30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe - Comfortably Domestic (2024)

Cornmeal pizza dough makes homemade pizza crust that’s ready for toppings in 30 minutes, helping you createperfect pizzeria-style pizzas at home!

I learned early on that the easiest way to get dinner on the table was to invite the kids into the kitchen with me to help make the meal. Granted, inviting 8 extra hands to help with dinner preparations is not the most efficient use of time, nor are those hands necessarily the most adept at keeping a tidy work space. In fact, those extra hands are highly adept at creating messes. I go into it knowing that asking my boys to help make dinner will result in a colossal mess, and require about twice as much time to get anything in the oven. But that’s okay because they’re learning.

They’re learning how yeast behaves when stimulated with warm water. They notice the increase in yeastie activity upon adding a little honey to the mix.

They understand what happens when doughhas too much flour added or not enough liquid, or is mixed too much or too little.

Perhaps most importantly, the Sons are learning what it means to come together as a family and work as a team in the creation of a meal. They’re learning that while necessary, cooking is also a time to commune with others–if only we’re willing make that time a priority–all of which is worth a little extra mess.

Recipes like this 30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough make it easy to have my boys help prepare a meal, and still have us eating in a reasonable amount of time.

The use of instant yeast, along with a fair amount of cornmeal in the dough, produces the most wonderfully crisp and chewy pizza crust in a short period of time.

My favorite part of pizza night is that everyone can create their own pizza to their liking, so that Ishouldn’thear any complaints about dinner when it comes time to sit down to eat.

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough is also very versatile!

Not only does the recipe make fantastic pizza, but the dough can topped simply with olive oil, salt, and herbs, asflatbread orfocaccia bread, or stuffed with various meats and vegetables for calzones or stromboli. Better yet,30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Doughfreezes beautifully so it’s easy to stockpile extra dough in the freezer for when inspiration (or desperation) strikes.

In fact, I often keep extra pizza sauce, shredded cheeses, and other toppings in the same area of the freezer, so I’m always ready for an instant pizza party.

You should too–trust me!

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe - Comfortably Domestic (6)

Kirsten Kubert

Yields 2

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe for Pizza Week

Crisp and chewy pizza crust that’s ready for toppings in 30 minutes makes for perfect pizzeria-style pizzas at home.

35 minPrep Time

12 minCook Time

47 minTotal Time

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe - Comfortably Domestic (8)

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe - Comfortably Domestic (9)Save Recipe

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Ingredients

  • 2 C. warm water (90-100 degrees F)
  • 2 1/4 tsp. (1 envelope) instant yeast (Red Star Platinum is recommended)
  • 2 Tbs. honey
  • 1/3 C. extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 3/4 C. bread flour
  • 2/3 C. yellow cornmeal
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Once the oven reaches 200 degrees, set a timer for 10 minutes.
  2. Using a 4-cup capacity measuring cup, fill it with 2 cups of warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the warm water, and give it a quick stir, so that all of the yeast gets wet. Stir in the honey. Be sure to wipe any yeast sticking to the spoon back into the water. Let the yeast mixture sit for two to three minutes.
  3. Add bread flour, cornmeal, and kosher salt to the large bowl of a stand mixer, and stir a few times to mix.
  4. By this time, the yeast should have started to “bloom” or look fluffy on the surface of the water. If not, give it another minute or two. Add the olive oil into the yeast mixture, and stir it to combine a bit. The oil won’t completely mix with the water.
  5. Turn the mixer on to a medium low setting, and gradually pour the yeast and oil mixture into the flour. Once all the liquid has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium, and allow it to mix the dough for one minute. The dough will be sticky, but not gooey.
  6. Pour a little blop (about 1 teaspoon) of olive oil into a large, oven safe bowl. Take the dough from the mixing bowl, and roll it around in your hands to make a ball. Put the dough ball into the oil of the other bowl. Swirl the dough around in the oil, and turn it over to coat the dough completely.
  7. By now, the oven should have been heated to 200 degrees, for the requisite 10 minutes. Turn off the oven.
  8. Cover the bowl with the dough in it tightly with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in the warm oven, and close the door. Now would be an excellent time to verify that the oven is indeed turned OFF. Let dough rise in the wrapped bowl inside the warm oven for 30 minutes, or until dough has doubled in bulk. Once the dough has doubled in bulk, remove it from the oven. Push down dough, and divide in half. (Or in 8 equal pieces, if you are making mini pizzas or calzones.) Roll each piece into a smooth ball.
  9. WHAT TO DO FROM HERE

