Homemade Pizza Dough

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I told my Aunty the next time she makes our Homemade Pizza Dough, to call me so I could go over to her place and watch her prepare it and write down the recipe. This pizza dough recipe requires only a few simple ingredients, and you don’t need any fancy equipment to achieve a fluffy, crispy, flavourful pizza dough. If you have a mixer, great, use it, but if you don’t, this recipe can be made using just your hands; not even a rolling pin is required for this Homemade Pizza Dough recipe.

This recipe is my Nonna’s, and for as long as I can remember she was the Queen of homemade pizza, and we all looked forward to her phone calls inviting us over for pizza night. Over the years, her pizza got better and better, and no one in the family could replicate her pizza dough. Every time she made pizza my Gramps was always was around, and would watch her prepare her dough and he starting remembering how she did things, and some of her tips and tricks. When my Nonna started getting sick, she wasn’t able to make pizza as well as she used to, and thats when my Gramps started making pizza. After my Nonna passed away, my Gramps made pizza a lot. He would call of us grandkids over when he did (there’s 4 of us) and each time we went for pizza we noticed that his pizza was getting better and better, and started to really taste like Nonna’s. It was perfect. Since my Gramps passed, my Aunty has perfected our Homemade Pizza Dough recipe, and I have to share it with you guys, because I promise this is the best damn pizza dough that you’ll ever make.

This is my Nonna, making her famous Homemade Pizza Dough. I miss her. So much.

Here is both my Nonna and Gramps sitting on the patio after a full day of pizza making.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make my Homemade Pizza Dough. For the exact detailed measurements and ingredients, scroll to the bottom of this page to review my recipe card.

  • Yeast: We use the Fleischmann’s traditional yeast.
  • Warm water: Adding warm water will reduce the rise time of your dough.
  • Flour: We use 00 style pizza flour for this recipe. 00 flour has a more fine texture than regular flour which results in a very soft, flavourful crust.
  • Olive oil: Using olive oil will add a delicious flavour to the pizza dough.
  • Salt: This is a must when making pizza dough as it adds much needed flavour.
  • Sugar: Helps to tenderize the dough and helps to achieve a golden crust.

7 steps to make homemade pizza dough

  1. Make the dough: using a mixer or large bowl, add your flour and salt. Slowly add in your water/yeast/salt/sugar/olive oil mixture.
  2. Knead the dough: knead the dough using a mixer or by hand.
  3. Add dough to a large bowl: add the dough to a large bowl, cover with saran wrap and let proof for about 2 hours, or until it has risen to the top of the bowl/doubled in size.
  4. Punch: and shape into pizza dough balls.
  5. Lay on a flat floured surface: for about 20 minutes, until the dough comes to room temperature.
  6. Add to a pizza tray: top with sauce, toppings and shredded mozzarella.
  7. Bake

Substitutions & FAQ’s

If I don’t have a proof option on my oven, can I still make this pizza dough?
Yes! Cover your large bowl that has the dough in it with saran wrap and then add a t-towel on the top, and put it in your oven. I also recommend adding your t-towel to the dryer for 5 minutes to heat up before adding it on top of your bowl to help it rise.

Can I use regular flour instead of 00 flour?
Yes, although I recommend sifting the regular flour.

What type of salt should I use in this recipe?
Regular table salt works great.

Can I freeze my uncooked pizza dough?
You sure can. Once the dough has risen and you’ve shaped them into pizza dough balls, lightly coat all sides with olive oil and add to your freezer safe bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Be sure to remove as much air from the bag as possible.

Watch the recipe video

Watch the recipe video on Instagram

Homemade Pizza Dough

This is my families tried and true homemade pizza dough recipe. My Nonna has passed this recipe down and it's truly the best pizza dough we've ever had. It's crispy and golden on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside. If you are looking for a pizza dough recipe, look no further, this one is it.
Prep: 2 hours
Cook: 15 minutes
Servings: 10 people

Equipment

  • 1 stand mixer or large bowl

Ingredients 

  • 9 cups 00 flour
  • 1.5 tsp traditional yeast, we use Fleischmann's
  • 4.5 cups warm water
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, to the water/yeast mixture
  • 1 tsp sugar, to the water/yeast mixture
  • 1 heaping tbsp table salt, to the flour mixture
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, to the large bowl

Instructions 

  • To a small bowl, add your warm water, yeast, sugar, and 1 tbsp of olive oil.
    Mix to combine.
  • To a stand mixture, add your flour and salt.
    Begin by mixing on a low speed.
    Slowly add your water/yeast mixture, and continue mixing for 5-6 minutes until everything has been combined well.
    Once the dough has mixed for at least 5 minutes and you can grab it with your hands without it sticking completely, it's ready.
  • To a large bowl, add a generous amount of olive oil to the bottom, about 2 tbsp. Rub it all over the sides of the bowl.
  • Add your dough to the large bowl and cover the dough with the olive oil in the bowl, shaping into a large ball.
    Tip: watch my video attached above for a visual.
  • Cover your bowl with saran wrap, turn your oven to proof, and proof for about 2 hours, or until the dough has risen to the top of the bowl or has doubled in size.
    Tip 1: if you do not have a proof option on your oven, cover your bowl with saran wrap, then a t-towel, and then place in your oven, as this will still keep it warm enough even though it will not be turned on.
    Tip 2: add your t-towel to the dryer for 5 minutes to get warm before adding to the top of your bowl. This will help the dough rise if you do not have a proof option on your oven.
  • Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently and form into at least 5 pizza dough balls.
  • Spinkle flour on a a large baking sheet, add your pizza dough balls, cover with a t-towel and let come to room temperature. About 20 minutes. Your dough will also continue to rise as it sits.
  • Spray your pizza trays generously with pam or vegetable oil, add your pizza dough and stretch so it hits the edges of the pan.
  • Top with tomato sauce and your favourite toppings.
  • Bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 10 people

About Sammy Montgoms

I am so glad you are here. I am a BIG foodie gal. I am one of those people who lives to eat, rather than eats to live. I love to create nostalgic Italian dishes (especially pasta), but I also love to whip up simple and quick recipes for my family. Hopefully, my page inspires you to do the same. Thank you for being here, and happy eating!

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2 Comments

  1. A quick questionโ€ฆ When in your recipes you list salt, exactly what kind of salt are you using? There are so many different kinds, all with different levels of saltiness. Especially in things like pizza or bread dough, it’s critical to get it right. So please let us know. Thanks.