Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

Do you make your own pizza dough?

This whole wheat pizza dough is another great way to start sneaking whole grains into diet.

I make up two recipes of whole wheat pizza dough at a time – enough for 4 crusts. I make one for dinner, then I pop the other 3 in the freezer.

When I was working, this recipe always made a quick and easy dinner! In the morning, I just pulled a frozen crust out and left it in the fridge to defrost. Then, when I got home, I immediately pulled it out and put in on the counter. I changed into my PJs, poured a glass of wine, blah, blah, blah, 30 minutes later, and the crust was ready to roll!

If you have never made a yeast crust, there is no magic involved. There are just a few hints I have to make sure you are on the right track. Five minutes after you’ve added the yeast to the water and honey mixture, this is what it should look like:

If it does not look like bubbly like this, your yeast is not ready to go. Toss it and start over, making sure you test the temperature of the water. I don’t use a thermometer, but in the beginning, you may need to. I’ve found if I feel the water, and it feels like the temperature when I would get into the shower, that is the right temp!

Next, I always preheat my oven to 100 degrees, then turn it off and let the dough rise in there.

Keep your dough covered to stop it from developing any nasty crusty spots!

Implement those two easy tricks and you’ve created the perfect environment for the perfect pizza crust.

Still worried your family  won’t go for a whole wheat crust? Instead of making a traditional pizza, try a BBQ sauce and chicken pizza, or mexican pizza with refried beans and cheese topped with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes.

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe

Makes (2) 12 inch crusts

1 T Honey

2 1/4 t (or one small packet) yeast – not rapid rise

1 C warm water

2 C whole wheat flour, divided

1 C all purpose flour

1 t olive oil

1/4 t salt

1. Dissolve honey in warm water. Sprinkle yeast on top. Stir, then let sit for 5 minutes.
2. Add 1 and 3/4 C whole wheat flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, oil and salt to a large bowl. Add yeast mixture. Stir all ingredients together until it starts to form a soft dough.
3. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Begin to knead. If it is too sticky, add whole wheat flour 1 T at a time until it becomes smooth.
4. Spray a bowl with cooking spray. Place dough in bowl. Turn to coat dough with spray.
5. Cover dough and let rise in a warm place 1 hour or until doubled in size. (If you can stick your finger into the dough and the indentation remains, your dough is ready.)
6. At this point, you can divide the dough in half. I wrap one crust and place in the freezer.
7. For remaining dough, roll on surface coated with either cornmeal or flour. Let rise for 30 more minutes before adding toppings. Bake pizza at 425 degrees for 8 – 12 minutes.

What do you think? Is this something you’d make for your family?