Mini Pizzas with Homemade Pizza Dough
If you are looking for a delightful and versatile meal that can easily be customized to suit the taste of even the pickiest eaters, specially kids, then you are all sorted! Today I am going to share recipe for the best kids-friendly meal- Mini Pizzas with homemade Pizza Dough.
Who doesn’t love Pizza? And these Mini Pizzas with Homemade Pizza Dough are not only easy and fun to make but also these are an excellent addition to kid’s lunch boxes. Making these Homemade Mini Pizzas with Homemade Pizza Dough to ensure that they are fresh, delicious and meet your child’s preferences. There is another Delicious Breakfast Pizza Recipe that’s worth trying!
These Mini Pizzas are extremely versatile, allowing your kids to get creative with endless topping options. Additionally, they are perfect for little hands due to their bite-sized nature and the best thing about these pizzas is their ease of making; hassle-free and mess-free!
To make it more healthier choice for kids, I prefer making these Mini Pizzas with Homemade Pizza Dough as you know all about the ingredients used in making this delicious recipe. Also to save time these mini pizzas are one of the best make-ahead and freezer-friendly meals.
In today’s blog, I will take you through a culinary experience of making these delightful mini pizzas with homemade pizza dough. You can also get your kids involved in decorating their favorite meal with the toppings of their choice.
Table of Contents
What makes these Homemade Mini Pizzas an Ideal Kids-Friendly Meal!
Who doesn’t love pizza! And if you are looking for a quick and easy meal to get your kids excited about, then these mini pizzas are a perfect choice for them. There are many reasons that make this recipe a perfect kids-friendly recipe;
- Ease of making and versatility of these mini pizzas with minimum ingredients make this recipe perfect for kids and an excellent option for kid’s lunch box.
- There are multiple options for toppings that kids can easily choose from, making their meal time exciting and personalized.
- Perfect freezer-friendly meal; these Mini Pizzas can be made in advance in bulk and freeze them for later use as a quick and easy meal throughout the week.
- Their small size makes them perfect for little hands, and kids love the idea of having their own personal pizza.
- These Mini Pizzas are fun to eat and make with kids and to involve them in the kitchen.
Home Made Pizza Dough!
No doubt that the store-bought pizza dough is an extremely convenient option but to be honest the satisfaction of making your own pizza dough from scratch is immeasurable. The texture, taste and satisfaction it brings to the table are all worth the extra effort.
- Making homemade Pizza Dough and crafting your own pizza crust elevates your overall meal experience that results in superior taste as a result.
- When you make Pizza dough from scratch, you have complete control over ingredients that are used to make dough which basically helps in ensuring a flavor profile that perfectly suits your preferences.
- Homemade Pizza Dough is totally free from all sorts of preservatives that are usually used in store-bought doughs. This results in a purer and more authentic flavor.
- The aroma coming out of rising dough and freshly baked homemade pizza creates an experience that is hard to get while using store-bought dough.
- The proper kneading develops the gluten in homemade dough that results in more satisfying dough.
- Making your own pizza dough from scratch is a safer option for those having any dietary restrictions as you can use flour that is gluten-free or you can also use whole wheat flour to meet anyone’s dietary requirements.
- In store-bought dough high levels of sodium is used, by making Homemade Pizza Dough you can easily control the amount of sodium, making it a healthier option.
- Homemade pizza dough doesn’t get soggy easily.
How to make Homemade Pizza Dough!
Now, let’s talk about the recipe of Pizza Dough first then we will move on to how to make these delicious mini pizzas.
Ingredients to make Pizza Dough from Scratch!
Please look into the recipe card for exact measurements of all the ingredients that are needed to make this fresh and easy to make dough. For this homemade pizza dough you just need a handful of ingredients like;
- Flour: I always use all-purpose flour that is the most suitable for baking applications but if you have any dietary preferences you can easily use alternate flour. Flour basically provides the structure for the dough.
- Active Dry Yeast: Yeast is used to help the dough to rise and it is easily available in small packets that activates when mixed in warm water.
- Sugar: a very small amount, almost a pinch is used to activate the yeast.
