When it comes to crafting the perfect pizza, the dough is key. While many traditional recipes call for sugar, using honey instead can bring a subtle sweetness and complexity to your crust. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of making pizza dough with honey, highlighting its unique flavor profile and benefits. Whether you're a seasoned pizza maker or a beginner, this refined sugar- free recipe will elevate your homemade pizza game to a new level.
Why Use Honey in Pizza Dough?
Honey is a natural sweetener that has several advantages over sugar in pizza dough. Here are a few reasons why switching to pizza dough with honey is a game changer:
- Flavor: Honey adds a mild sweetness to the dough without overpowering the other flavors. This makes it ideal for both savory and slightly sweet pizza toppings.
- Moisture: Honey helps retain moisture in the dough, leading to a more tender and chewy crust.
- Browning: Due to its natural sugars, honey promotes a golden brown crust when baked.
- Fermentation: Honey feeds the yeast in the dough, helping it rise and giving the crust an airy texture.
Ingredients
Pizza dough with honey has only six simple ingredients and no refined sugar. A soft and chewy pizza dough with a hint of sweetness from honey. This dough creates a beautifully golden crust, perfect for any topping!
- active dry yeast
- warm water (about 110°F/45°C)
- honey
- all-purpose flour
- olive oil
- salt
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
The process of making pizza dough with honey is straightforward, and each time you make it, you'll find it gets easier and quicker. From mixing to kneading, this dough is beginner-friendly and forgiving, perfect for honing your pizza-making skills!
- Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm water and honey. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture becomes foamy and bubbly.
- Mix the Dough: In a large bowl, combine 3 ½ cups of flour and salt. Slowly pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil, stirring with a wooden spoon until the dough starts to come together. If the dough is too sticky, gradually add more flour, one tablespoon at a time.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Shape and Bake: After the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Roll it out into your desired shape and thickness, then add your favorite pizza toppings. Bake at 475°F (245°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and crispy.
Hint: Yeast bloom, or the amount your yeast grows and bubbles is key to getting a good rise in your dough. If your water temperature is too hot or cold your yeast won't bloom, be sure that after a few minutes your yeast water and honey mixture has risen substantially. I like to cover the measuring cup with a dish cloth to increase the warmth and create a healthy yeast bloom.
Variations and Pairings
This recipe also makes the a wonderful crust for homemade calzones. You can roll it out and instead of topping the entire pizza only add toppings to half, fold the dough over and pinch it together, brush with butter or egg wash for the perfect calzone!
This Recipe also pairs wonderfully with my homemade pesto recipe.
Storage
you can store this dough for three to five days in your fridge or freeze for up to a month!
FAQ
1. Can I substitute honey for sugar in any pizza dough recipe?
Yes! If your recipe calls for sugar, you can easily substitute honey. Use ¾ the amount of honey for the sugar called for in the recipe.
2. Will honey make the pizza dough too sweet?
Not at all. The honey adds just enough sweetness to enhance the flavor without making the dough overly sweet. It balances perfectly with savory toppings like cheese, meats, and veggies.
3. Can I freeze pizza dough made with honey?
Absolutely! After the dough has risen, punch it down, divide it into portions, and freeze in airtight containers or bags. When you're ready to use it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
Easy Pizza Dough with Honey
A soft and chewy pizza dough with a hint of sweetness from honey. This dough creates a beautifully golden crust, perfect for any topping!
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups warm water (105-115°F)
- 2 ¼ teaspoon (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, mix warm water, honey, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy and increases in size
- Mix Dough: In a large bowl, combine flour and salt conbine. Drizzle in olive oil. Add the yeast mixture. Stir until the dough begins to form.
- Knead: Once the dough is shaggy transfer to a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Let Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Shape & Bake: Punch down the dough and shape it into desired pizza crust. Add toppings of your choice and bake for 10-15 minutes.
mackenzie
Hi,
Making this now~ Yeast and honey combo smells delicious! I wanted to confirm, because the recipe card calls for 3 1/2 C of flour, however your detailed instructions above call for 2.5
Thank you 🙂
The Evergreen Acre
Thank you so much for catching that!! 3.5 is what works for me! I will update the post right now! I'm so sorry and I hope it turned out! Let me know what you think!