Fast and Easy Homemade Pizza Dough

 

Sadly, I have to admit, that planning dinner in advance is sometimes a struggle for me.  So, I have quite a few recipes that come together quickly and are family-friendly.  This fast and easy pizza crust has saved dinner on more than one occasion.  I usually have the ingredients to make at least a basic pizza, and my kids are always happy to have a slice or two.  Paired with a quick salad, or some veggies and dip and I can feel good about putting on this quick dinner.

First things first, get your pizza stone in the oven and heat it to 500.  If that high of  a temperature makes you nervous, you can bump it down to 475.   You must give that pizza stone at least 30 minutes to get nice and hot before baking your pizza.

Then make up your pizza dough.  This recipe is a little unusual, in that it calls for molasses.  If you don't have molasses you can use honey or sugar, but trust me the molasses adds just a little extra something to the flavor of this dough, and I think you should use it if you can.

The dough only needs 10-20 minutes to rise.  While it is rising, you can pull together your sauce, cheese, and toppings.  It is also a good time to pull together a salad or veggies if desired.

Stretch your pizza dough into a circle, or something close to it, and set it on parchment paper. The parchment paper makes it easy to transfer to and from the oven and prevents any sticking. My pizzas are usually kind of oblong, since that is what fits best on my parchment paper.  No worries, it still tastes great and my kids have never complained.

Dress the pizza dough up with your favorite toppings.  Slide it onto the pizza stone in your oven and bake until it is as done as you like it.  We like our pizza to have a nice brown crust and bubbling cheese.

Now, for the fabulous, fast, easy pizza dough recipe...