Set up a pizza bar and let everyone customize their own personal pizza with their favorite toppings. It's interactive, delicious, and fun for all ages!
Ingredients
For the Pizza Dough (makes 4-6 personal pizzas):
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1¼ cups warm water (110°F)
Pizza Sauce:
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Toppings Bar:
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (3-4 cups)
- Pepperoni slices
- Italian sausage (cooked and crumbled)
- Bacon bits
- Bell peppers (diced)
- Mushrooms (sliced)
- Onions (diced)
- Black olives (sliced)
- Pineapple chunks
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Make the Dough:
- Activate yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Mix dough: Add olive oil, salt, and 2 cups of flour. Mix until combined.
- Knead: Gradually add remaining flour and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Rise: Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise in warm place for 1 hour until doubled.
- Divide: Punch down dough and divide into 4-6 portions depending on desired pizza size.
Make the Sauce:
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Let sit for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
Assemble and Bake:
- Preheat oven: Heat oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out dough: On a floured surface, roll each portion into desired shape and thickness.
- Prepare pans: Place dough on greased baking sheets or pizza pans.
- Let everyone customize: Set up topping station and let each person add their own sauce, cheese, and toppings.
- Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Cool and serve: Let pizzas cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing.
Tips & Variations
- Time-saver: Use store-bought pizza dough or pre-made crusts from the grocery store.
- Quick sauce: Use your favorite jarred pizza sauce instead of making from scratch.
- Dough alternatives: Try naan bread, English muffins, or pita bread for mini personal pizzas.
- White pizza: Offer Alfredo sauce or olive oil with garlic as sauce alternatives.
- Dessert pizza: Make a sweet pizza with Nutella, fruit, and whipped cream!
- Dietary needs: Have gluten-free crusts and dairy-free cheese available for those with restrictions.
Activity Ideas
- Have a "pizza creativity" contest with prizes for most unique, prettiest, or best tasting
- Try to recreate famous pizza styles (Chicago deep dish, New York thin crust, etc.)
- Make it international with toppings from different countries
- Have everyone make a pizza for the person next to them based on what they think they'd like
- Create a "pizza menu" where everyone names their creation