How to Make Easy Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

Whole wheat crusts can be used to make traditional pizzas.

Although traditionally made with white flour, pizza crusts made with whole wheat provide additional dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, which could be beneficial if you are eating healthy, watching your weight or on a special diet. Whole wheat pizza crusts differ in color and texture and require additional kneading and cooking time to result a crust that will hold the sauce and be enjoyable to eat. Because of the weight of the flour, whole wheat pizza dough does not rise as much as white pizza dough.

Things You'll Need

• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 1 cup of warm water
• 1/4 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup white flour

Instructions

1. Pour 1 cup of warm water into a medium sized bowl. Add the sugar and the yeast. Allow the yeast to sit in the warm water until it becomes foamy. This should take around five minutes.

2. Stir in the oil and the salt. Slowly add the flour starting with the whole wheat flour. Stir the mixture with a wooden or metal spoon, and add the white flour. Mix the flour, water and yeast mix thoroughly.

3. Sprinkle a handful of flour, white or wheat, onto a clean counter top or table. Place the dough on the work surface and knead it for about five minutes. Add additional flour to the work surface if the dough sticks to it. Stop kneading the dough when it becomes smooth.

4. Form the dough into a ball and place it back in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean dish cloth and place it in a warm place to rise for two hours such as a "turned off" oven. You can also leave the dough on the kitchen counter -- covered in the bowl or on the counter surface itself -- if your house is warm.

5. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the dough from the bowl. Sprinkle flour on your work surface to form the pizza crust. You can form the crust with a rolling pin or with your hands, depending on your cooking skill level. Place the pizza sauce and toppings on the crust, and bake it in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

References

• Whole Grains and Health; Len Marquart and Graeme H. McIntosh
• Cooks.com: Quick and Easy Whole Wheat Pizza Crust