Delightful Discoveries

You know, there’s just something about a classic pepperoni pizza that absolutely never goes out of style. Whether you’re cooking for family, hosting a casual get-together, or just plain craving something super satisfying, this recipe delivers every single time. Instead of relying on takeout, you can actually whip up a fresh, flavorful pizza right in your very own kitchen!

Now, at first, making pizza dough from scratch might seem a little intimidating. However, this step-by-step guide makes the whole process surprisingly simple. Because you’re using quality ingredients, every single bite just bursts with flavor—from that crisp, golden crust to the perfectly melted cheese and zesty pepperoni. As a result, you’ll end up with a pizza that honestly tastes better than most restaurants. And finally, once you try it, you just might never go back to store-bought again!

Servings: 4-8 servings
Prep time: 30-45 minutes
Cook time: 8-12 minutes

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 1½ cups warm water (105–115°F)
• 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 3¾–4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
• 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
• 1½ tsp salt

Note: 3¾–4 cups of all-purpose flour could be used instead of the bread flour

For the Sauce

• 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
• ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
• 1 Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

For the Toppings

• 1 cup whole-milk mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz)
• ½ cup thinly sliced pepperoni
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
• Pecorino Romano cheese, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Making the Pizza Dough

1. Activate Yeast:
   • Use a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer
   • Combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar
   • Stir gently and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Mix Dough:
3. Add 3 ¾ cups of the flour, 2 tbsp of olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture.
   • By Hand:
     • Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
     • Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface
     • knead (8–10 min) until smooth and elastic
     • If the dough is too sticky, add more flour, 1 tbsp at a time.
   • Stand Mixer:
     • Use the dough hook attachment
     • Mix on low speed (5–7 min) until smooth and elastic
     • If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour, 1 tbsp at a time.
4. First Rise:
   • Lightly grease a clean bowl with olive oil.
   • Place the dough in the bowl
   • Turn it once to coat.
   • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap
   • Let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours.
     

Note: You may use a clean kitchen towel instead of the plastic wrap

Preparing the Pizza Sauce
Combine Ingredients:

Use a medium bowl

• Combine the following:
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Minced garlic
  • Olive oil
    Dried oregano
  • Dried basil
  • Sugar (if using)
  • Salt (if using)
  • Red pepper flakes (if using)

Stir and Rest:

• Stir everything together well.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
• Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.

Note: This is a no-cook sauce.

Assembling the Pizza

Preheat Oven: 500°F

• Place a pizza stone in the oven

Notes:

• Preheating the oven will take between 30 and 45 minutes
• You could use an inverted baking sheet instead of a pizza stone

Punch Down Dough & Shape:

• Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down
• Optionally divide the dough into two equal portions
• On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out one portion of the dough into a round crust

Notes:

• If making one large pizza, stretch or roll out one portion of dough into a 16–18-inch round crust.
• If making two medium pizzas, stretch or roll out one portion of dough into a 12–14-inch round crust.

Transfer to Peel:

• – Carefully transfer the stretched dough to a lightly floured pizza peel

Notes:

• You could use a piece of parchment paper instead of a pizza peel
• If using parchment paper, slide the entire thing onto your hot baking surface

Add Toppings:

• Spread about ½ cup of pizza sauce evenly over the dough
• Leave about a ½-inch border for the crust
• Evenly sprinkle ½ cup of mozzarella cheese over the sauce
• Arrange the pepperoni slices over the cheese

Baking the Pizza

Bake:

• Carefully slide the pizza from the peel onto the hot pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven

Cook:

• Bake for 8–12 minutes until it is golden brown

Notes:

• Cooking time will vary depending on the oven
• The crust should be golden brown
• The cheese should be bubbly and lightly browned
• The pepperoni should be slightly crispy.

Finish:

• Carefully remove the pizza from the oven
• If desired, scatter fresh basil leaves over the top
• If desired, scatter a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese
• If desired, scatter a sprinkle of Pecorino Romano

Serve:
Let the pizza cool for a minute or two before slicing and serving
Note: If making two medium pizzas, repeat with the second dough ball and the remaining toppings.

You know, by the time your kitchen is overflowing with that amazing aroma of bubbling cheese and sizzling pepperoni, you’ll just know this recipe was absolutely worth every single step. Not only is it a total classic, but it’s also endlessly customizable—so feel free to switch up the toppings or even try different sauces. In the meantime, don’t forget to let the pizza rest for a few minutes after it comes out of the oven. This simple little step truly helps the cheese set, which makes slicing so much easier!

Plus, this recipe is just perfect for weekend dinners, fun pizza nights, or really whenever you’re craving something homemade and super satisfying. Because the crust holds up so well, any leftovers taste just as good the next day. And finally, whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or a seasoned home chef, this classic pepperoni pizza is definitely going to become a repeat favorite in your home.

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