Make pizza delicious again. The hardest part of making your own homemade pizza is making the crust. Planning ahead does play a huge part in making the perfect dough. See this recipe and make your own Homemade Pizza Dough.
Homemade Pizza Dough
Please note that the printable recipe is listed below.
The hardest part of making your own homemade pizza is making the crust. Planning ahead does play a huge part in making the perfect dough. One of my favorite homemade pizza dough recipes requires the dough to rise for an hour. But I have to admit, I am sometimes in a hurry to make dinner and can’t wait an hour for the dough to rise.
One way to make your own shortcut is to double your pizza dough recipe.
Once you’re ready to top your pizza dough, take the extra, divide and freeze. This way you will have extra dough available and ready. The day you plan to use the dough, transfer it from the freezer to the fridge in the morning to thaw for dinner in the evening. Or use my super quick method (you can tell I do this often): to unfreeze I place in a warm bath of water and within 20-25 minutes you are ready to start.
Rise time for dough after defrosting will still be about an hour once the pizza dough is fully defrosted.
Is Homemade Pizza Dough Cheaper Than Store Purchased?
Can a homemade pizza beat the $4.99 Boboli 12-Inch crust or Pillsbury refrigerated dough priced on sale for $2.99?
My first quick answer is…”hmmm, I don’t know”. So I thought I would break the cost down in my very precise mathematical mode of operation and calculate it out.
Here goes:
Homemade Pizza Dough Crust Cost Breakdown
Yeast
This cost will really depend on if you are purchasing the bulk jars or the 3 packs of yeast. We make pizza often and let us not forget all the extra baked goods in our home, so bulk is how we purchase.
A 4-ounce store brand jar is often on sale for $3.49. 2 teaspoons of yeast is equivalent to 0.25 ounces. That means there are 16 servings in a jar. After doing the math 2 teaspoons costs just $0.42.
Flour
I generally buy my flour when it’s on sale. Typically, a 5 lb bag of flour when on sale costs around $2.49. Generally speaking, there are typically 17 cups of flour in a 5 lb bag. That means each cup costs $0.15, and the two cups necessary for the pizza dough add up to $0.30.
Olive Oil
My bottle of Olive Oil costs around $3.50 for 8 oz. Which means that 2 tablespoons cost $0.21.
Salt
The teaspoon that this recipe calls for costs a little less than $0.007. For the basis of calculation lets just round this cost up to the nearest penny.
Sugar
A 4-pound bag of sugar costs $1.49. There are 9 cups of sugar in a 4-pound bag. That is $0.16 per cup. We a literally only using 2 teaspoons of sugar. This is so hard to measure out based on cost. But in reality, it may cost us just $0.01.
Water
I am going to say that the tap water from our home cost next to nothing. But for the basis of calculations and to give it a cost, let us call it a penny. $0.01
Total Cost for Homemade Pizza Dough (Drum Roll Please), Just $1.23
That price is just screaming BARGAIN. On that note, here is a very simple pizza dough recipe that our family loves.
And remember, homemade just tastes better. No extra ingredients that you can not pronounce.
Tips For Making a Better Pizza
- Use a Pizza Stone or Pizza Screen Pan. (I own both and prefer the screen, we like a crispy pizza) – if using a pizza stone pre-heat stone as well prior to placing dough on it to cook. How to transfer your already top pizza to a pre-heat stone. I like the parchment paper method. Roll your dough on a floured piece of parchment paper. Make your pizza. Once topped, slide your pizza using the parchment paper onto the preheated stone and bake. Leave the paper intact.
- Using a stand mix with a dough blade on will help mix and kneed your pizza dough.
- Pre-Heat your oven to 450 degrees. (I have heard of others go even higher), then bake for 10 – 15 minutes.
- Always place your pan in the center of the oven rack.
- Let your pizza rest a few minutes after baking and before cutting. It makes cutting the pizza a lot easier.
Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
This easy pizza dough recipe is great for beginners and produces a soft homemade pizza crust. This homemade pizza crust has it all: soft & chewy with a delicious crisp and AWESOME flavor.
Homemade Pizza Dough
The hardest part of making your own homemade pizza is making the crust. Planning ahead does play a huge part in making the perfect dough. See this recipe and make your own Homemade Pizza Dough
Ingredients
- 1 Package active yeast (2 tsp)
- 1 Cup Warm Water
- 2 Cups Bread Flour
- 2 TBSP Olive Oil
- 1 TSP Salt
- 2 TSP Sugar
Instructions
- In a small bowl dissolve yeast in warm water, let stand until creamy (10 minutes)
- In a large bowl combine 2 cups flour, olive oil, salt & sugar.
