This easy pizza dough recipe uses 6 simple ingredients to create a pizza crust that everyone will love. Elevate your weeknight dinners and family meals to new heights with this delicious and easy-to-make dough.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the warm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let the mixture stand until it is very frothy on top, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the flour, olive oil, salt and remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar to the bloomed yeast. Attach the dough hook and mix on low for about 1 minute. Increase to medium-low speed until the dough comes together in a ball, is smooth, and springs back when poked, about 5 minutes.
Shape the dough into a tight ball on the counter and place it in a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free place to rise until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
When the dough has doubled, punch it down and shape it into a 12” circle on a lightly floured surface, making a thicker rim around the outside edge. Transfer the dough to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet or pizza pan and reshape into a circle if needed. Brush the rim with olive oil if desired, and top with sauce and your choice of pizza toppings or as directed by your recipe.
Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
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Notes
Don’t use hot water. You will want to use water that is 100-100°F, or that is warm to the touch. Avoid using hot water, as it will kill the yeast and the dough won’t rise properly.
Use Instant yeast for a faster rise. Instant yeast rises faster but also doesn’t need to be bloomed. If using instant (or rapid-rise) yeast, skip step 1 and whisk together the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt, in the mixing bowl. Add the water and olive oil, then continue as directed.
Use bread flour or 00 flour for more chew. All-purpose flour makes great pizza dough, but if you want a slightly chewier crust, use the same amount of bread flour or 00 pizza flour. Some name 00 flour the best flour for pizza because it is finely ground Italian flour that contains less gluten than all-purpose or bread flour. Not everyone can notice the difference in taste, but pizza experts claim 00 flour will give you the perfect amount of elasticity in every bite.
Flavor your crust. You can add dried herbs or other spices to flavor the dough. I like adding 1 tablespoon of Italian herb seasoning, dried basil, or garlic powder for extra flavor. Add seasonings when you add the flour.
Mix the dough by hand. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can easily make this dough by hand. Combine the ingredients as directed in a large mixing bowl and stir together with a wooden spoon. Once the dough has formed a ball, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and knead it by hand until it’s smooth and elastic.