Beths Pizza Crust Recipes

THE BEST PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, sugar, dry milk, butter or margarine, yeast, and warm water. Gather into a ball. Turn out an a lightly floured surface, and knead until the dough is smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover with a damp cloth, and place in a warm spot for 2 hours.
• Punch down the dough. Roll out to fit a 14 inch pizza pan. Allow to rise until doubled in size.
• Bake at 375 degrees F ( 190 degrees C) until crust is a very light brown color. Remove from oven.
• Place desired toppings on the pizza. Bake for 20 minutes, or until toppings are done.

BETH'S PERFECT AND EASY HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in water.
• Combine flour and salt in large mixing bowl.
• Make a well in center of flour and with your hands, work in 1/2 of the yeast mixture.
• Add olive oil and then continue to work in the rest of the yeast mixture.
• Add 1 tablespoon of water if necessary to make dough soft and smooth.
• Turn dough onto flat surface and knead for 10 minutes.
• Oil a large mixing bowl and place dough in it, turning on dough over to get oil on all sides.
• Cover with damp towel and let rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat pizza stone in oven at 500 degrees.
• Divide pizza dough in half. Roll out each half into 12-14" circles making crusts about 1/8" thick.
• Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cornmeal onto pizza peal. Place 1 pizza crust on pizza peal and lightly brush with olive oil. Add all ingredients you want on your pizza.
• Slide pizza from peel onto preheated pizza stone in the oven. Cook until crust is crisp and golden, about 15-20 minutes.
• DOUGH CAN BE FROZEN: After rising, shape dough into 2 balls a, wrap and freeze. To use, thaw at room temperature and roll out as described.

BETH'S PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Combine yeast and warm water.
• Stir until dissolved.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Let rest 5 minutes.
• Roll out to size and shape you need.
• (I have used this same size recipe in jelly roll pans and on round baking stones.) Bake at 450* for 15 minutes or until golden.
• A couple tips: Sometimes I omit the sugar.
• Instead, I add several good shakes of Italian seasoning mix (just dried herbs).
• Use your imagination, this is hard to mess up.

PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast. Add 3 tablespoons oil and the warm water. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough of the remaining flour until dough is soft and leaves side of bowl. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead 5 to 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; let rest 30 minutes.
• For Thin Crusts: Heat oven to 425°F. Grease two flat cookie sheets or 12-inch pizza pans with oil. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into 12-inch circle on one of the cookie sheets. Partially bake 7 to 8 minutes or until crusts just begin to brown. Add desired toppings; bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. For Thick Crusts: Grease two 8-inch square pans, or two 9-inch round pans with oil. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Divide dough in half. Pat each half in bottom of one of the pans. Cover loosely with clean kitchen towel; let dough rise in warm place 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size. Move oven racks to lowest positions. Heat oven to 375°F. Partially bake 20 to 22 minutes or until crust just begins to brown. Add desired toppings; bake about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.