Basic Pizza Dough

In the bowl of a stand-mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, stir together the yeast, warm water and sugar. Stir in the olive oil, then turn the mixer on low and gradually add in the flour and salt.

Turn mixer up to medium and knead the dough until it comes together and forms a soft ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, adding more flour (1/4 cup at a time) if needed.

Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise for two hours. Once risen, gently turn dough out onto a floured surface (you do not want to knead the dough here), and divide the dough in half. Press each half into a greased pizza pan (medium to large size pizza pan), covering the pan and a little up the sides to form the crust.

For preparation: Top with desired toppings and bake in a 450 F oven for around 15 minutes or until crust is firm and golden and the center of the pizza is cooked through.

Notes:
– I use the type of pizza pans with the holes on the bottom. The holes help the bottom of the crust get golden and crisp.
– I have used half wheat flour and half white flour with this recipe before with great results.