- Combine wet mixture with dry. Mix with a dough hook until dough becomes stiff.
- Mold dough into a ball, place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
- Once the dough has doubled in size your ready to make your pizza
Notes
Please note that you can substitute bread flour for all-purpose without seeing a major difference in the dough. I have tested substitute myself.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1/8 PizzaAmount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 293mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g
If you made this recipe, we would love to hear all about it. We get so excited when we learn that you have chosen to make one of our recipes featured on Inspiring Savings. Please leave us a comment below.
Other Homemade Frugal Recipe Ideas
Make Your Own Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix
Delicious Homemade Dinner Rolls
Eating out is easy, and it usually tastes delicious, but it’s expensive. Making this meal at home will save you money. Add this recipe to your weekly meal plan.
ninjakitty says
I love saving money and making a better pizza at home. Kenji from Serious Eats has some great recipes as well. http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/01/foolproof-pan-pizza-recipe.html – same recipe will work for thinner crust- just use a cookie sheet in place of iron skillet. Lots of advice http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/04/essential-tips-for-better-pizza-how-to-make-pizza-at-home.html
julie Collett says
Can you use vegetable oil instead of olive oil?
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
HI Julie, Yes you can! The difference will be in the taste. I am sure you probably won’t notice much. But in a pinch absolutely you can use vegetable oil.
Milton Coyne says
I haven’t tried making my own pizza dough but it seems like a great idea. What i often do is to use leftover bread and turn them into mini pizza bread haha.. I think i should start making this too
Thank you for sharing the recipe
Joanna says
What about if i do not have a mixer and i hand mix !??!?!? Am i crazy? How long do i mix by hand?
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
You can certainly mix by hand. Just a little easier to use a hand mixer. I would double the time it takes the electric mixer to do it.
joanna says
Aurora is very happy when we make this !!! she appreciates this recipe !
Rebecca says
I’m not a fan of added sugar in otherwise savory dishes. Would it be OK if I left out the sugar in this recipe? If so, should I substitute it with something else?
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Absolutely you can! The sugar does help develop the yeast (keep that in mind). The dough may not rise as good and you may not end up with the same airly baked dough. It is worth the shot and see what happens. If you decide to test it out, please let me know how it turns out without the use of sugar.
Wendy says
Hi! Can I use regular flour instead of bread making flour?
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Hi Wendy,
Yes. you can!!! I have done it. I will update the post to include this as a substitute. Thank you for pointing that out.
Deb says
I don’t have a heavy duty mixer. Is there any way I can use my full size food processor to mix the dough?
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
HI Deb, You would be better off mixing by hand to the best of your ability. The food processor would cut the dough into pieces and could break down the protein in the flour.
Marcel says
Can I use home-made rice flour…
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
Yes, you can try. I am thinking thought you are going to need to use xanthan gum as well.
Neely Moldovan says
My husband makes homemade pizza dough every Friday!
Ben says
Nice! I’m definitely giving this a try. The last pizza dough recipe I made just didn’t do it for me. This one looks a lot better.
Bryan Carey says
I have no doubt that homemade pizza dough is better. The issue to many is the time involved- so much easier just to get carryout pizza or pop a frozen pizza in the oven. But the taste cannot compare!
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
You are right! Convenience is a big factor for many.
Talya says
I’ve tried a few different pizza dough recipes and always on the look out for “the one” so will give this a try thank you!
Gervin Khan says
I love this tutorial. My kids and I are enjoying making this for their afternoon snacks. Thank you!
Life Mag Health says
Thank you for sharing this recipe, I would really love to try this!
Ivan M. Jose says
I’ve always wanted to know how to make my own pizza dough so this is really helpful for me. Thank you for the tutorial.
emman damian says
I love to create my own pizza dough because it’s fresher and it’s cheaper! I love to bake so I do this a lot! Thanks for the recipe!
Jen @ Inspiring Savings says
AWESOME!!!! You are right.. fresher and cheaper!
Kat&Beyond says
Research finds that people who eat home-cooked meals on a regular basis tend to be happier and healthier and consume less sugar and processed foods, which can result in higher energy levels and better mental health.
Thank you for this recipe.
Tracy Isidore says
I love the idea of making a double batch and freezing it. Thanks for this recipe, I’ll definitely try it!
Marysa says
This would be so much better than having to buy pizza dough. Half the time at the store it is frozen, which isn’t helpful!
Ashley Jones says
I’m always looking for lighter chicken recipes. This looks like a good one to try.