Go Back

Simple Pizza Dough / Focaccia

Makes two large cookie-sheet-sized pizza crusts.
Prep Time 1 hr 30 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 1 hr 50 mins
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

For Dough

  • 1 1/4 c warm water
  • 2 Tbs vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 c flour
  • 1 package dry yeast 2 1/4 tsp

For Pizza

  • Pizza sauce of your choice
  • Mozarella Cheese
  • Toppings of your choice

For Focaccia

  • Olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Fresh grated parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • (With a bread machine) Place ingredients in bread machine in the order listed (unless your bread machine manufacturer recommends something different). Choose the Dough setting and the largest loaf size. Let the bread machine work its magic!
  • (By hand) Sift flour and salt together, set aside. In a separate bowl dissolve yeast into warm water, stir in 2 Tbs vegetable oil. Pour into flour and salt mixture and stir until it comes together. Knead vigorously until smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball. Place in a greased bowl, brush with oil, cover and let rise until doubled in size.
  • Once dough is ready, divide in half and spread on two floured baking sheets.
  • (For pizza) Brush crust lightly with olive oil (this keeps it from getting soggy from the sauce), top with sauce and toppings of your choice. Bake 15-20 min at 400. Broil for a minute or two if your cheese isn't bubbly enough.
  • (For focaccia) Once dough is spread out, make divots in the surface of the dough with your fingers. Try not to poke through the dough - these divots will hold the olive oil. Drizzle several Tbs of olive oil over the top of the dough, allowing it to pool in the divots you made. Sprinkle dough with kosher salt, Italian seasonings, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Bake for 10-12 min at 400. Broil for a minute or two if you'd like the top to be crispier.

Notes

This dough is freezable. I usually make the full recipe and then place half of it in a freezer safe ziplock bag and freeze it till later. When ready to bake, simply let the dough come to room temperature first, spread on a floured baking sheet as usual, and bake as instructed.