Pizza Hut Pan Pizza

If you're a fan of Pizza Hut's deep dish crispy crust - you'll enjoy this! This might be our new Christmas Eve Dinner tradition. :)

4/5/12 - I modified the original recipe and we think this recipe is pretty great! The trick is to leave the dough pretty sticky - more like a thick batter than a bread dough. It's messy, but produces a very light crust - just like Pizza Hut.

-Modified from Your Homebased Mom

1 1/3 c. Warm water (105F)

1 Tbsp sugar

2 1/2 tsp. yeast

2 Tbsp Vegetable oil

3 1/4 c. Flour

1/4 c. Non-fat dry milk

1 tsp. dough enhancer, optional, but helps achieve a light and airy crust

1 tsp salt

6 Tbsp. EVOO (2 Tbsp each for three 9" cake pans) * good oil makes for a really tasty crust!

Pizza or Marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and desired toppings

Garlic butter, if desired

Set out three 9" cake pans and add 2 Tbsp EVOO to each pan. 

Put water, yeast, sugar, and vegetable oil in Bosch mixer. Add flour, dry milk, dough enhancer, and salt and mix for 3 minutes. (It will be sticky) Divide dough into three equal parts. Use your hands to press dough down so it covers the bottom of the pans (it might not completely cover the bottom). Cover with plastic wrap, place in warm area, and allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

*If you're running short on time, preheat your oven to 100 while you make the dough. Turn the oven off and then place the prepared pans with dough inside to proof. It cuts the rising time in half.

Prepeat oven to 450 degrees (425 works better for our oven). Spread sauce on each pizza and then add cheese and toppings. Cook until cheese is bubbling and outer crust is brown – about 15 minutes. After removing the pizza from the oven, remove immediately to cooling racks to preserve the crispy crust. If desired, brush outer edge of crust with garlic butter. Cool slightly before cutting.