Heads up! My post do contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Best Pizza Dough Recipe Here

Pizza Sauce Ingredients

Tomato Sauce

This is our base. Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce. You can roast or cook fresh tomatoes and blend to make your sauce or you can use an already canned tomato sauce. Today I used canned tomato sauce from Walmart.

Onion

Onions provide so much depth of flavor. They are sweet and savory at the same time and although very pungent when raw once cooked they provide a mild base line of flavor to our sauce.

Garlic

I use fresh garlic although garlic powder would work too. The garlic adds another depth of flavor with with bold, spicy aroma. When sauteed with the onion it too becomes less pungent and offers a sort of nutty flavor to our sauce.

Basil

Basil provides a sweet contrast to our acidic tomatoes and pungent onion and garlic. These 4 flavors go so well together the are the base for many different Italian recipes. You can use fresh or dried basil. If you use fresh make sure you mince it well and add double the amount. This recipe calls for 1 tablespoon dried basil or 2 tablespoons fresh basil.

Cayenne Pepper

I love adding a little spice to my tomato sauces. Pepperoni pizza with pepper flakes along with a little cayenne pepper in the sauce is just so good! Depending on how much spice you like you can experiment with the amount of pepper you use. I like just a little spice, and I have kids so I try to stick to the mild side and work my way up. You can also use chili powder or paprika as a substitute.

Molasses (Optional)

I love molasses. A little molasses adds so much flavor and nutrition to our sauce. I tend to make a lot of vegetarian pizzas for my family and this added flavor in the sauce makes it seem like I’m not miss our on anything by not having any meat.

Learn more about the Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses in this article and find enjoy more recipes with blackstrap molasses in them.

How to Make Pizza Sauce

1. Saute Onions and Garlic

Mince the onions and garlic nice and small and saute together. Add a little oil or even just water to the pan to help from sticky. Oil will add and enhance the flavors from the onions and garlic but water works just as well.

2. Add Tomato Sauce, Basil and Cayenne

Pour in the tomato sauce and turn heat to a medium. Add basil and cayenne and stir in. If you like the idea of adding molasses add at this time as well. Let simmer for 10-30 minutes on low. Taste and add salt, pepper or more basil if desired.

3. Store Your Sauce

Let the sauce cool down and then you can use right away or store for later. I usually make enough for about 4 pizza’s but typically only make 2 for our family’s dinner. I either store the sauce in a jar in the refrigerator for about 1 week or you can store in the freezer for up to a year.

The Best Pizza Dough Recipe Here

Pizza Sauce

Yield: 4 pizzas

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 1, 29oz can of tomato sauce (or 2, 15oz cans)
• 1/2 Onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 Tablespoon dried basil or 2 tablespoon fresh
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Blackstrap Molasses (optional)

Instructions

1. In a sauce pan, saute onion with garlic with a little bit of oil.
2. Add tomatoes, basil, cayenne and molasses (optional)
3. Let simmer for 10-30 minutes. Enough time to blend the flavors together.
4. Let cool and use right away or store in refrigerator or freezer for another day.

Pizza Or Calzone?

This pizza sauce recipe is also perfect for calzones! Although if you are looking for something a little different with your calzones check out these two recipes.

Spinach & Artichoke Calzone Mushroom & Onion Calzone

The post The Best Pizza Marinara Sauce appeared first on Embracing The Home.

Heads up! My post do contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More Calzone Recipes…

Calzones for dinner! Try my Mushroom and Onion Calzone or Spinach and Artichoke Calzone next!

How To Make Chocolate Cinnamon Dessert Calzones

This recipe is very simple. I make dessert calzones whenever I am making calzones for dinner. My dough is already made the oven is already up to 500 degrees. To make this very simple dessert, just grab a little bit of butter, some chocolate chips, a little brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

1. Make pizza/calzone dough

I make my pizza dough from scratch but you can also buy pizza dough for your local grocery store or pizzeria’s sometimes sell dough. Click here for my pizza dough recipe.

2. Roll out your dough

Roll the dough out just like pizza dough. You can even do the little throw in the air trick if you are that cool. Before placing the filling on make sure you place some parchment paper under the dough.

3. Add filling

Add your dessert filling ingredients to one half of the rolled out dough. Start with some chunks of butter or melted butter on your dough. Now brown sugar, then some chocolate chips and last but not least cinnamon.

4. Fold the calzone

Fold over the plain side of dough over onto the side with the filling. Leaving about an inch of room to seal. Pinch the edge a little and roll or twist the edge all the way around.

5. Butter or Egg wash the top

In my other calzones recipes I egg wash the top. For this dessert calzone I wanted to do a little more… Instead of the egg wash you can use butter. After the butter I sprinkled a little more cane sugar and cinnamon on the top. It was delicious!

