Pull Apart Pizza Bread Ring 🍕🌀

This creative and fun recipe is a delightful twist on traditional pizza, perfect for sharing at parties or family gatherings. The pull-apart style makes it not just delicious but also interactive, as everyone can take their favorite pieces! Customize it with your choice of toppings and watch it disappear before your eyes!

Ingredients

For the dough

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup warm water (about 110°F/43°C)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the filling

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
• 1/4 cup diced bell peppers (your choice of color)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce (for dipping)

Instructions

1. Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir to mix. Add warm water and olive oil, mixing until a dough forms.

🥄 If your dough is sticky, add a little more flour until it’s manageable, but avoid adding too much to keep it light.

2. Knead the dough: On a floured surface, knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Place it in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

3. Preheat the oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

4. Prepare the filling: Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out into a rectangle (about 12"x 16").

🔥 Feel free to get creative with the fillings! Consider adding sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or even cooked sausage for a heartier option.

5. Add toppings: Spread the mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough, then layer the pepperoni, olives, bell peppers, and Parmesan. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning on top.

6. Cut and shape: Cut the topped dough into strips (about 2 inches wide) and stack the strips. Then, cut these stacked strips into halves, and arrange them upright in a greased bundt pan, creating a ring.

7. Let it rise again: Cover the bundt pan with a cloth and let it rise for another 30 minutes.

8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

9. Cool and serve: Allow the bread ring to cool for a few minutes before carefully removing it from the pan. Serve warm with pizza sauce on the side for dipping.

🥳 Pair this dish with a light salad for a complete meal, or enjoy it as a stand-alone appetizer. It's just as good served cold the next day!

Variations

• Vegetarian: Skip the pepperoni and add more veggies like zucchini, mushrooms, or artichokes.
• Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the filling or use spicy sausage instead of pepperoni.
• Cheesy garlic: Blend minced garlic with butter and brush it over the dough before adding the toppings for an extra flavorful kick.
• Breadsticks version: Shape the dough into sticks instead of a ring, and bake them on a baking sheet with the same fillings for delicious pizza-flavored breadsticks.

Enjoy your Pull Apart Pizza Bread Ring! 🥳🍕