  10. Freeze for later: At this point, you can put the balls of dough into individual zippered freezer bags, and freeze for later. To use, place frozen dough into a large, oiled bowl. Turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and allow to thaw and rise on the counter for at least 8 hours, or until doubled in bulk. I usually do this first thing in the morning, so it is ready to go by dinner time.)
  11. Make Pizza: Roll and/or stretch dough to cover a oiled baking sheet. Top with sauce and/or the toppings of your choice. We like to make one pizza brushed with olive oil, shredded cheese, and Italian seasoning, and one with leftover pasta sauce, shredded cheese and pepperoni. Boring, but tasty. If I am feeling sassy and want a grown-up pizza, I may put on shredded chicken, caramelized onions, and goat cheese. Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven (preferably on a hot pizza stone) for 9-14 minutes, or until cheese is melted, and crust is golden brown.
  12. Make Calzone/Stuffed Pizza: Divide dough into 8 equal pieces, roll or stretch out into a 6 inch (ish) circle. Pizza toppings make great fillings, just use less “wet” ingredients, and more meat/veggies/cheese. (Some ideas include—browned sausage, cooked, diced potato, onion, and diced roasted red pepper. Cheese and pepperoni. Brie with thinly sliced apple and crumbled, cooked bacon.) Heat the filling, and place 1/3 cup of warm filling of your choice onto one side of the round, leaving 1/4 inch around the edges. Fold dough in half, over the filling, and press the edges to seal. Then, roll about 1/4 inch of the edge from the bottom, over the top, and press to seal. Brush the top with olive oil. Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven (preferably on a hot pizza stone) for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
  13. Make Focaccia Bread: Roll and stretch dough onto a lightly oiled sheet pan. Brush the top with good quality olive oil. Sprinkle with a hefty pinch of kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning. Sprinkle with about 1 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese. You could also add a small amount of another topping, such as caramelized onions & crumbled goat cheese, or sliced black olives. Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven for 12-18 minutes, or until cheese is melted, and bread is lightly browned.

7.8.1.2

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https://comfortablydomestic.com/2014/02/30-minute-cornmeal-pizza-dough/

Comfortably Domestic - 2016

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe - Comfortably Domestic (10)

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe - Comfortably Domestic (11)

If you love pizza as much as I do, then you’ll be happy to know that it’s Pizza Week! The Theme Weavers are back sharing all things PIZZA! Several of my friends are sharing their favorite pizza doughs, as well as a passel of fun and exciting pizza recipes.

Monday:

Carrie from Bakeaholic Mama –My Favorite Pizza Crust

Tuesday:
Kat from Tenaciously Yours –Zorbaz Taco Pizza

Me –30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Crust

Wednesday:
Mads from La PetitePancake – Tangy BBQ Chicken Pizza

Megan from Wanna Be a Country Cleaver –Proscuitto and Pear Pizza

Thursday:
Beka from Kvetchin Kitchen –Clam and Bacon Pizza

Monica from Grommom –Gluten Free Roasted Veggie Pizza

Friday:
Lauren from Climbing Grier Mountain –Caramelized Onion, Sausage, and Barbecue Pizza with Ranch Dressing

Kirsten from Comfortably Domestic –Greek Pizza

Jeanne from Inside Nanabread’s Head –Pepporoni Rolls Made 2 Waysincluding a GOR-GEE-OUS braided stromboli!

Now that you know how to make cornmeal pizza dough, check out my recipe for Greek pizza. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

30 Minute Cornmeal Pizza Dough Recipe - Comfortably Domestic (2024)

FAQs

Can I let pizza dough rise for 30 minutes? ›

If the dough didn't quite double in size overnight, let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before punching down (step 5). Yeast: Red Star Platinum yeast is an instant yeast. You can use active dry yeast instead.

