How to Make Pizza Bread

Pizza is always high up on most people's comfort food list. With customizable toppings sitting on slightly chewy, flavorful bread, it's no wonder. If you're in the mood for classic pizza, make a simple homemade dough. For a shortcut, use French or Italian bread as the base for your pizza. If you want to try something a little different, roll up your pizza dough and make pizza bread slices that are great for dipping into sauce.

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]French Bread Pizza

• 1 (12-ounce or 340 g) loaf of soft French or Italian bread
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled
• 3/4 cup (170 g) of pizza sauce
• 1 cup (113 g) of shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup (150 g) of toppings like mushrooms, pepperoni, sausage, or peppers
• 1/4 cup (25 g) of grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons (2 g) of fresh basil leaves, optional

Makes 4 servings

[Edit]Rolled Pizza Bread

• of frozen pizza or bread dough, thawed
• 2 large eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon (15 g) of grated Parmesan cheese
• of olive oil
• 2 teaspoons (4 g) of fresh herbs like parsley or oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of ground pepper
• Toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, and olives
• 2 cups (226 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pizza sauce, for serving

Makes 12 slices

[Edit]Pizza Dough

• of water
• 1 envelope (2 1/4 teaspoons or 7 g) of instant dry yeast
• 2 cups (240 g) of all-purpose or bread flour
• 1 teaspoon (4 g) of sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon (4 g) of salt
• of olive oil

Makes dough for 1 to 2 pizzas

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]French Bread Pizza

1. Move a rack to the top third of the oven and preheat the oven to . Before you turn the oven on, adjust the racks so there's 1 in the top third of the oven. Then, turn the oven on to so it heats while you're assembling your pizza.^[1]
   
2. Slice a large loaf of bread in half lengthwise and crosswise. Lay a large loaf of French or Italian bread on a cutting board and slice it in half lengthwise. Then, cut across each of the halves to make 4 equal-sized pieces. Push down on each piece until it's half its original height.^[2]
   
   
   • French bread pizza is best with soft bread, but you could use sourdough bread for pizza that's slightly chewy.
3. Bake the bread for 5 minutes so it becomes golden brown. Turn the pieces so they're cut-side up and put them onto a rimmed baking sheet. Pop them in the oven to toast for 5 minutes.^[3]
   
   • If you don't have a rimmed baking sheet, you can use a flat sheet; just don't let the bread slide off!
4. Rub a peeled garlic clove over the bread for extra flavor. Once the bread is toasted, wear oven mitts to remove the sheet from the oven. Peel 1 garlic clove and slice in half. Then, rub the garlic over the cut side of each bread piece.^[4]
   
   
   • If you don't like garlic, skip this step.
5. Top the bread with sauce, cheese, and any ingredients you like. Place the bread back on the sheet and spoon 3/4 cup (170 g) of pizza sauce evenly over them. Sprinkle 1 cup (113 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese along with 1/4 cup (25 g) of grated Parmesan cheese on the bread. To make your bread pizza more filling, add 1 cup (150 g) of toppings like:^[5]
   
   
   • Caramelized onions with sliced mushrooms
   • Pepperoni or ham with diced bell peppers
   • Shredded chicken with pineapple and barbecue sauce
   • Pesto with fresh mozzarella and sundried tomatoes
   • Ground beef with mushrooms, onion, and peppers
6. Bake the bread pizzas for 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. Put the bread pizzas back into the oven and bake them until the cheese melts and bubbles. Carefully remove the pizzas and scatter 2 tablespoons (2 g) of fresh basil leaves over them if you'd like to add a bright flavor.^[6]
   
   
   
   • Put the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.

[Edit]Rolled Pizza Bread

1. Preheat the oven to and grease a baking sheet. While the oven's heating, get out a jellyroll pan and spray it with nonstick cooking spray.^[7]
   
   
   • Set the pan aside while you roll out the dough.
   • If you're worried that the pizza will stick, lay a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan.
2. Roll of thawed dough to fit in the pan. Take the thawed pizza or bread dough out of the fridge and put it on a floured surface. Then, use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a rectangle and transfer it to the greased pan.^[8]
   
   
   • Sprinkle the dough with flour if it sticks to your rolling pin.
   • Check the deli area of your grocery store for bags of pizza dough that are already thawed and ready to use.
3. Mix 2 egg yolks, Parmesan, olive oil, and herbs in a small bowl. Place the egg yolks into a small bowl along with 1 tablespoon (15 g) of grated Parmesan cheese, of olive oil, 2 teaspoons (4 g) of fresh herbs like parsley or oregano, 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of ground pepper. Then, use a fork to mix the ingredients until the spices are incorporated with the yolks.^[9]
   
   
   • Put the whites into another bowl and set them aside, but don't throw them out since you'll use them to coat the pizza roll.
4. Brush the mixture over the dough. Dip a pastry brush into the seasoned egg mixture and spread it over the entire surface of the dough. It's important to brush the edges and corners so the dough doesn't unroll after you assemble it.^[10]
   
   
   • This is a great step for kids to do if they're helping in the kitchen.
   • If you don't have a pastry brush, use your clean fingers to spread the mixture over the dough.
5. Cover the dough with cheese and your choice of toppings. Sprinkle 2 cups (226 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough. Then, add a few handfuls of your favorite toppings. Play around with combinations to make your own unique combination. Try:^[11]
   
