Best 2 Perfect Pizza Crust Recipes

PERFECT PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt, 1 cup bread flour and the whole wheat flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining bread flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 425°. Punch dough down; roll into a 15-in. circle. Grease a 14-in. pizza pan and sprinkle with cornmeal. Transfer dough to prepared pan; build up edges slightly. Add toppings of your choice. , Bake until crust is golden brown and toppings are lightly browned and heated through, 20-25 minutes.

OUR VERY FAVORITE PIZZA CRUST RECIPE FOR GRILLING + FIVE TIPS FOR GRILLING THE PERFECT PIZZA

Steps:

• Mix the dough
• Stir together the yeast and water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Make sure your water is between 100 - 110 degrees (just a tad above lukewarm, but I always use a thermometer to be sure). Too cold, and the yeast won't activate. Too hot, and the heat can kill the yeast.
• Let sit until the yeast dissolves and begins to get a little foamy, about 5 minutes.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the olive oil, salt, and flour.
• Knead the dough (the mixer does this for you)
• Once the ingredients are fairly well incorporated, turn the mixer to medium speed to begin the kneading process.
• Knead (continue the mixer on medium) for about 8 - 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should be very stretchy - it will just kind of stretch and fall off of the dough hook when ready.
• Let the dough rise
• Cover the bowl with a clean towel and set in a warm-ish place away from drafts. I use a spot next to the stove on the kitchen counter or the dining room table. Let rise until doubled in side, about 90 minutes.
• Punch the dough down, and let rise again for about 30 more minutes, until doubled again.
• Shape the dough
• Prepare six sheets of parchment paper. Lay the sheets on the counter or table, then drizzle each with a little olive oil.
• After the dough is finished rising for the second time, remove it from the bowl and place it on a floured surface.
• Cut the dough into six pieces.
• With your hands, smear the oil on a piece of parchment paper, then grab a dough ball - you want spread the oil on the paper and handle the dough with well-oiled hands, so it all works out.
• Now you're ready to shape the crust. You can place the dough on the parchment paper and just kind of spread it out into a circle with your fingers, or you can do like I do and shape it in the air first. I hold on to the edge and quickly rotate the dough so that it stretches and forms a nice flat shape, and then I place it on the parchment and stretch it out the rest of the way. I like to keep the dough on the thin size and about the size of a dinner plate. Much bigger and it can become difficult to handle on the grill. Note: If your dough shrinks and won't work with you, let it sit for about 5 minutes and try again. Another note: If the shaping process seems awkward and frustrating, don't worry! It will get easier and easier, the more you do it. And even when the crust assumes some crazy alien shape, your pizza will still be delicious.
• One last quick rise
• Let the shaped crusts rise on their parchment paper for about 10 minutes, until they start getting puffy.
• Now grill and eat!
• Now start grilling! With the grill on medium-high (about 350-400 degrees), flip a round onto the grill - dough side down, parchment side up. Peel off the paper.
• Cook covered for 3 - 4 minutes, until the crust puffs on top and gets grill marks on the bottom. If the dough sprouts any big bubbles, go ahead and pop them if you can.
• Transfer the crust to a cookie sheet or large platter, grilled side up.
• Add your toppings and transfer back to the grill. Cook until pizza crust is cooked through, the toppings are hot, and the cheese is bubbly, about 3 - 4 minutes. If you have a barbecue with a lid, cooking them covered at this stage helps heat the toppings.
• Remove from the grill to a pizza peel or large baking sheet, Cut into wedges and serve.