The best thing about making pizza at home is that everyone can make their own pizza and top it any way they want. I like to add roasted garlic and sun dried tomatoes to mine, but the kids rarely stray from good old pepperoni and cheese. Another great reason to make pizza at home is it’s easier to make it a healthier. We use a lot less cheese and I add whole wheat flour to the crust.
I adapted this recipe from a pizza dough recipe I found online at A Year In Bread. I have tried others, but keep coming back to this one. The dough stretches easily and the honey and olive oil give it a great flavor. You can make it crispy or chewy depending on how thick you roll out the dough. This will make two 12 inch pizzas, but I usually make four individual 8 inch pizzas.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (between 95º and 115º)
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 cup bread flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 US package) instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons vital wheat gluten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- 1 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes in rich puree
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Directions
- Whisk together the honey, warm water, and oil in a small bowl. The water should be about 95 to 115°. It should feel very warm, but not hot.
- Mix 1 cup bread flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour, yeast, wheat gluten, and salt in mixing bowl, using the paddle attachment, mix on low for about 30 seconds.
- With the motor running on low, pour in the liquids. Continue mixing until a shaggy dough begins to form. Clean off paddle and switch to dough hook. Mix in the remaining cup of bread flour a little at a time, to make a moderately stiff dough. Adding more or less flour as needed.
- Knead for eight minutes. The dough should completely clear the sides. If it is too sticky, add additional flour 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more flour is needed. If the dough seems too dry, spritz with water from a spray bottle a couple of times, mixing in thoroughly before determining if more water is needed. You'll find the dough wraps itself around the hook, so every 2 minutes, stop the machine, scrape the dough off the hook, and then continue kneading.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it a few times by hand to be sure it's tight and elastic. Form the dough into a tight ball.
- Wash and dry your mixing bowl then mist it with oil. Place the dough, seam-side down, in the bowl and lightly mist top of dough with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size — 45 minutes to an hour.
- Heat the oven to 450F. (If you are using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat while the dough is rising.)
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into two equal portions. Set one aside and cover with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. Shape the other portion into a round by hand.
- Place the rolling pin in the center of the round and push outward. Rotate the dough 1/4 turn and repeat. Continue until dough is about 12 inches across. Alternatively, you can stretch the dough by hand, which I do. The dough is quite elastic and will want to shrink, so don't rush it. Pause every now and then while shaping (whether by hand or with a rolling pen) to allow the dough to relax.
- Once dough is shaped, place on a sheet of parchment paper and top pizza as desired with sauce, cheese, and toppings.
- Using a pizza peel transfer pizza on parchment to a pizza stone in the oven. (You can trim the parchment so it is only slight larger than your pizza.)
- Bake 8 – 10 minutes, or until crust is golden browned and cheese is brown and melted. Let cool 5 minutes before cutting.
- In a small saucepan, sauté garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until sauce reaches desired thickness. Sauce may be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Notes
Homemade Pizza Sauce adapted from Allrecipes
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I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
I've always been too fearful to make pizza from scratch. This looks like it came out fantastic though, bravo!
So true mum and that looks great. We have only ordered pizza once in the last few years as we really enjoy making it at home!
xxx
This dough looks so nice. I am excited to have a recipe with wwheat. Can I have a slice of your pizza with the sun-dried tomatoes and roasted garlic?
Your pizza is gorgeous! Better than any pizzeria's take-out!
Wow. ¡Esa pizza se ve perfecta! Voy a guardar esta receta. Ya que voy a vivir con las hijas de mi novia, quiero incorporar harina de trigo y otros ingredientes más saludables. ¡Buenísimas fotos!
Looks real good. I havent made pizza in a while- too much heat. I am anxiously awaiting a cool down.
I love whole wheat pizza crust…a pizza restaurant in town offers it and it's so good! Your recipe sounds delicious! The photos are making me very hungry!
Your pizza looks so delicious, Barbara. I'm going to try your whole wheat crust recipe this weekend. I've spoiled everyone with homemade pizza and now can't go back to store bought.
Oh yum! Perfect for weekend easy party. Crust sounds delicious too.
I love whole wheat crust! You can't even tell it's healthy with all the pizza toppings!
my children like to act like they dislike wheat. i sneak it in whenever possible… they are clueless… this is another good chance to make them eat it!
Isn't whole wheat crust just yumm??!! I actually don't make 100% whole wheat at home (more like 33%) but hub once brought me whole wheat crust from the shop by mistake and only it's awesomeness saved him.. LOL
We haven't had takeout pizza in our house in years. The whole wheat and honey dough sounds like a delicious alternative to our usual crust. I'll give it a try next time.
