Best Homemade Pizza Recipe _ CookwithHelly

Making homemade pizza is a delightful and customizable experience. Here's a classic homemade pizza recipe that you can follow, but feel free to get creative with your toppings:

**Ingredients:**

*For the Pizza Dough:*
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup warm water (110°F or 43°C)
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt

*For the Pizza Sauce:*
- 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste

*For Toppings:*
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Your favorite pizza toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, etc.)

**Instructions:**

*For the Pizza Dough:*

1. In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil.

3. Stir until a dough forms, then turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add more flour if it's too sticky.

4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours or until it has doubled in size.

*For the Pizza Sauce:*

1. In a small saucepan, heat a bit of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.

2. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens.

3. Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool.

*Assembling and Baking the Pizza:*

1. Preheat your oven to the highest temperature it can reach (usually around 500°F or 260°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven during preheating.

2. Divide the pizza dough into two equal portions for two 12-inch pizzas or adjust as needed.

3. Roll out each dough portion into a 12-inch circle on a floured surface. If using a pizza stone, transfer the rolled-out dough to a piece of parchment paper for easy transfer.

4. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.

5. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.

6. Add your desired toppings.

7. Carefully transfer the pizza (on the parchment paper if using a stone) onto a baking sheet or the preheated pizza stone.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

9. Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a minute, then slice and enjoy your homemade pizza!

Feel free to experiment with different toppings and sauces to create your favorite homemade pizza. Enjoy!