Pizza-Style Bread: Why Should Toppings Only Be on Top? 🍕🍞

This delightful recipe takes everything you love about pizza and transforms it into a scrumptious bread! Why settle for plain old crust when you can have gooey cheese and zesty toppings throughout the loaf? This bread is perfect as an appetizer, snack, or even as a meal on its own. Serve it warm with marinara for dipping, and watch it disappear at your next gathering!

Ingredients

For the bread

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup warm water (about 110°F or 43°C)
• 2 tbsp olive oil

For the toppings (mix and match!)

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup diced pepperoni or salami
• 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers (any color)
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Marinara sauce for dipping (optional)

Instructions

1. Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until frothy.

   🥄 This step ensures your yeast is active! If it doesn’t froth, your yeast might be outdated, so check the expiration date.

2. Combine dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Once the yeast mixture is frothy, stir in the olive oil.

3. Knead the dough: Gradually add the flour mixture to the yeast mixture, stirring until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

   🔄 Don’t forget to stretch the dough! Kneading helps to develop the gluten and gives your bread the right texture.

4. First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

5. Prepare the toppings: While the dough is rising, mix together the mozzarella, pepperoni (or your choice of toppings), Parmesan cheese, oregano, and garlic powder in a bowl.

6. Shape the bread: Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough into a rectangle (approximately 12x18 inches). Sprinkle the cheese and topping mixture evenly across the dough.

7. Roll it up: Starting from one long side, tightly roll the dough into a log. Pinch the seams to seal and tuck the ends underneath.

   🥪 Make sure to distribute the toppings evenly, so every bite has a little bit of everything!

8. Final rise: Place the rolled dough seam side down in a greased loaf pan. Cover it again with a towel and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes.

9. Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Once the dough has puffed up, bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

10. Cool and serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Slice and serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping!

🍽️ Drizzling a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar over it before serving enhances the flavor perfectly!

Variations

• Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the cheese mixture for a kick! 🌶️
• Vegetarian: Omit the meat and load up on mushrooms, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes for a veggie delight. 🥬
• Cheesy overload: Mix in some cheddar or gouda cheese for an extra cheesy experience! 🧀
• Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend specifically designed for bread. Results may vary, but it’s worth a try!

Explore the layers of flavor in every bite of this pizza-style bread, and enjoy a new way to experience your favorite toppings! 🍕✨