- Salt: It is also used in a small amount to add flavor and also to control the yeast activity. Adding too much salt can inhibit the yeast’s growth.
- Olive Oil: You can use any type of olive oil, but extra virgin is usually preferred. It is used to add moisture, tenderness, and flavor to the dough.
- Warm Water: To ensure that the dough rises well, it is essential to activate the yeast and for that purpose warm water is used. If the temperature of water is too cold, it will not activate the yeast. Similarly too hot water can kill it. So, it is very important to keep the temperature between 105-115°F.
Step-By-Step Instructions to make Pizza Dough
Activate the Yeast:
- In a bowl add warm water, sugar and yeast.
- Gently mix them together and let it sit for almost 5 minutes or until it becomes bubbly and foamy. This is the indication that the yeast is activated that will ensure that the dough rises properly with a lighter texture.
Make the Dough:
- Once the yeast is activated, add the olive oil to the yeast mixture and mix well until combined.
- Now mix dry ingredients together that include flour and salt, in a separate bowl.
- Add flour mixture to the yeast mixture gradually, while stirring continuously until crumbled and sticky dough starts to form.
Knead the Dough:
- Now transfer the dough to a floured surface and start kneading for about 5 to 8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Let the Dough Rise:
- Brush olive oil in a separate large bowl and grease well. Place the dough inside and coat it with oil as well. Cover the bowl with cling wrap, place it in a warm place and let it rise for about 1 to 2 hours at least to get the best results. Make sure it becomes double in size afterwards.
How to Make Mini Pizza Topping!
While the dough is rising on the side, let’s talk about how to make the topping for these mini pizzas. This recipe is so versatile that you have multiple options for topping to choose from. You can use meat, sausages or pepperoni to make these mini pizzas or for vegetarian option you can easily skip meat and add different vegetables like bell pepper, tomato, mushrooms etc.
For sauce, you can either use store-bought pizza sauce or you can make sauce from scratch. In today’s recipe I am using store-bought sauce and few ingredients which basically I have on hand right now.
Ingredients for Topping:
For exact measurements, please see the recipe card below;
- Pizza Sauce: You can easily choose from store-bought pizza sauce or homemade pizza sauce. I am using store-bought pizza sauce today.
- Vegetables: I am using onion, bell pepper and tomatoes. You can choose any other preferred vegetables as per your taste and liking, for example spinach, zucchini, mushrooms and so on.
- Meat: I am using Sausages and Pepperoni. Any left over chicken and meat can also be used if you have.
- Italian Herbs: Mixed Italian herbs, dried oregano, or thyme.
- Cheese: A must have ingredient for pizza, you can use either use cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese alone or blend of both. I am using mozzarella cheese.
- Black Olives: Pitted chopped black olives.
- Chili Flakes: Optional ingredients you can use if your kids are into more spicy food but I am not using in today’s recipe.
- Olive Oil: to Sautee vegetables.
Instructions to Make Topping:
Chop The Vegetables:
- First chop all the vegetables (Onion, Bell Pepper and Tomatoes) in small cubes and set aside.
Sautee Vegetable:
- If you prefer softer vegetables like I do, you can sauté them in a pan with a teaspoon of olive oil until they are tender. You can skip this step if you like raw and crispy vegetable. Allow them to cool at room temperature to help prevent excess moisture that can make pizza soggy, and that’s what we don’t want, Right!
Grate Cheese:
- Grate the cheese finely and set aside.
Assemble the Mini Pizza:
- Now comes the most fun part of actually getting these delicious mini pizzas ready.
Pre Heat Oven:
- Start by preheating your oven to 420°F (215°C).
Shape and Roll out the Dough:
- Now our dough has risen well, it’s time to punch it down to release air bubbles. Then transfer your dough on a floured surface and spread it out into a thin layer with the help of rolling pin.
- Next you need to cut the dough into small circles for basically make these mini pizzas. For that you can use round cookie cutter.
- Place these mini dough circles on your greased baking tray lined with butter paper. Cover them for about 5 more minute to let them rise once again to make soft and perfect mini pizzas.
Add Topping:
- Add tea spoon of pizza sauce on each of the mini pizza dough circles and spread well.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on each of them.
