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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Pan Pizza (...and our new family favorite)

We have a weekly family tradition in the kitchen.  That tradition is PIZZA.  What I love about it is that even if you make it every single week, it still doesn't get boring.  Changing up toppings and crust-styles results in a weekly meal that can be fun and unexpected while remaining familiar and comfortable.  Another great thing about making pizza- the whole family can get involved.  From doling out the toppings for the week to rolling out the dough to setting the timer to deciding if we're slicing it into wedges or squares...it truly is a family affair.

That said, sometimes time flies by so quickly and things get so busy that we order out instead.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  it just helps add to the variety.  But for those ordinary weeks, when we spend one of our weekend evenings covered in flour and nipping bites of stray toppings together...we've come to a consensus on our new favorite crust.  That would be this one.  It makes three pizzas...but they're only 9-inch pizzas...so for a good-sized family it winds up being just about right.  If you're in the mood for thin, crispy crust, it just won't do.  But, if you've got a hankerin' for a crust that is thick and bready (we are a family who adores our bread)...look no further.  This. Crust. Rocks.

I originally found this pizza over at Karen's place...which led to me to Brenda's place for the actual recipe.  I stuck pretty close to the original (it was a copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza recipe), but I lowered the amount of oil that goes in the pan before the dough.  If you enjoy the greasiness in a Pizza Hut crust, just double the amount of oil that goes into the pan before the dough.  Either way, if you like pan crust...you'll want to try this!
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Pan Pizza

by Heather Schmitt-González
Prep Time: 1½ hours
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
Keywords: bake entree bread American
Ingredients (3 (9") Pan Pizzas)
    Dough
    • 1 package dry yeast (2¼ tsp.)
    • 1 Tbs. superfine or granulated sugar
    • ½ tsp. salt
    • ¼ c. nonfat dry milk
    • 1⅓ c. warm water (105° F)
    • 2 Tbs. (1 oz.) vegetable oil
    • 4 c. all-purpose or bread flour
    for the pans
    • 4½ oz. vegetable oil (1½ oz./1½ Tbs. per pan)
    • cooking spray
    Sauce
    • 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
    • 1 tsp. dried oregano
    • ½ tsp. Italian seasoning
    • ½ tsp. dried basil
    • ½ tsp. garlic salt
    Topping
    • mozzarella cheese, to taste (~8-12 oz.)
    • your choice of vegetables, meat (cooked & sliced or crumbled), etc.
    Instructions
    Dough:
    Put yeast, sugar, salt, and dry milk in a large bowl. Add water and stir with wooden spoon to mix well. Allow to sit for two minutes. Add oil and stir again. Add flour and stir until flour is absorbed and dough comes together.

    Turn out on to a flat surface and knead until smooth and pliable, ~10 minutes.

    Divide dough into three balls. In three 9" cake pans, put about an ounce and a half of oil, tilting and using your fingers to make sure it is distributed evenly.

    Using a rolling pin, roll out each dough ball to about a 9" circle. Place in prepared pans. (Don't worry if you can't roll it out to fit cake pan exactly. As it rests and rises, it'll fill out the pan).

    Spray the outer edge of dough with cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm area for ~1-1½ hours.
    Sauce:
    Combine ingredients and let sit for 1 hour.

    topping:
    Preheat oven to 475°F after dough has risen.

    While the oven is preheating, go ahead and top your pizzas. Divide the sauce amongst the pizzas (~⅓ c. each) and spread, leaving about a 1" rim.

    Spread with a thin layer of mozzarella. Add your choice of toppings to each pizza. Top with another thin layer of mozzarella.
    Slide all three pans into preheated oven and bake until cheese is bubbling and outer crust is golden, ~12-15 minutes.
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    Would you like to comment?

    1. Qué ricas son las pizzas caseras verdad? me gusta tu receta, aquí les gusta crispi y delgada, pero ... no por eso no vamos a probar tu receta. 
      Por qué la haces en éste molde ? es como la pan pizza?
      Saludos

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    2. Sí Pily, es un tipo de pizza que llamamos 'Pan Pizza'. 
      La corteza es gruesa y mucho como el pan.

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    3. Looks really good, Heather.  I like my crust thick and plushy, so this is perfect!

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    4. Your pizzas look so good. I love making pizza at home as well; it's fun getting everyone involved. We generally make three mini pizzas (one each) so everyone gets the toppings they want - kind of like Pizza Huts 'personal pan pizzas'! Thank you for sharing this post - it's lovely reading about family traditions, and I think weekly pizza is an excellent one! In fact, I may 'borrow' it for our family :) I really like this crust recipe - thick crust is my favourite. 

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    5. Home made pizza is a weekly tradition in my house too. We usually make more than one because my husband likes pepperoni and I like spinach- also pizza makes the most awesome left overs the next day!

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    6. We eat homemade pizza almost every weekend...it has become kind of a tradition in our family:-)  This one looks delicious!!!

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    7. It is a good crust, isn't it! Glad you enjoyed it!

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    8. Heather this pizza look and sounds stunning and delicious:)

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    9. The best tradition ever - and I am out of the habit since my kids went to college. Time to get into the habit - because without little kids we can have some deliciously odd ingredients!

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    10. We love to eat pizza and this looks delicious.

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    11. when I lived at home, we would have pizza every Friday and it was the BEST. This looks better. I am SO trying that crust!

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    12. We have pizza night too, and never tire of it. I really think pizza is my favorite food. :)  I like the idea of the smaller pizzas- everybody here wants something different and that's a good way to make everybody happy.  That thick and bready crust sounds good to me!

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    13. Yummy, I'll definitely try to cook it!

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    14. Best night of the week is pizza night! Yours looks perfect!

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    15. This looks like a good recipe for pizza night Heather.

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    16. I love family traditions--anything that bring family around the table on a regular basis is wonderful. The great thing about pizza is you can please everyone with the same pie. :)

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    17. Its as if you were reading my mind! Double yum!

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    18. Though I am normally one for a thin crispy crust I have to say this looks really delicious. You are correct - it is impossible to grow tired of pizza. To paraphrase Johnson: He who has grown tired of pizza, has grown tired of life. 

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    19. Pizza is the best family kitchen tradition!  You're right, changing up toppings and crusts is so much fun...this one looks wonderful!

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    20. miam miam

      I'll cook pizza for my friends next Wednesday, and now  I have this perfect recipe !!! Thanks a lotttt :-) Let you know how it goes . Greetings from freezy Spain

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    21. Pizza night was always popular at out place; love this recipe and your presentation on the board.
      Rita

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    22. We also have a pizza night!  It's something we look forward to each week.  And how much do I want that board your pizza is on!  Wish I lived next door and I'd swing by for a slice :-)
      Hey, I love your signs at the top of your page with all the kitchen names in different languages.  You are so creative.  

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    23. We do pizza once a week too! It's a tradition that never gets old. I'm a thick crust lover and this is making my mouth water! Delish.

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    24. I know someone in my household who wants to move into your household! :) 

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    25. I am normally a thin crust person but this looks so thick, bready and good I would make an exception. ;-)

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    26. We had pizza fridays when hubby was in the Army, my girls really loved it!! I need to bring it back, really I admit to ordering in sometimes on friday.. good but not the same! need to try this crust, thanks!

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    27. This looks so good right now...but I guess pizza always does :) Yes it is one thing that you can do so much with so it never gets boring :)

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    28. This is what I like the most about pizza - almost anything can be a topping. I personally prefer some bacon, beef, ham, pepperoni, salami, mushrooms, with some basil.

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