Artisan Pizza Dough

Hi, I’m Sam, and welcome to dishfoody.com where I share recipes designed to bring joy and creativity to your kitchen. If you’re tired of dry, overly dense pizza crusts from store-bought dough, this Artisan Pizza Dough recipe promises to deliver a perfectly chewy, crispy, and flavorful base that’s perfect for any homemade pizza creation.

With my years of recipe development experience, I’ve perfected a dough recipe that’s simple yet produces extraordinary results. In this article, you’ll find tips on flour selection, step-by-step preparation, fermentation secrets, baking hacks, and answers to common questions to make your pizza nights unforgettable.

Why This Artisan Pizza Dough Works

  • Uses a blend of high-quality flours for texture and flavor
  • Requires a slow fermentation to develop complex taste
  • Flexible and easy to shape for any pizza style
  • Uses affordable, easy-to-find ingredients
  • Allows for overnight rise to enhance flavor and digestibility
  • Creates crust that’s crisp on the outside and chewy inside

Choosing the Right Artisan Pizza Dough Ingredients

Best Flours for This Recipe:

  • Bread flour for higher protein and better gluten development
  • All-purpose flour can be mixed in for lighter texture

Buying Tips:

  • Select unbleached, high-protein flour
  • Use high-quality yeast, preferably active dry or instant yeast

Substitutions:

  • Whole wheat flour can replace part of white flour for nuttier flavor
  • Gluten-free flours require specialized blends and additives

Ingredients & Prep for Artisan Pizza Dough

Dough Preparation Essentials:

  • 3 ½ cups bread flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
  • 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water (about 110°F)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Pantry Staples:

  • Olive oil for greasing
  • Flour or cornmeal for dusting
  • Clean bowl for proofing
Artisan Pizza Dough

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions for Artisan Pizza Dough

Pre-Cooking Prep:

Activate yeast in warm water with sugar until foamy (about 5-10 minutes). Prepare flours and salt.

Making the Dough:

  1. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the yeast mixture and olive oil.
  2. Mix with a wooden spoon or hands until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer dough to floured surface.
  3. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours or until doubled.
  5. Punch down and refrigerate overnight for enhanced flavor (optional).

Shaping and Baking:

  • Remove dough from fridge 30-60 minutes before baking.
  • Stretch or roll into pizza shape on floured/cornmeal-dusted peel or tray.
  • Top with sauces and ingredients. Bake in a preheated oven at 475°F (245°C) for 10-15 minutes or until crust is golden and crisp.

Pro Tips for Perfect Artisan Pizza Dough

Avoiding Tough or Dense Dough:

  • Don’t add too much flour during kneading
  • Use a kitchen timer to avoid over-kneading

Tool Recommendations:

  • Kitchen scale for precise measurements
  • Pizza stone or steel for best crust crispiness
  • Dough scraper for neat handling

Storage & Reheating:

  • Freeze dough balls tightly wrapped for up to 3 months
  • Thaw slowly in fridge and re-knead before using

Flavor Variations for Artisan Pizza Dough

Herb Infused Dough:

Add dried oregano, rosemary, or garlic powder to flour.

Whole Wheat Dough:

Replace 50% white flour with whole wheat flour for nuttiness.

Gluten-Free Dough:

Use a gluten-free flour blend and xanthan gum

VariationKey IngredientDietary TagFlavor Profile
Herb InfusedDried oregano, garlicAromaticHerbaceous, savory
Whole WheatWhole wheat flourNuttyEarthy, hearty
Gluten-FreeGluten-free blendAllergy-friendlyLight, chewy

Serving Suggestions for Artisan Pizza Dough

Use for classic Margherita pizza, veggie-loaded pies, or gourmet white pizzas. Pair with fresh salad and sparkling water.

FAQs for Artisan Pizza Dough

  • Can I make dough ahead? Yes, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze longer.
  • How do I know when dough is ready? Doubled in size and passes the “poke test”.
  • Can I use bread machine? Yes, use dough setting for convenience.

Conclusion

Bring the art of pizza home with this simple yet authentic Artisan Pizza Dough recipe that delights with every bite crispy on the outside, tender inside, rich in flavor. Fire up your oven and make pizza night special tonight! For more culinary inspiration, visit dishfoody.com and explore our other recipes.

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Artisan Pizza Dough

Make perfect homemade Artisan Pizza Dough with a crisp crust and chewy texture. This easy dough recipe requires simple ingredients and a bit of patience to produce authentic pizzeria-quality pizza at home.

  • Author: ssam
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs
  • Yield: 2 pizzas 1x
  • Category: Bread, Pizza
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  • 1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water; let stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  • 2. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt.
  • 3. Add yeast mixture and olive oil to flour; stir until dough forms.
  • 4. Knead dough on floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  • 5. Place dough in lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
  • 6. Punch down dough and divide into portions.
  • 7. Shape into pizza crusts, add toppings, and bake on a preheated pizza stone or baking sheet at 475°F (245°C) for 12-15 minutes.

Notes

  • For best texture, allow dough to ferment overnight in the fridge.
  • Use bread flour for chewier crust.
  • Adjust water amount as needed for proper dough consistency.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 pizza
  • Calories: 700
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 500mg
  • Fat: 7g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 140g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: artisan pizza dough, homemade pizza, easy pizza dough, pizza crust

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