   
   • Sliced pepperoni with roasted red peppers
   • Cooked sausage and roasted yukon gold potatoes
   • Goat cheese with pesto and cherry tomatoes
   • Diced peppers with black olives and feta
   • Broccoli with smoked gouda
6. Roll up the long side of the dough and seal the edges. Take the long side of the dough and tuck it over towards the middle. Keep rolling the dough over the toppings until you reach the other side. Then, pinch along the seam so the toppings don't come out and tuck the ends under the pizza roll.^[12]
   
   
   • The size of the roll depends on how many toppings you added.
7. Brush the pizza bread with egg whites. Move the pizza roll to the center of the greased pan and dip a pastry brush into the reserved egg whites. Then, brush all of the dough with the egg whites, which help the dough brown as it bakes.^[13]
   
   
8. Bake the pizza bread for 35 to 40 minutes. Put the pizza roll into the preheated oven and bake it for 35 to 40 minutes or until it's golden brown. To serve the pizza roll, slice across it to make 12 servings. Set out warm pizza sauce for dipping and enjoy!^[14]
   
   
   
   • Refrigerate leftover pizza bread in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

[Edit]Pizza Dough

1. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast in a bowl. Get out a large bowl and put 2 cups (240 g) of all-purpose or bread flour into it. Pour 1 envelope (2 1/4 teaspoons or 7 g) of instant dry yeast into 1 side of the bowl. Then, put 1 teaspoon (4 g) of sugar and 3/4 teaspoon (4 g) of salt into the opposite side of the bowl.^[15]
   
   
   • It's important that the yeast and salt don't touch since the salt can kill the yeast.
2. Stir in of water and of olive oil. Pour of cool water into the bowl and add of olive oil. Use a sturdy spoon or spatula to stir the mixture until it forms a sticky dough.^[16]
   
   
   • Keep stirring so the water absorbs all of the flour.
3. Knead the dough for 1 minute on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle flour on your work surface and scoop the dough onto it. Scatter a little more flour on the dough and use your hands to stretch and fold the dough. Continue to knead the pizza dough for at least 1 minute so it becomes a little stretchy.^[17]
   
   
   • Add more flour if the dough sticks to the work surface.
4. Rest the dough for 1 hour at room temperature. Brush of olive oil across the bottom of a medium-sized bowl. Place the dough into the bowl and turn it so it's coated with the oil. Then, cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and set it on the counter to proof. It should double in size within 1 hour.^[18]
   
   
   • If it's cool in your home, put the bowl into the oven with the oven turned off. Turn on just the oven light to create a warming space for the dough to proof.
   • If you'd rather make the pizza dough in advance, cover the bowl and put the dough in the refrigerator. Chill the dough for up to 1 day before you roll out and bake the pizza.
5. Roll out the dough to make bread for 1 to 2 pizzas. Once you're ready to make your pizza, uncover the dough and sprinkle flour over your work surface. Put the dough on it and cut it in half if you'd like to make 2 thin pizzas or leave it whole for 1 large pizza. Roll out the dough until it fits your pan and follow your pizza recipe for baking and topping it. For a little inspiration, try some of these toppings:^[19]
   
   
   • Prosciutto, ham, or pepperoni
   • Goat cheese, smoked gouda, or mozzarella
   • Pineapple
   • Sundried tomatoes or roasted red peppers
   • Fresh spinach or mushrooms
   • Sliced onions or roasted garlic
   • Chicken, bacon, or meatballs

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• If you have a kitchen scale, weigh your ingredients for the most accuracy.
• In general, you can use bread flour or all-purpose flour for your dough. The bread flour makes a chewier crust while all-purpose flour gives a softer texture.^[20]

[Edit]Things You'll Need

[Edit]French Bread Pizza

• Knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Baking sheet
• Oven mitts

[Edit]Rolled Pizza Bread

• jellyroll pan
• Rolling pin
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Pastry brush
• Knife and cutting board
• Oven mitts

[Edit]Pizza Dough

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Towel
• Spoon

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/french-bread-pizza-22931934
2. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/03/the-best-french-bread-pizza-recipe.html
3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/french-bread-pizza-22931934
4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/french-bread-pizza-22931934
5. ↑ https://www.recipepizza.com/toppings/
6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/french-bread-pizza-22931934
7. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pepperoni-pizza-loaf/
8. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pepperoni-pizza-loaf/
9. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pepperoni-pizza-loaf/
10. ↑ https://www.realmomnutrition.com/pizza-bread/
11. ↑ https://www.recipepizza.com/toppings/
12. ↑ https://www.centercutcook.com/pepperoni-pizza-bread-roll-up/
13. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pepperoni-pizza-loaf/
14. ↑ https://youtu.be/aZG7vDmUi4E?t=332
15. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/pizza-dough-recipe-1921714
16. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/pizza-dough-recipe-1921714
17. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pizza-dough-2
18. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/pizza-dough-recipe-1921714
19. ↑ https://www.recipepizza.com/toppings/
20. ↑ https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/whole-wheat-pizza-dough/