• Make yeast mixture: Use a glass measuring cup or a small non-reactive bowl (this can also be done in the bowl of the stand mixer), add very warm water, yeast, and sugar. Whisk and let it sit until a yeast froth forms on top (about 8-10 minutes).
• Mix Pizza Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer bowl* fitted with a dough hook, add the yeast mixture, flour, olive oil, and salt. Mix everything for 5 minutes until it combines. The soft, elastic, and stretchy dough will naturally pull away from the sides of the bowl when it’s ready. Split into equal halves.
• If only using one pizza dough store remaining dough until next use. (See storage notes below in notes section.

How to Make Homemade Pizza

• Preheat Oven: If using a pizza stone, pizza steel, pizza pan, or baking sheet, place it on a rack on the bottom third of the oven. Then preheat the oven (and stone) to as hot as your oven or stone allows (550°F) or at least 475°F for at least 30 minutes. Just don't make it any hotter than the pan will withstand.
• Prepare Work Surface: I love to use a dough or pastry board or you can lightly dust the countertop with flour or lightly coat it with oil.
• Roll Out Dough: Place the pizza dough in the center of the prepared surface. and roll out into desired thickness. This can be done by hand or with a floured rolling pin. Use your hands (or rolling pin) to press it down, starting from the center. Keep gently patting out the dough (or rolling), moving the dough outward from the center. If using your hands, gently pat and stretch, but you can also use a rolling pin. Make sure to keep rotating the rolling pin so that you get a roughly circular shape(or desired shape) until it is about 12 inches across.
• Transfer Dough: You can transfer the dough to parchment paper to make it easier to transfer to the oven. Use your rolling pin to gently wrap the dough around and pick it up to place on a piece of parchment paper. You can also do this by hand if you don't have a rolling pin.
• Top and Bake: Top with your favorite pizza sauce and favorite toppings, place in oven and bake 8-10 minutes until crust is golden brown (this will depend on thickness, oven tempurature, and desired doneness). The edges should be golden brown and the cheese should be bubbly and starting to lightly brown. We like our a little extra golden.
• Remove, Cool & Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven with a pizza peel (or a flat baking pan) if you have one and place it on a cooling rack (this will keep the crust crispy). You can also use oven mitts to remove the stone or pan and place it on a trivet (be very careful as it is extremely hot). Let cool for a few minutes, slice, and serve.