Pizza Bites

I wanted to post one of my favorite recipes...pizza bites! I freeze pizza dough so that I always have some on hand, making these quick and easy! I have stuffed these with BBQ Chicken and Colby Jack Cheese, and those are also wonderful. Enjoy!

Pizza Bites

Ingredients:

1/2 batch pizza dough (enough dough for one pizza. I posted my favorite recipe below. Freezes great!)

4 oz mozzarella cheese, cubed or shredded

Sliced pepperoni (i used the mini's!)

For Topping:

Olive Oil

Italian Seasoning

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Pizza Sauce or Marinera Sauce for dipping

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie plate or cake pan

Divide the pizza dough into about 20 equal pieces. Flatten the piece of dough and place the cheese and a couple slices of pepperoni on top. Wrap the edges of the dough to form a ball pinching the edges closed. Place seam side down in the baking dish.

Brush the tops of the bites with olive oil (or olive oil spray). Sprinkle with seasoning and parmesan cheese and pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

½ cup warm water

1 envelope (2 ¼ tsp.) instant yeast

1 ¼ cups water, at room temperature

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

4 cups (22 oz.) bread flour, plus more for dusting

1 ½ tsp. salt

non-stick cooking spray for greasing the bowl

Directions:

Measure the 1/2 cup warm water into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup. Sprinkle in the yeast and let stand until the yeast dissolves and swells, about 5 minutes. Add the room temperature water and oil and stir to combine.

Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Briefly combine the dry ingredients at low speed. Slowly add the liquid ingredients and continue to mix at low speed until a cohesive mass forms. Stop the mixer and replace the paddle with the dough hook. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball, put it in a deep oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Press the dough to deflate it.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Form both pieces of dough into smooth, round balls and cover with a damp cloth. Let the dough relax for at least 10 minutes but no more than 30 minutes. Use for pizza rolls, freeze, or roll out for your favorite pizza toppings!

originally from Baking Illustrated