6. Bake and enjoy!

Score the top. Bake on a cooking sheet at 500 degrees for about 7-9 minutes. Not too long or the sugar will burn. I left my in just a tad to long and the top is a little dark. But it didn’t taste burnt, just had a few rough edges.

More Dessert Calzone Toppings!

I hope this simple recipe encourages you to explore a little when making a dessert calzone. Its as simple a sprinkling a few ingredients that you like together to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are some other ingredient combinations that you might enjoy.

S’mores Calzone

• Marshmallows
• Chocolate Chips
• Cinnamon
• Butter

Fruit Calzone

• Cream cheese
• powdered sugar
• blueberries and strawberries (or another favorite fruit)

White Chocolate Calzone

• White chocolate chips
• Cream cheese
• Sliced Almonds
• Nutmeg

Nutella Calzone

• Nutella (That would probably be enough…)

Be creative! There’s so many options out there and you will learn more about baking and cooking by trying new things then just following a recipe. So go for it!

Chocolate Cinnamon Calzone

Yield: 1 Calzone

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Make Pizza/Calzone dough
2. Roll out dough in a circle like a pizza
3. Put Butter, Brown Sugar, Chocolate Chips and Cinnamon on 1 half of the dough. leaving about an inch on the sides for sealing.
4. Fold over the dough on top of the filling. Push down on the edges to
   seal and twist and fold the edge into the calzone creating a swirly
   crust.
5. Use egg wash or melted butter on the top and sprinkle a litt more sugar and cinnamon on top.
6. Cut 5 steam holes on the top of the calzone
7. Bake at 500 degrees for 7-9 minutes.
8. Let cool and enjoy!

The post Simple Recipe for Dessert Calzones appeared first on Embracing The Home.

Heads up! My post do contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients for Pizza Dough

Warm Water

The warm water helps the yeast activate. If the water is hot it will kill the yeast, if it is cold it will not wake up the yeast and your dough wont raise.

Yeast

Active dry yeast is our leavening agent for our pizza dough. Yeast is a living, single cell organism that feeds on sugars and makes carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide forms bubbles in the dough causing the dough to rise.

Sugar

The yeast works best when given some food. A little sugar is just what the yeast needs to start its work. It also adds a bit a flavor.

Flour

All purpose flour works great for this recipe. We want our flour to be stretchy and strong. All purpose flour will give you your best change.

Salt

Add and enhance flavor with salt. Simple table salt works for this recipe as well as pink himalayan or any other sea salt. Salt will slow down the yeast process so it is important to remember to add the salt along with the flour and not straight into the water, sugar and yeast mixture. The flour will distribute the slat properly without disturbing the yeast’s process.

How to Make Pizza Dough

1. Mix Water, Yeast and Sugar

Activate your yeast! In a mixing bowl or kitchen aid mixer add yeast, warm water and then sugar. The warm water starts our activation and the sugar will feed it. Mix together and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

2. Add Flour and Salt

After the yeast is activated start adding flour 1/2 cup at a time mixing and kneading together. Once you’ve added a 1 cup add in the salt then add the rest of the four 1/2 cup at a time.

3. Knead Dough

Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elasticity. This may take longer if kneading by hand.

4. Rest and Rise

Cover the dough with a plastic wrap or a damp towel and let the dough rest and rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in size. Its best to rise in a warm place for the yeast to work properly. If its a little cooler in your house it will still rise but it may take a little longer.

5. Roll Out Pizza Dough

Divide the dough into half for 2 large pizzas or thirds for 3 medium size pizzas or into fourths for 4 small pizzas. Form into a disc and roll out will a rolling pin into a nice round circle. Use some extra flour on your counter or table to avoid the dough from sticking to the counter and rolling pin. If the dough doesn’t want to spread or tears easily be patient with the dough and let rest.

6. Assemble Pizza!

Sauce, Cheese, Pepperoni, veggies, pineapple or whatever topping you like!! Your favorite pizza is only a few more minutes away. Choose your toppings and assemble and bake for 18-20 minutes at 450 degrees.

MORE than pizza!

This pizza dough recipe makes more than just pepperoni pizza…
You can use this recipe for calzones, dessert pizzas, cheesey bread sticks, garlic knots and even cinnamon monkey bread.

Pizza Dough

Yield: 2 Large Pizzas

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon dry active yeast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. In a bowl or kitchen aid mixture combine warm water, yeast and sugar together. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
2. Add olive oil, then flour and salt, add flour 1/2 a cup at a time. Mix and knead together.
3. Knead for 5-10 minutes until stretchy and smooth.
4. Let rise for 1 hour or until double in size.
5. Divide in 2 and roll out with extra flour into a two large pizza sized circles.
6. Add toppings and bake at 450 for 18-20 minutes.

