How to Make the Perfect Pizza Dough

Do you think only pizzaïolo in restaurants can achieve the perfect pizza dough? Think again! With the right ingredients, a solid recipe, and a bit of enthusiasm, you can create the ideal pizza dough right at home. In this article, we’ve got you covered with easy-to-follow recipes and helpful tips to make the process quick and simple. Plus, we’ll show you some creative ways to add a little flair to your dough.
 
Let’s start with a classic recipe!

Classic Pizza Dough Recipe and Guide

With this dough, you can create classic Italian pizza recipes, like Saputo's Ultimate All-Dressed Pizza featuring Italiano 4 Fromaggi Shredded Cheese.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet of active dry yeast
• 10 mL (2 tsp) sugar
  
• 500 mL (2 cups) warm water
  
• Approximately 1.5 L (6 cups) flour
  
• 30 mL (2 tbsp) olive oil
  
• 5 mL (1 tsp) salt
  
   

Directions:

1. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in a bowl of 250 mL (1 cup) warm water. Let sit for 15 min, until the yeast foams.
2. Add 1.25 L (5 cups) of flour into a large bowl and make a well in the centre.
3. Pour the yeast mixture, the rest of the water, the oil and the salt into the well, then mix.
4. Transfer onto your workspace and knead vigorously for 12 min, adding flour as needed.
   Tip: Avoid adding all the flour at once. Add small amounts during kneading only if the dough is too sticky.
5. Place the ball of dough in a clean, oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let sit for around 90 min, or until the dough has doubled in size.
6. Fold the dough onto itself and knead for 2 min.
7. Place the ball of dough in a clean, oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap again.
8. Let the dough rise for around 30 min, or until it has doubled in size.
9. Preheat the oven to 190 °C (375 °F).
10. Shape the dough as desired. You can opt for an oval or square pizza, or even a focaccia. Transfer onto a baking sheet and let rise for 15 min.
11. Add toppings to create the recipe of your choice. Bake in the middle of the oven for around 15 min, or according to your recipe, until the crust becomes golden.
    
     

Quick and Easy Pizza Dough Tips

When you’ve got pizza dough this delicious, it could be hard to wait—so these tips should help you enjoy it faster without sacrificing quality:

1. Freeze your pizza dough

If you’d like to save your dough after step 10 and bake it later, divide it into portions and store them in freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags. For the best taste, use the frozen dough within a few months. Beyond that, its texture might start to degrade.

2. Thawing your frozen dough

The day before baking, transfer the dough from the freezer to the fridge so it can thaw overnight. If you’re short on time, place the wrapped dough in a bowl of cold water for 1 to 2 hours. Once thawed, unwrap it, place it in a bowl, and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 min to rise.

3. Make your dough rise faster

If you’re really in a rush to enjoy your pizza, try adding a little extra sugar to feed the yeast and speed up the rise. For an even faster option, use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast. Instant yeast doesn’t require activation, so you can mix it directly with your other ingredients and skip the wait in step 1.

4. Master the bake

Achieving the perfect crust is all about heat and timing. Preheat your oven to at least 475°F (or higher if your oven allows), and cook your pizza on a preheated baking stone or steel for 8-12 minutes. This ensures a crispy base and even cooking every time.

Creative Pizza Dough Tips

Here’s what you can add to your pizza dough to make it even more delicious and exciting! First of all, adding Mozzarellissima Shredded Cheese to your pizza dough is a clever move. This award-winning cheese is the ultimate cooking cheese: it melts to perfection and its buttery flavour will make your pizza much tastier.

And don’t forget: pizza dough isn’t just for making classic pizzas! This versatile ingredient is perfect for creating focaccia, a delicious side dish, or calzones—the original pizza pockets!

Delicious Pizzas You Can Make with This Dough

Montreal-Style Smoked Meat Pizza

This delicious homemade pizza features both Saputo Ricotta di Campagna and our award-winning Mozzarellissima Shredded Cheese. Both melt perfectly and add their incredible flavours to the pizza. The bacon strips and smoked meat also work together to give the pizza its Montreal-style taste. Finally, dill pickles balance all that saltiness with some sweetness.

Try the recipe for yourself here.

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Take your homemade pizza to the next level with Mozzarrellissima Cheese and a few simple upgrades to the recipe! You'll prepare garlic butter and a rich Alfredo sauce separately, but trust us—the result is worth every bit of effort. The combination of garlic butter, Alfredo sauce, tender chicken, and creamy cheese creates an unforgettable symphony of flavours.

Discover the recipe here.

Here’s to Making Your Own Pizza

By making your own pizza dough, you get the joy of creating a pizza that’s truly your own, from start to finish. Plus, you can add your personal touch to make it extra special for your loved ones. The only thing that will impress your guests more than knowing you made the dough yourself is how incredible your pizza tastes!