sodium: 419mg
Potassium: 36.6mg
Total Carbs: 35.2g
   Dietary Fiber: 0.8g
   Sugars: 2.2g
Protein: 15.4g
Vitamin A: 3.3%
Vitamin C: 0%
Calcium: 29.2%
Iron: 12.9%
*The nutritional information will vary slightly depending on the brands you use.
*Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker.