Quick and Easy Pizza Dough Recipe: 1-Hour Crust

Instructions:

1. In your large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup warm water, 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast, and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until a frothy layer forms on top, indicating the yeast is active.
2. Add 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, and 2 tablespoons olive oil to the activated yeast mixture in the bowl.
3. Mix with a sturdy spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add a tiny bit more flour if the dough is too sticky to handle.
4. Lightly oil a clean large bowl. Place the kneaded dough in the bowl, turning once to coat. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for 30-45 minutes, or until it has roughly doubled in size.
5. Gently punch down the risen dough to release air. Transfer it to a lightly floured surface and divide it into two equal portions for medium pizzas (10-12 inches) or keep as one for a large pizza (14-16 inches). Gently shape each portion into a ball, then flatten and stretch or roll out to your desired thickness and size.
6. Preheat your oven to the highest possible temperature (e.g., 500-550°F / 260-290°C) with a pizza stone or heavy-duty baking sheet inside for at least 30 minutes. Once hot, carefully transfer the shaped pizza dough to the preheated stone/sheet, add your favorite toppings, and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and toppings are cooked through.