Shop Pizza Making Tools

14″ Pizza Cutter Rocker by KitchenStar – Razor Sharp Stainless Steel Slicer Knife w Wooden Handle & Blade Cover, Silver – Premium Pizza Oven Accessories

Large Pizza Stone 20″ x 13.5″ Pizza Stone for Grill Rectangular Baking Pizza Stone for Oven Heavy Duty Cordierite Stone, Ideal for Baking Different Sizes of Pizzas

Pizza Peel 12 inch, Bamboo Pizza Board Wooden Pizza Paddle Spatula Oven Accessory for Baking Homemade Pizza, Wood Cutting Board for Cheese Bread Fruit Vegetables

GoodCook AirPerfect Nonstick 16” Pizza Pan – Pizza Tray for Oven, Perforated Round Pizza Pan, Carbon Steel Baking Pan, Homemade, Frozen & Leftover Slices

Watris Veiyi Small Rolling Pin, Wooden Dough Roller, Non-Stick Pizza Roller, Dough Baker Roller Set for Home Kitchen Baking Cooking(9.5cm/3.74in)

The post The Best Pizza Dough Recipe appeared first on Embracing The Home.

Heads up! My post do contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients for Mushroom and Onion Calzone

Mushroom

You can use either fresh or frozen, both work just fine as long as they are both chopped. The recipe calls for 1 cup. I use frozen so if you are using fresh you may want to do 1 1/2 cups.

Onion

I use a yellow onion but white onion or sweet onion will also work well for this recipe. I like to caramelize the onions and mushroom with a little bit of sugar but that is optional. You can simple saute them without the sugar and it will still be delicious.

Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta cheese is the base of the filling. I love the texture of baked ricotta cheese. Ricotta is a soft, creamy cheese that spreads so perfectly. Its made from the whey leftover when making hard cheeses such as mozzarella or cheddar. These cheese is low in fat and rich in phosphorus and vitamin B12.

Mozzarella Cheese

Mozzarella cheese is considered a hard cheese. When melted it will stick to the other ingredients and hold them together as they cool down again. Mozzarella wont only work as an binding agent but also adds a nice salty flavor and cheesy texture to our calzones.

Garlic and Italian Seasoning and Salt

All of these ingredients add a huge amount of flavor but they also have great health benefits. Garlic is an antibiotic, helping build up our immune system and fight colds and viruses. Italian herbs such as basil, sage, thyme and oregano all have antioxidants, help build up the immune system, are heart healthy and even some regulate hormones and more. Salt is essential to our taste buds and also our body’s health and function with its sodium electrolytes and all.

An Egg

We just need one eggs. This egg will help the filling bind together so when you cut or bite into your calzone the filling don’t fall out. I also you a second egg for an egg wash, this is optional.

How to Make A Calzone

Step One: Make Pizza/Calzone Dough

I make my pizza dough from scratch but you can also buy pizza dough for your local grocery store or even some pizzeria’s just sell dough. Click here for my pizza dough recipe.

Step Two: Saute Onion and Mushrooms

I like to caramelize my onions and mushrooms by adding a little bit of sugar while sauteing them. The sugar is optional but I think adds the perfect touch of sweet flavor to our cheesy calzone.

Step Three: Mix Calzone Filling Ingredients

Mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella, egg, garlic, seasoning, salt. Then add the mushroom and onions.

Step Four: Roll Dough Out

Roll the dough out just like pizza dough. You can even do the little throw in the air trick if you are that cool. Before placing the filling on make sure you place some parchment paper under the dough.

Step Five: Spoon the Calzone Filling and Fold

Spoon the filling on the to dough leaving about an inch of room to seal. When the filling is on fold over the dough onto the filling. Pinch the edge a little and roll or twist the edge all the way around.

Step Six: Cut Steam Hole and Bake

Cut five steam holes on the top of the dough. At this point you can cover with and egg wash, it is optional. Now bake for 15 minutes at 500 degrees.

IMPORTANT, The pizza dough recipe makes 4 calzones while the filling only fills 2. This is because my kids and I like verity. In other words, they like pepperoni and I like mushrooms. To make a pepperoni calzone just though some pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni inside the calzone.

I also have an Spinach and Artichoke Calzone Recipe and a Dessert Calzone Recipe.

Mushroom & Onion Ricotta Calzone

Yield: 2 Medium Calzones

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Print

Ingredients

Filling

Toggle ingredient group

• 1 1/2 cups chopped mushrooms
• 1/2 onion (chopped)
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Crust

Toggle ingredient group

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Make Pizza/Calzone Crust.
2. Chop onions and mushrooms and saute with the sugar, oil and garlic.
3. Once the onions and mushrooms are soft and caramelized turn off heat and let cool.
4. Mix together in a separate bowl, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg, salt, and the Italian seasoning.
5. Add onions and mushrooms to mixture.
6. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
7. Roll out dough in a circle like you would pizza dough and place parchment paper underneath.
8. Spoon the filling on the half, one side, of the dough. Leaving 3/4 inch from rim.
9. Fold over the dough on top of the filling. Push down on the edges to seal and twist and fold the edge into the calzone creating a swirly crust.
10. Egg wash the top and cut 5 steam holes on the top of the calzone.
11. Bake for 15 minutes at 500 degrees.