Is cornmeal or flour better for pizza? ›

When it comes to keeping your dough from sticking to the pan, either flour or cornmeal will work. But if you want to add even more taste, and make it an even better experience for your customers, try cornmeal instead!

Is cornmeal or semolina better for pizza dough? ›

While either will work, I use semolina. I've found it doesn't burn as easily as cornmeal, and the finer grind allows me to use less and distribute it more evenly.

What does cornmeal do to pizza dough? ›

The cornmeal gives a wonderful texture and flavor to the dough. The dough freezes well - great for smaller households.

How to make pizza at home in 30 minutes? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Combine 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. ...
  3. Pat dough with floured hands to fill greased pizza pan or baking sheet. ...
  4. Spread with pizza sauce. ...
  5. Bake on lowest oven rack for 12 to 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and crust is browned.

What is the longest you should let pizza dough rise? ›

Store it, covered, in the refrigerator for 1-3* days. Allow room for the dough to expand as it will continue to rise. The pizza dough will actually be more flavorful after a day in the fridge, but the dough will begin to deteriorate after the yeast have eaten all the good food available.

Does Domino's pizza use cornmeal? ›

Please note that because our hand tossed pizzas are hand stretched using cornmeal, there is no airborne wheat flour in our stores.

What grind of cornmeal for pizza? ›

Coarse or medium grind is fine. The idea is the grains of cornmeal work like tiny ball bearings to help the pizza slide off the peel. You don't put cornmeal on the stone or pan in the oven, you put it on the wooden peel to facilitate transfer of the pizza onto the stone or the floor of the oven.

Does cornmeal keep pizza from sticking? ›

Use flour or cornmeal on the surface where you stretch out the dough. Before putting the dough on the countertop to stretch it out, sprinkle flour or cornmeal on the surface. This will help prevent the dough from sticking. You can also lightly dust your hands with flour to make it easier to work with the dough.

Is semolina or 00 flour better for pizza? ›

No you shouldn't use only semolina flour to make pizza dough with. You will need to blend it with all purpose, bread flour or tipo 00 for the best result. Semolina gives your pizza lovely, crispy bottom and chewy bite!

What does semolina do in pizza dough? ›

Semolina does wonders in helping pizza crust get a crunchy, crispy bottom yet chewy texture. Step by Step: Simply combine all pizza ingredients in your bread maker and leave it on its dough setting. Alternatively, combine flour with salt in a bowl and make a well in the middle.

What does adding milk to pizza dough do? ›

Milk (liquid): Strengthens gluten, helps crust brown, softens the crumb. An enzyme in milk slows the growth of the yeast and it can break down the protein in the flour and weaken the dough. Scalding the milk destroys this enzyme.

How to make homemade pizza crispy on bottom? ›

A baking stone, or pizza stone, is a large piece of thick, ceramic tile that sits on the rack of your oven. By preheating the stone along with the oven to a high temperature—think in the 450°F to 500°F range—it picks up and retains a ton of heat that provides exceptional browning for your bottom crust.

What does cream of tartar do in pizza dough? ›

Cream of tartar (an acid byproduct of making wine) is used as a dough relaxer. It slightly hinders the gluten protein in the wheat and causes yeast dough to rise at slower rate.

Can you let pizza dough rise for 1 hour? ›

If you're making pizza now: Let the dough rise for an hour to an hour and a half. Then proceed with making your pizzas right away.

Does pizza dough need to rise for 24 hours? ›

Yes, it is better to let pizza dough rise overnight or longer in a refrigerater, 12 to 48 hours, because the dough has time to ferment without rising to quickly. The longer the dough ferments, the more deeply flavored it becomes due to the yeast eating up the sugars and starches in the dough.

Can you let pizza dough proof too long? ›

Over-proofed pizza dough tastes good and will get crispy; however, it will be flat and lifeless because the yeast is spent. Proofing pizza dough using established best practices is the only reliable way to achieve the flavorful, perfectly risen crust of top-quality pizza.

How long can you let dough rise at room temperature? ›

Rather than placing the dough in the refrigerator overnight, leave it covered on the counter for 1 to 4 hours until it's ready to bake. Since the dough is proofed at room temperature, I find using the poke test a very effective way to tell when the bread dough is ready for the oven.

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