Pizza Dough (using

Happy National Pepperoni Pizza day! Decided to try this recipe to compare it to our usual dough recipe, which uses the bread machine (recipe actually came in the machine's booklet). Really like this one, it's just as easy as the bread machine one and bakes more quickly. We will be using this regularly!

Original recipe link: https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/best-pizza-dough/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

2 c. water at 98-105°F

1 pinch sugar

1 1/2 T. active dry yeast

2 T. olive oil

630g (5 1/4 c.) all-purpose flour (I used unbleached)

1/2 T. salt

Directions:

1. Add the water to the bowl of a stand mixer, followed by sugar and yeast. Do not stir yet. Let sit for 10 min.

2. After waiting, stir mixture and equip mixer with dough hook. Add the olive oil, flour, and salt. Start mixer on speed 1 to combine ingredients. Stop and scrape down the sides of bowl, then put mixer on speed 2. Mix for 6 minutes.

3. Lightly oil a large bowl. Transfer dough to bowl and cover with a towel (or plate, which is what I used). Let rest in a draft-free area. Note to self: I used the bread proof setting on my oven, left on for about 15-20 min, then turned off and left dough in the warmth for another 30 min or so. The dough had risen a lot already, so I took it out, punched it down, then left it on the stovetop. It was ready at about 1h45 min (original recipe said to go 2 hours).

4. To make pizza: Heat oven to 450°F. Lightly oil pizza pans (I used 2 circular 16" pans). Lightly dust your hands with flour and divide the dough into 2 (or 3) portions. Place each portion on its pan and dust lightly with a sprinkle of flour. Work and pat dough until it is even thickness and reaches the pan edge(s). 

5. Top with sauce and desired toppings except cheese* (see note at end of this direction). Bake for 8 minutes, then remove, top with cheese, and bake for 8-10 additional minutes.  *if you are doing cheese only, go ahead and add it, bake for whole 16-18 minutes with the cheese on*

6. Let rest on pan for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!