Patriotic Pizza (With NO MESS Pizza Dough in a Bag)

Of course you can use store bought pizza dough to make this cute and festive flag pizza, but why bother when you can make this easy, NO MESS dough in minutes (no need to let it rise)? Parents will love that there is almost no clean-up. Kids will enjoy kneading the squishy dough without even getting their hands dirty! In fact, we think you will like this cooking project so much that it will become your “go to” pizza recipe – whether you want a flag shaped pizza or a traditional round pie.

For pizza dough you will need:

1 gallon plastic zipper bag

2 1/2 – 3 1/4 cups all purpose or bread flour

1(.25 ounce) package of active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp. jarred active dry yeast)

1 cup water (about 110ºF, which feels slightly warmer than your body temperature)

2 Tbsp. olive or vegetable oil

Toppings:

2 – 3 cups store bought or homemade pizza sauce, or your favorite marinara

2 – 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup grated parmesan or asiago cheese (optional, but it adds great flavor when blended with the mozzarella)

Any red toppings you like for stripes. Pepperoni, cooked bacon slices, red bell pepper, and sliced tomatoes are a few options. Be creative!

1 jar sliced black olives

A couple of slices of mozzarella or provolone cut into small stars (optional).

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425º F

To make dough:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Line a bowl or quart measuring cup with zipper bag (optional, but it does make the next step easier).

3. Dump 2 1/2 cups flour and all of the rest of the ingredients into the bag.

   

4. Squeeze out excess air, close tightly, and knead for 6 or more minutes.

   

5. Add enough remaining flour so that dough pulls away from bag.

6. Let rest 10 minutes (this is a good time to prepare your toppings).

To make pizza:

1. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Press dough to fit bottom of sheet.

3. Cover with sauce.

   

4. Sprinkle with lots of cheese (this is the white base of the flag, so be generous).

5. Decorate using olives in upper left corner for stars and red toppings for stripes (make sure you overlap ingredients a little when making the stripes to allow for shrinkage during cooking).

   

6. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

7. While pizza is baking, fold slices of cheese and cut out stars using a knife or cookie cutter.

8. After pizza is out of the oven, carefully place stars over olives.

   

   Enjoy!!!