Pizza Dough

Thanks to Annie (and her amazing blog) I am no longer afraid to make dough at home: pizza dough, pie crust, buns, etc. I can't believe it was this easy and I always have the ingredients in my pantry! Here is step-by-step instructions for my favorite, pizza dough!

First, find some instant yeast (fast-rising). If you are in Indiana and have Kroger, then this is suitable. Normally I buy a different brand but this was all they had at the time.

Next, in a stand mixer with the dough hook, mix the flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar and yeast until mixed well.

Melt your butter and add the water to it.

Then, add that mixture to the bowl of your stand mixer. Mix on low speed until fully incorporated into the dough mixture.

Increase the speed to medium and continue to allow mixer to knead until it forms a dough ball and it starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. You may need to stop the mixer and scrape the sides and/or bottom occasionally.

Lightly oil a small mixing bowl and place the dough ball into it. Cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm area (I find window sills with light are the best).

In about 45-60 minutes, the dough will have doubled. Sidenote: I have left it for several hours before and it just continues to rise so don't allow it to sit for too much longer than this.

If you would like to freeze your dough, stop here and wrap the dough in plastic wrap AND place in a ziplock freezer bag. The dough may continue to rise so if it breaks through the plastic, you still have the ziplock for extra protection from freezer burn.

Next, using the softened butter .. laminate the dough. The butter shown below is TOO softened. It should NOT be melted at all.

To laminate the dough, simply roll out the dough on a clean, floured work surface into a 9x2 rectangle. No need to be perfect on this measurement.

Using your fingers, make a 1-inch crust on the outsides of the dough. Then, using a baster, baste the softened butter onto the middle of the dough.

Fold the dough like a three-fold letter.

Pinch the sides of the dough to close and form a ball again.

Allow to rise in same oiled bowl with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for about 40-50 minutes, until doubled.

Once the dough is doubled you can roll it out and place it into your pizza dish, cook and top with your favorite toppings!

Pizza Dough

Adapted from: Annie's Eats, originally Cooks Illustrated

Yields 1 9-inch deep dish pizza crust

1½ cups plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

¼ cup yellow cornmeal
¾ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 1/8 tsp instant yeast
½ cup plus 2 Tbsp water, at room temperature
1½ Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp olive oil
2 Tbsp butter, softened
 
In a stand mixer with the dough hook, mix the flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar and yeast until mixed well. Then, add your melted butter and water to the bowl of your stand mixer. Mix on low speed until fully incorporated into the dough mixture. Increase the speed to medium and continue to allow mixer to knead until it forms a dough ball and it starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. You may need to stop the mixer and scrape the sides and/or bottom occasionally.
 
Lightly oil a small mixing bowl and place the dough ball into it. Cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm area (I find window sills with light are the best). In about 45-60 minutes, the dough will have doubled. Next, using the softened butter .. laminate the dough.
 
To laminate the dough, simply roll out the dough on a clean, floured work surface into a 9x2 rectangle. No need to be perfect on this measurement. Using your fingers, make a 1-inch crust on the outsides of the dough. Then, using a baster, baste the softened butter onto the middle of the dough. Fold the dough like a three-fold letter and pinch the sides of the dough to close and form a ball again.
 
Allow to rise in same oiled bowl with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for about 40-50 minutes, until doubled. Once the dough is doubled you can roll it out and place it into your pizza dish, cook and top with your favorite toppings! Here is a great deep-dish style pizza recipe for you!