The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust + Sauce

The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust + Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp dry active yeast
  • 1 ¼ cup warm water

    divided

  • 2-3 Tbsp sugar

    divided

  • 3 cups gluten-free flour blend*

    see notes

  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C).

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, combine yeast and 3/4 cup warm water (180 ml // amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) – about 110 degrees F (43 C). Too hot and it will kill the yeast! Let set for 5 minutes to activate. Sprinkle in 1 Tbsp of the sugar (12 g // amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) a few minutes in.

  3. 3

    In a separate bowl, combine gluten free flour blend, salt, baking powder and remaining 1-2 Tbsp sugar depending on preferred sweetness (12-25 g // amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Whisk until well combined.

  4. 4

    Make a well in the dry mixture and add the yeast mixture. Add the olive oil and additional 1/2 cup warm water (120 ml // amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) before stirring. Then stir it all together until well combined, using a wooden spoon (see photo).

  5. 5

    If using the whole dough to make one large pizza, spread onto a generously greased baking sheet or a pizza stone. Otherwise, make one smaller pizza and reserve the other half of the dough, wrapped in the fridge for several days. Using your hands and a little brown rice flour if it gets too sticky, work from the middle and push to spread/flatten the dough out to the edge (see pictures). You want it to be pretty thin – less than 1/4 inch.

  6. 6

    Put the pizza in the oven to pre-bake for roughly 20-25 minutes, or until it begins to look dry. Cracks may appear, but that's normal and totally OK.

  7. 7

    Remove from oven and spread generously with your favorite pizza sauce, cheese and desired toppings. We went with Daiya to keep ours dairy-free. Pop back in oven for another 15-25 minutes (depending on toppings), or until the crust edge looks golden brown and the toppings are warm and bubbly.

  8. 8

    Cut immediately and serve. Reheats well the next day in the oven or microwave.

The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust + Sauce

The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust + Sauce

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Simple Sourdough Pizza Crust

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What you need to make this recipe...: ...a sourdough starter. Ideally, you want to use your starter 4 to 6 hours after you feed it, when it has doubled in volume and is very bubbly and active. Here are three sources: Breadtopia King Arthur Flour Cultures for Health ...time. Once your starter is ready to go, this recipe requires an initial 6 - 18 hour rise, followed by at least 6 hours in the fridge or up to 3 days.  Timing/Schedule: The more I make sourdough, the more I realize that the timing of each bake depends so much on the time of year and the temperature of my kitchen. In the summer, because it is warm and humid, the first rise (bulk fermentation) of all my sourdoughs takes between 6 - 8 hours; in the winter it will take longer, 10 to 12 hours. It is best to rely on visual cues. For the bulk fermentation, you want the dough to double or less than double: I now end my bulk fermentation when the dough has risen by 50% to 75% in volume. This is why I cannot recommend using a straight-sided vessel  (as opposed to a bowl) enough. It makes gauging the first rise easier. If at any point you are worried the dough will over-ferment — say, for example, the bulk fermentation is nearly complete but you are tired and want to go to bed — stick the vessel in the fridge and pick up the process in the morning. (Note: If your dough rises above double, don't despair ... my dough has tripled in volume during an overnight rise, and the resulting dough still had plenty of strength and spring.) Schedule: I like mixing this dough in the evening, performing 4 stretch and folds before I go to bed (if time permits), then letting the dough complete its bulk fermentation at room temperature (68ºF) overnight or in the refrigerator (especially in the summer, when my kitchen is much warmer). In the morning, it's typically ready to be portioned (if it rose at room temperature), transferred to quart containers, and stashed in the fridge. If I had let my dough spend time in the fridge for the bulk fermentation, I remove it in the morning, and let it complete its bulk fermentation at room temperature. Once complete, I portion the dough and stash it in the fridge. Sometimes I'll use the dough that same evening; sometimes I'll use it the following day or the next. I encourage using the dough within 3 days.  In short: If you want pizza for the weekend, mix your dough on either Wednesday or Thursday.  Troubleshooting: If you have issues with your dough being too sticky, please read this post: Why is my sourdough so sticky? The 4 common mistakes. Water: If you live in a humid environment or if you are making this on a particularly humid day, consider starting with less water, such as 335 grams of water, which will bring the hydration down to 70%. This amount of water will still produce a light airy crust but the dough will be more manageable.  Flour choice:  Due to supply issues, I've been making this recipe with all-purpose flour, and it works beautifully. You absolutely can use bread flour or tipo 00 flour if you can get your hands on either. If you can't, know that all-purpose (unbleached) flour works great here. If you use 00 flour, you'll likely need to reduce the amount of water. I would start with 350 g, and adjust moving forward based on your results.  Favorite Pizza-Making Tools: Baking Steel Pizza Peel Parchment Paper: I bake my pizzas on parchment paper on my Baking Steel. Parchment allows for easy transfer from peel to steel.  Cast Iron Skillet: If you do not have a Steel or stone, you can use a cast iron skillet. Rub a half teaspoon of oil over its surface, transfer a stretched dough round to the skillet. Top as desired. Bake at 450ºF for about 15 minutes.  Quart Containers for storing dough

25 hours4 servings

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About this Recipe

Dreaming of a homemade pizza night, but need a fantastic gluten-free crust that truly satisfies? This recipe for The Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust + Sauce delivers on that promise, offering a reliable foundation for your favorite toppings.

This recipe skillfully combines active dry yeast with a gluten-free flour blend, salt, and baking powder. The inclusion of both yeast for rise and baking powder for lift helps create a superior gluten-free crust that avoids the dense texture often associated with gluten-free baked goods. The olive oil contributes to a tender interior and a crisp exterior, ensuring a balanced and flavorful base.

You can expect a homemade pizza experience that truly satisfies, proving that gluten-free doesn't mean compromising on taste or texture. The crust should be pleasantly chewy on the inside with a satisfying crispness when properly baked. This recipe aims to provide a reliable foundation for your favorite pizza, allowing you to enjoy authentic pizza flavors without gluten.

Customization & Serving

While the recipe suggests a specific gluten-free flour blend (with notes for guidance), you're encouraged to explore different high-quality blends to find your personal preference, always ensuring they are suitable for baking. The amount of sugar can be adjusted slightly, which influences yeast activity and the crust's browning. Feel free to vary the type of olive oil used for a subtle flavor difference in your crust.

Perfect for family pizza night, this gluten-free crust and sauce combo makes creating a delicious meal accessible and enjoyable. Serve it hot, piled high with all your favorite toppings.

Frequently Asked Questions