Pioneer Woman Pizza Crust Recipes

HOW TO MAKE A CLASSIC CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• After you've made the dough, divide it in half and let come to room temperature, uncovered, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet on the oven floor and preheat to 500˚.
• On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out 1 piece of dough into a 12-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Dust a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet with cornmeal and lay the dough on top.
• Spread half of the sauce on the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Top with half of the provolone, then with half each of the mozzarella and parmesan.
• Slide the pizza onto the hot stone or baking sheet and bake until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted, 10 to 12 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough and toppings. Makes 2 12-inch pizzas.

HOW TO MAKE AND FREEZE PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine yeast, warm water, and sugar, and let sit for 10 minutes. The liquid should be foamy and bubbly, indicating that the yeast is alive.
• Add the bread flour, olive oil, and salt. Stir using the dough hook or a wooden spoon, until roughly combined. Fit the bowl and the dough hook onto the stand mixer and knead on medium-low speed for 10 minutes, until smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for about 30 minutes, until the dough has doubled in size.
• Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide into four even pieces. Shape each piece of dough into a ball.
• The dough is now ready to be rolled out and baked, or ready to be frozen.
• To freeze the pizza dough: place the pizza dough balls into resealable plastic bags. Make sure that if you put multiple balls of dough in one bag, you use parchment paper or wax paper to keep them separated.
• To thaw: place the pizza dough in the refrigerator the morning before you want to make dinner, then roll and bake as usual.
• To bake: preheat the oven to 500˚. Roll the thawed (or freshly made) dough and bake each pizza about 10 to 15 minutes.

BASIC PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk to combine and then let sit until bubbles have formed on the top, about 10 minutes. Add the flour, olive oil and salt and mix with the dough hook on medium-low speed until the dough comes together, about 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high and knead until the dough is shiny and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour. Punch down the dough, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 3 days before making your pizzas. Makes enough dough for 2 12-inch pizzas.

BUTTERNUT CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Toss the squash cubes with the olive oil and salt. Spread out in one layer on a baking sheet and roast until tender, stirring once, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven. Tip the squash into a bowl and mash until fairly smooth to make about 2 cups of puree.
• To the puree, add the flour, shredded Parmesan, egg, baking powder and Italian seasoning, then mix until well incorporated.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly coat with cooking spray. Spread the mixture into a 12-inch circle on the baking sheet, spreading into an even layer with the back of a spoon or spatula. Bake until lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
• While the pizza cooks, make the pesto: In a food processor, combine the arugula, basil, almonds, grated Parmesan, lemon juice and olive oil, then puree until smooth.
• Remove the pizza crust from the oven and carefully slide onto a serving plate or cutting board using a metal spatula (the crust is not super fragile but is more fragile than a regular pizza base).
• Top with the pesto and spread it, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
• For the toppings: Add the arugula, prosciutto and Parmesan shavings. Drizzle with the balsamic glaze.

CAST-IRON PIZZA

Steps:

• Place a 12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven and preheat to 500 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, roll or stretch the dough into a 14-inch circle. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Drizzle two thirds of the olive oil into the skillet, then carefully transfer the dough to the skillet, pressing the dough up the edges. Spread the sauce over the dough, making sure to get all the way to the edges. Shingle the pepperoni over the sauce and top with the mozzarella pearls. Brush the exposed dough with the remaining olive oil. Bake on the bottom rack until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Transfer to a cutting board, top with torn basil, cut into slices and serve.

STUFFED PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Roll and stretch out the risen dough on a floured work surface into a rope about 31 inches long. Press a rolling pin into the dough to create a trench and roll it to a rectangle about 3 inches wide.
• Keeping a 1/2-inch border on each long side of the dough, smear the remaining dough with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Spread the surface with a nice thin layer of the Arrabbiata Sauce, then sprinkle with the Parmesan, mozzarella and pepperoni. Arrange the string cheese pieces on top in a double line. Fold the long sides of the dough up over the center (over the string cheese) and pinch the edges together well so there's no leakage. Bring the ends together to form a circle.
• Drizzle a baking sheet with olive oil. Carefully transfer the dough circle to the prepared baking sheet, flipping it over before putting it on the sheet so the seam side is down. Brush the egg wash over the surface of the dough. Bake until the edges of the crust are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a board to rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
• Arrange the tomato slices and basil leaves in concentric circles in the middle of the pizza crust ring and serve with a dish of the remaining Arrabbiata Sauce on the side for dipping.
• Heat a pan over medium-high heat until hot and add the olive oil. Throw in the red pepper flakes and onions, give them a stir and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the wine, whisking to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Cook until the liquid reduces by half. Add the crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning and stir to combine. Add a pinch of sugar and some salt. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.