Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 3 cups warm water (110–115 degrees F)
  • 3 tablespoons rapid rise yeast
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6-6½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornmeal
  • olive oil (for brushing)
  • 2 cups pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 6-8 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 teaspoons pizza seasoning (optional)
  • 2 cups pepperoni (mix of regular and mini)
  • sausage crumbles, chopped peppers, chopped bacon (optional)

Instruction

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven to preheat as well.
  • If making homemade dough instead of using store-bought dough: In a large bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar and let sit for 5 minutes, or until bubbly.
  • Add salt and oil, then mix in flour 1 cup at a time with a wooden spoon until combined and the dough is soft and slightly sticky. Knead for about 3 minutes (dough will be sticky and will stick to your hands).
  • Cover the dough with a tea towel and let rise at room temperature for 30–45 minutes.
  • This dough makes four 12-inch pizza crusts. Divide dough into four pieces and roll each out onto a floured surface to about ½ inch thick.
  • Sprinkle cornmeal onto a pizza peel and, working with one crust at a time, transfer the rolled-out dough to the peel. Brush with olive oil and poke with a fork a few times to eliminate bubbling while baking.
  • At this point, there are a few different ways to cook the dough. The first is our favorite, if you have a pizza stone: Use the peel to transfer the crust to the preheated pizza stone and blind bake for 6–8 minutes. Remove from the oven, add sauce, cheese, pizza seasoning, pepperoni, and any other desired toppings, and bake for 8–10 more minutes.
  • If you don’t have a pizza stone, use a peel to transfer the crust to the preheated baking sheet and blind bake for 6–8 minutes. Remove from the oven, add toppings and bake for 8–10 more minutes.
  • To skip blind baking: While the dough is still on the peel, add sauce, cheese, pizza seasoning, and other toppings. Transfer the pizza to the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes
  • Repeat with the remaining crusts and toppings.