Notes

IMPORTANT, The pizza dough makes 4 calzones while the filling only fills 2. This is because my kids and I like verity. In other words, they like pepperoni and I like spinach. To make a pepperoni calzone just though some pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni inside the calzone.

I also have an Mushroom and Onion Calzone Recipe and a Dessert Calzone Recipe.

The post Mushroom and Onion Ricotta Calzone appeared first on Embracing The Home.

Heads up! My post do contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients for Spinach Artichoke Calzone

Spinach

You can use either fresh or frozen, both work just fine as long as they are both chopped. The recipe calls for 1 cup. I use frozen so if you are using fresh you may want to do 1 1/2 cups.

Artichoke Hearts

I use canned artichoke hearts in water, not oil but for this recipe either one would work. I drain the artichoke hearts from the water and chop them up. Did you know, that artichokes are known to be the vegetable with the most antioxidants in them? Artichoke are also a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus and have lots of vitamin K and some vitamin C. Artichokes are a part of the sunflower family.

Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta cheese is the base of the filling. I love the texture of baked ricotta cheese. Ricotta is a soft, creamy cheese that spreads so perfectly. Its made from the whey leftover when making hard cheeses such as mozzarella or cheddar. These cheese is low in fat and rich in phosphorus and vitamin B12.

Mozzarella Cheese

Mozzarella cheese is considered a hard cheese. When melted it will stick to the other ingredients and hold them together as they cool down again. Mozzarella wont only work as an binding agent but also adds a nice salty flavor and cheesy texture to our calzones.

Garlic and Italian Seasoning and Salt

All of these ingredients add a huge amount of flavor but they also have great health benefits. Garlic is an antibiotic, helping build up our immune system and fight colds and viruses. Italian herbs such as basil, sage, thyme and oregano all have antioxidants, help build up the immune system, are heart healthy and even some regulate hormones and more. Salt is essential to our taste buds and also our body’s health and function with its sodium electrolytes and all.

An Egg

We just need one eggs. This egg will help the filling bind together so when you cut or bite into your calzone the filling don’t fall out. I also you a second egg for an egg wash, this is optional.

How to Make A Calzone

Step One: Make Pizza Dough

I make my pizza dough from scratch but you can also buy pizza dough for your local grocery store or even some pizzeria’s just sell dough. Click here for my pizza dough recipe.

Step Two: Mix Filling Ingredients

Mix together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella, egg, chopped spinach, chopped artichokes, garlic, seasoning, salt… mix it all in a bowl!

Step Three: Roll Dough Out

Roll the dough out just like pizza dough. You can even do the little throw in the air trick if you are that cool. Before placing the filling on make sure you place some parchment paper under the dough.

Step Four: Spoon Filling and Fold

Spoon the filling on the to dough leaving about an inch of room to seal. When the filling is on fold over the dough onto the filling. Pinch the edge a little and roll or twist the edge all the way around.

Step Five: Cut Steam Hole and Bake

Cut five steam holes on the top of the dough. At this point you can cover with and egg wash, it is optional. Now bake for 15 minutes at 500 degrees.

Spinach & Artichoke Ricotta Calzone

Yield: 2 medium calzones

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Print

Ingredients

Filling

Toggle ingredient group

• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 1 cup chopped artichoke hearts
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Crust

Toggle ingredient group

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Make Pizza/Calzone Crust.
2. Mix together in a bowl, chopped artichokes, chopped spinach, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg, salt, garlic and the Italian seasoning.
3. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
4. Roll out dough in a circle like you would pizza dough and place parchment paper underneath.
5. Spoon the filling on the half, one side, of the dough. Leaving 3/4 inch from rim.
6. Fold over the dough on top of the filling. Push down on the edges to seal and twist and fold the edge into the calzone creating a swirly crust.
7. Egg wash the top and cut 5 steam holes on the top of the calzone.
8. Bake for 15 minutes at 500 degrees.

Notes

IMPORTANT, The pizza dough makes 4 calzones while the filling only fills 2. This is because my kids and I like verity. In other words, they like pepperoni and I like spinach. To make a pepperoni calzone just though some pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni inside the calzone.

I also have an Mushroom and Onion Calzone Recipe and a Dessert Calzone Recipe.

The post Spinach & Artichoke Ricotta Calzone appeared first on Embracing The Home.