Description
This whole wheat Pizza Dough is perfectly chewy with wholesome flavor! Made with simple ingredients in 90 minutes, it creates crispy-outside, tender-inside crust that rivals any pizzeria.
Ingredients
**For the Dough:**
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (or 1 packet active dry yeast)
1 tablespoon honey (or sugar)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup warm water (110-115°F)
**For Preparation:**
Extra flour for kneading and shaping
Olive oil for coating bowl
Cornmeal or semolina for dusting (optional)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and salt until evenly distributed.
2. In a separate bowl, combine warm water (110-115°F), honey, and olive oil, stirring until honey dissolves.
3. Create a well in the center of flour mixture and pour in liquid ingredients.
4. Mix with a wooden spoon or hands until a shaggy dough forms and all flour is incorporated.
5. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes using push-fold-turn technique until smooth, elastic, and springs back when poked.
6. Shape kneaded dough into a smooth ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat all surfaces.
7. Cover bowl with damp towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free location.
8. Let rise for 60-90 minutes until doubled in size. Test by pressing two fingers into dough—indentations should remain.
9. Punch down risen dough gently to release excess gas.
10. Turn onto lightly floured surface and divide into 2 equal portions for two 12-inch pizzas (or keep whole for one large pizza).
11. Shape each portion by pressing from center outward with fingertips, creating flat disk with slightly thicker edge for crust.
12. Transfer shaped dough to parchment paper or floured pizza peel.
13. Add desired toppings and bake at highest oven temperature (500-550°F) for 10-15 minutes until crust is golden and toppings are cooked.
Notes
For active dry yeast instead of instant: proof in warm water with honey for 5-10 minutes until foamy before adding to flour.
Water temperature is critical—110-115°F activates yeast perfectly. Too hot kills yeast; too cold won’t activate it.
Knead full 8-10 minutes by hand for proper gluten development. Dough should pass windowpane test.
Dough should feel slightly tacky but not sticky. Add flour sparingly during kneading.
Rising location should be warm (75-80°F) and draft-free. Try near warm oven or in turned-off oven with light on.
For make-ahead: refrigerate after first rise for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature 30 minutes before shaping.
Freeze shaped or unshaped dough for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Preheat pizza stone for 45-60 minutes at maximum temperature for crispiest crust.
For thinner crust: divide dough into 3 portions instead of 2.
For thick crust: use entire batch in one 12-inch pan.
Substitute white whole wheat flour for milder flavor while keeping nutrition.
Add herbs or garlic powder to flour mixture for flavored crust.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 12
- Category: Bread/Pizza
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of recipe)
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: pizza dough, whole wheat pizza dough, homemade pizza dough, pizza crust recipe, easy pizza dough
