Description
This classic school pizza recipe is a delightful homemade version that brings back joyful memories of simple, satisfying meals. Featuring a soft, hand-kneaded dough topped with savory pizza sauce, melted mozzarella, and pepperoni slices, this easy-to-make pizza is perfect for family dinners or casual get-togethers.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet instant yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup warm water
Topping Ingredients
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it is ready for baking the pizza at the right temperature.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 packet of instant yeast, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir together until evenly blended.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 cup of warm water to the dry ingredients. Stir with a spoon until a rough dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for 5 to 7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which develops gluten for a good texture.
- Let Dough Rise: Place the kneaded dough back in the bowl, cover it with a clean cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise for about 20 minutes until it doubles in size and becomes puffy.
- Roll Out Dough: Once risen, gently punch down the dough and roll it out on a floured surface to your desired thickness and size to fit your pizza stone or baking sheet.
- Prepare the Base: Place the rolled-out dough onto a pizza stone or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased.
- Apply Sauce: Spread 1 cup of pizza sauce evenly across the surface of the dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the sauce-covered dough to cover it well.
- Top with Pepperoni: Arrange 1 cup of pepperoni slices evenly on top of the cheese, ensuring good coverage for flavor.
- Bake Pizza: Place your pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- For a crispier crust, prebake the rolled dough for 5 minutes before adding sauce and toppings.
- You can substitute pepperoni with other favorite toppings like mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives.
- Make sure water is warm (about 110°F/43°C) to activate yeast without killing it.
- Letting the dough rise longer (up to 1 hour) will develop more flavor and texture.
- Use a pizza stone for best heat distribution and a crispier crust if available.
