Using Your Bread Machine to Make Pizza

One of the people who came to my last Frugal Living to Accomplish Your Goals presentation sent me an email about what recipe I use to make pizza dough. I use the bread machine recipe that came with my machine and tinker with it to get it to my taste.

When I first started making bread with the bread machine, I would dump in the ingredients and walk away. I learned that the bread machine usually needs a bit of help mixing the ingredients. I put them in, start it and come back in 5 minutes and scrape down the sides. I do it a second time after a few more minutes. I also adjust the moisture in the recipe or the flour, if I need to. Part of the reason I do this is because bread machine flour is much more expensive than regular flour. But regular flour seems to take more water in the recipe. I haven’t figured out the amount so I frequently add some water or some flour. If you are just starting to use the bread machine don’t use regular flour. Get some experience behind you with the machine. Then “doctor it up”.

The cheapest source of yeast is the Newark Natural Foods store. You can also try another health food store. I get 8 oz. for about $3.00 and that lasts a long time in my freezer. If you go there, check out the bulk spices which are very cheap and fresh. I get most of my spices in bulk from there.

Additionally, if you don’t have a bread machine, check out the dozen or so in the Goodwill. Before you buy one, make sure to test it in the store.

Here is the recipe:

Bread Machine Pizza Dough

1 1/2 c. very warm water and an additional 2 TBS of warm water
1tbs. sugar
1 tbs. oil (I use olive for pizza)
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 c. bread flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast

Put it in the machine in this order. Before putting yeast in smooth the flour so it lays pretty flat. Then sprinkle yeast on top. Set the machine to the dough setting. When it is done, divide into 2 thick crusts or 3 thin crust pizzas. Spray your cookie sheets with oil. Roll out the dough to fit the cookie sheet. Place on top. Add sauce to taste. Add toppings to taste (I always fry up the meat toppings before hand and drain fat off). Cover with cheese (about 1 cup or to taste). Bake at 450 degrees for 12-18 minutes. (depends if it is thin crust and if it is in the center rack of the oven)
Total time is about 2 hours.

If you only want one pizza, freeze half in a bag but leave room for expansion. It will keep rising for a bit in the freezer. Defrost it starting in the morning in a covered bowl in a warm place.

Enjoy!