Mimi
making pizza from the scratch is really a very helpful post…
I need a good tried and true pizza crust recipe. As soon as my oven gets fixed, this on the menu! With the Summer temps, I've been in no hurry to fix the oven or get a new one.
Stumbled!
I love making pizzas at home and am always looking for new recipes for pizza dough. I've tried whole wheat, but never with the vital wheat gluten or the honey. The pizza dough looks like it baked up to perfection!
homemade pizza is the best! this looks awesome, i really want to try that sauce out.
We do pizza at home regularly and I use the parchment, too. So much easier to work with the pizza! We usually don't do a tomato sauce – just olive oil and toppings, usually fresh mozzarella (small amounts)and conservative amounts of other toppings. My husband likes figs and goat cheese!
I am wondering if anyone has tried the Fleischman's pizza yeast?? Supposedly no rise yeast. I am a little nervous about using it. Anyone have any experience?
Nothing beats the homemade kind where we know exactly what goes into that pizza.
Your dough has excellent ingredients…especially the honey ;o)
Thanks for sharing and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Beautiful, Barbara! Do you think this crust would work as a grilled pizza?
Donna
I agree – there's nothing like homemade pizza.
I have dreamt so long about making home made pizza… throwing in everything that we like and that is good for us…
Thanks for sharing this recipe
Sawadee from bangkok,
Kris
Wow this looks so good, I would love to have a go at making homemade pizza it looks so fun
Homemade pizza just can't be beat! I love the whole wheat version of your dough. I'll have to make some up and give it a try on my grill.
Wow, your pizza looks awesome, professionally done…love the idea of homemade dough
I just found your site, we've actually made a lot of the same recipes! Your pizza looks great and I can't wait to try some of your other recipes as well.
Mmmmm, your pizza looks great Barbara-I love making pizza at home too.I can't wait to try your whole wheat crust.
Oh, this looks great!!! Adding to my weekly menu!! Hope you are doing well!
I like this pizza and this looks great! Come and see how my pizza looks like:)
I love homemade pizza here – the recipes sound great too, I will have to give your dough a try out!
here in northern jersey there are several pizzerias per town, but most don't have a whole wheat option. this looks fantastic, and i most definitely have to get the vital wheat gluten- thanks for that link. i guess i need the peel and stone too! lol.
Mmm, pizza! The addition of honey in the dough sounds really good (I already use olive oil for my pizza). Will try this next time
Ah yes, after just coming back from NY I'd just love some delicious pizza daaaaahling, and of all people, I bet you could made a wonderful one. I love the sound of your dough.
*kisses* HH
Looks great – pizza is my favorite food. I haven't quite conquered making it at home yet. I'll have to try your recipe next time.
wow this looks wonderful would be good in a cookbook LOL
I love making homemade pizza. It's so easy and much cheaper than buying out. I have invested in a small pizza stone to make that crust even more delicious. Didn't even think about the flexibility of toppings as you point out. But I've not tried a whole wheat dough. Will have to give that a shot next time!
I always think making your own pizza dough is too time consuming, but it really isn't and the results are always worth the effort…what little effort it even takes! Your photos have me craving a slice or two.
I have been looking for a good whole wheat dough Barbara, haven't had much luck with the ones I've tried. I will give this one a go. These look delicious! I love garlic on mine too.
Yay for versatility!! I love it
This looks delicious.
I went to a party once where everyone was given a slab of rolled out dough and could put whatever ingredients on their pizza they wanted. I thought this was fabulous, but of course, we couldn't all eat together because they only had one oven and couldn't get all the individual pizzas in. I still thought it was a fun idea!
Kristy – I haven't tried the Fleischman's pizza yeast yet. I'll have to look for it. Let me know if you give it a try.
I love making pizza at home and do every Friday night. But I really do need a good homemade sauce. Thanks, Barbara!
I've seen so many recipes lately for pizzas! So far, I think yours must be the best! The other one I really like is Mexican Pizza. What do you think? Thanks again for sharing this delicious pizza recipe!
Oh man this looks delicious! And your photographs are beautiful! Everything here looks great!
Thanks!
I recently launched my own blog, I’d love for you to check it out and let me know what you think!
Just beautiful, Barbara! I’ve always made made homemade pizza, which I find WAY tastier, cheaper, and less hassle than than popping by the pizza place for take-away. It’s also a great way to use up odd bits and bobs of veggies, cheese, and sausage. Your pizza sauce looks sensational, and I’ll definitely give it a whirl.
Thanks so much for sharing this with me – looks awesome!! The perfect pizza.