- Add chopped vegetables, sausages and pepperoni on each pizza. Then add two or three olives on the top.
- Sprinkle some more cheese on the top with a pinch of dried herbs on each dough circle.
Bake:
- Bake these mini pizzas in preheated oven for about 10 to 12 minutes until light golden brown on the bottom, with bubbly melted cheese on the top. Don’t overbake!
Serve:
- Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes on a wire rack and then serve.
Tips to make the Best Mini Pizzas:
- To help prevent your mini pizzas from getting soggy, it is recommended not to overload with a lot of sauce and toppings; Less is More!
- For the dough to rise well, make sure to place it in a warm place. I usually put the dough in a hot microwave when I am short of time.
- These mini pizzas are freezer friendly as you can easily make the in large batch up to the baking stage, freeze them in a tray and once frozen well, transfer them in a zip lock bag. When you need them, just bake directly while adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Conclusion:
Making these Mini Pizzas with Homemade Pizza Dough is not just about preparing a meal; it’s about making memories in the kitchen with your children. The fun of rolling out the dough, spreading the sauce, and seeing personalized pizzas cook to perfection is an experience that brings happiness to everyone. These mini pizzas are perfect for any occasion.
So, let’s savor every bite and every laugh, because the most enjoyable part of cooking together is the joy and love that fills your kitchen.
Homemade Mini Pizzas
Ingredients
Ingredients for Pizza Dough
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 ½ Tsp. Instant Yeast
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil (and little more for coating the bowl)
- 1 Tsp. Salt
- 1 Tsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 ¼ Cups Warm Water
Ingredients for Pizza Topping
- ½ Cup Pepperoni
- ½ Cup Sausages
- ½ Cup Black Olives (Pitted)
- ½ Cup Onion (Chopped)
- ½ Cup Bell Pepper (Chopped)
- ½ Cup Tomatoes (Chopped)
- 1 Cup Pizza Sauce
- 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese
- ½ Tsp. Mixed Italian Herbs
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- Seasonings (Optional)
Instructions
Homemade Pizza Dough
- In a bowl add warm water, yeast, sugar and gently mix them together and let it sit for almost 5 minutes or until it becomes bubbly and foamy.
- Once the yeast is activated, add the olive oil to the yeast mixture and mix well until combined. Today, I have added olive oil with dry ingredients.
- Now mix dry ingredients together that include flour and salt, in a separate bowl.
- Add flour mixture to the yeast mixture gradually, while stirring continuously until crumbled and sticky dough starts to form.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and start kneading for about 5 to 8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Brush olive oil in a separate large bowl to grease and place the dough inside and coat it with oil as well.
- Cover the bowl with cling wrap, place it in a warm place and let it rise for about 1 to 2 hours at least to get the best results. Make sure it becomes double in size afterwards.
Homemade Pizza Topping
- Start by preheating your oven to 420°F (215°C).
- Chop all the vegetables (Onion, Bell Pepper and Tomatoes) in small cubes and set aside.
- If you prefer softer vegetables like I do, you can sauté them in a pan with a teaspoon of olive oil until they are tender. (This step can be skipped if you like raw vegetables).
- Allow the vegetables to cool at room temperature to help prevent excess moisture that can make pizza soggy.
- After the dough has risen well, punch it down to release air bubbles and then transfer your dough on a floured surface and spread it out into a thin layer with the help of rolling pin.
- Cut the dough into small circles for making these mini pizzas. For that you can use round cookie cutter.
- Place these mini dough circles on your greased baking tray lined with butter paper. Cover them for about 5 more minute to let them rise once again to make soft and perfect mini pizzas.
- Add tea spoon of pizza sauce on each of the mini pizza dough circles and spread well.
- Add tea spoon of pizza sauce on each of the mini pizza dough circles and spread well.
- Add chopped vegetables, sausages and pepperoni on each pizza. Then add two or three olives on the top.
- Sprinkle some more cheese on the top with a pinch of dried herbs on each dough circle.
- Bake these mini pizzas in preheated oven for about 15 to 20 minutes until light golden brown on the bottom, with bubbly melted cheese on the top.
- Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes on a wire rack and then serve.
