Best Pizza Dough Recipe (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

01 - 250-295g (around 2-2 ⅓ cups) of plain flour or French bread flour, divided.
02 - A small packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) of fast-acting yeast.
03 - A teaspoon and a half of granulated sugar.
04 - Three-quarters of a teaspoon of table salt.
05 - A dash (⅛-¼ teaspoon) of powdered garlic or dried basil (totally optional).
06 - 2 tablespoons of olive oil, plus a bit extra for brushing.
07 - 175ml (¾ cup) of warm water.

# Instructions:

01 - Grab a big mixing bowl. Toss in a cup (125g) of the flour, your yeast, sugar, and salt. If you'd like, sprinkle in some garlic powder or basil now.
02 - Pour in the olive oil and your warm water. Stir it all together using a wooden spoon until everything is well blended.
03 - Slowly add another cup of flour (125g). Add more bit by bit if needed, until you get soft, stretchy dough that pulls away from the bowl’s sides. It’ll be slightly sticky, but you should be able to handle it.
04 - Take a clean, large bowl and drizzle it with olive oil. Brush the oil up along the edges using a pastry brush.
05 - Dust a little flour on your hands so the dough doesn’t stick. Shape the dough into a ball, pop it in your oiled bowl, and roll it around until it’s coated in the oil. Cover with some plastic wrap, and leave it in a warm spot for 30 minutes or until it’s doubled in size.
06 - If you’re planning to bake the pizza right away, heat your oven to 215°C (425°F).
07 - Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down. Knead it a couple of times on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Use your hands or a rolling pin to mold it into a 12-inch circle.
08 - Move the dough to a pizza pan lined with parchment paper. Pinch the edges or roll them up to create a crust layer.
09 - Drizzle one generous tablespoon of olive oil over the dough and spread it all over, including the edges, with a brush.
10 - Use a fork to poke holes all over the center of the dough. This step helps keep bubbles at bay while baking.
11 - Top the dough with your favorite toppings and place it in your preheated oven. Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the toppings are golden.
12 - Slice your warm, freshly baked pizza and dig in!

# Notes:

01 - Using plain flour gives you a softer crust, while bread flour makes the crust crispier.
02 - You can swap fast-acting yeast with active dry yeast—just use the same amount.
03 - For the yeast to activate properly, your water temperature should be between 40°C and 46°C.
04 - If you need to make the dough ahead, let it rise, then deflate it. Wrap it up and keep it in the fridge for a few days or freeze for up to a month.

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