Preview: This Whole Wheat Pizza Dough for a bread machine recipe has a touch of honey to make it memorable. Whole wheat has never tasted better.
This Honey Whole Wheat Pizza Dough gets a fiber and flavor boost with some whole wheat flour and honey. Mix it up in a bread machine for the best texture ever. This pizza crust is a great way to get more whole grains into your diet. After all, isn’t that why you eat pizza? (wink, wink)
Directions are provided for a bread machine, but no worries if you don’t have one. You can still make it by hand or use a stand mixer. See the notes in the recipe below.
What do you do when you get a less-than-glorious report about your cholesterol or some other important body chemistry?
I try to add more whole grains to my diet. For years, guilt about eating pizza drove my search for an irresistible whole wheat pizza dough.
Being a fan of California Pizza Kitchen, I just happen to have a couple of their cookbooks. I thought it might be worth trying their recipe for Honey Whole Wheat Pizza Dough since they seem to know a thing or two about pizza. Turns out, I loved it and think you will, too.
I realize this pizza dough recipe is not 100% whole wheat, but it’s better than none. Right? Of course, the original recipe wasn’t written for a bread machine, but I simply won’t do it any other way. So, I changed the directions and adjusted the amounts to fit the size of most bread machines.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- FlOUR: I like bread flour in pizza dough because it seems a bit chewier. You can use either bleached or unbleached all-purpose flour if you don’t have bread flour.
- OIL: Olive oil is my calling card when it comes to pizza dough. I use it in the dough and then, more in the pan. It just has so much flavor. You don’t want to miss out.
- YEAST: Anytime you are using a bread machine, instant yeast or bread machine yeast makes it easy. You can also use active-dry-yeast as a substitute. The amounts are the same. You no longer need to dissolve it before using, but beware that it can be slower to rise.
How to roll out bread machine whole wheat pizza dough:
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Did you enjoy this recipe? If so, you can help others and me by leaving a 5-star 🤩 rating in the comment section below. No comment is required.
p.s. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email me privately: Paula at saladinajar.com.
Hope to see you again soon!
Paula
Bread Machine Whole Wheat Pizza Dough with Honey
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup 120 grams or 4-1/4 oz. whole wheat flour (I usually use Gold Medal)
- 2 cups 240 grams bread flour
- 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into your bread machine in order listed. Set machine on the dough cycle and press start.
- When the dough cycle completes, remove dough to a large bowl (cover tightly) or pop dough into a gallon zippered bag and refrigerate overnight.
- Approximately 2 hours (less in my warm kitchen) before you plan to put together your pizza, remove the dough from the fridge.
- Divide in half and form each half into a smooth, rounded ball. At this point, I place each ball into a well-oiled pizza pan and cover with plastic wrap.
- When the dough has warmed and it looks puffy, preheat oven to 450˚ F.
- Use your hands and fingers to flatten the ball until it is the thickness you prefer. I use a 13" pizza pan and try to press it to the edge. If you tear it or make a hole, patch it with your fingers.
- Assemble pizza in this order: Sauce first, then cheese, then meat or other toppings. If I have enough, I usually sprinkle a little more cheese over the top.
- Pop into the oven and turn the temperature back to 425 degrees. How long you bake the pizza will depend on how liberal you were with the toppings, and your specific oven so I hesitate to be specific about the time. My pizzas usually take around 12 minutes, but yours might be different, so watch carefully after the first 10 minutes.
Video
Notes
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Directions for making bread with a stand mixer or by hand:
- To make this recipe in a heavy-duty stand mixer: Add ingredients to the bowl in the same order. Turn on LOW to mix until all ingredients are moistened. Then, using a dough hook, turn the speed to 2 or 3. Continue beating/kneading until dough becomes smooth and elastic (about 5-10 minutes). Cover and allow to rise in a warm place. Deflate dough gently and shape as indicated in the recipe.
- If making by hand: Combine all ingredients into a shaggy ball in a large bowl. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead with your hands until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. This will likely take 10-20 minutes, depending on your experience. Place the dough ball into a greased bowl. Cover and allow to rise until double. Deflate the dough gently and shape as indicated in the recipe.
- Please note: You can substitute active dry yeast. Dissolving it first is optional. It tends to rise slower in the beginning but will catch up eventually.
Angela
Thursday 22nd of October 2020
If you make this and only want to make one pizza, can the dough be frozen? If so, how would you use it later (like thawing, allowing to rise?)? Alternatively, how long would it last in the frig?
Paula
Friday 23rd of October 2020
Hi Angela,
Yes, you can freeze it. I would use it within a month. Let it thaw and get puffy. 4 days is about max for pizza dough in the fridge in my experience. I would rather freeze it immediately and let it thaw when ready to use it. Hope this helps.
Jenny Forrest
Monday 22nd of April 2019
Hi Paula, I love a good bread and your recipes have been fab so far. I have still not managed to find a good pizza base recipe as I want them to be thin, crusty and chewy.... Would this recipe fit that description or o you have any other suggestions?
Paula
Monday 22nd of April 2019
That is a great question, Jenny. I would say "no." If you roll it out very thin, and then, make your pizza right away and bake it, you might come close. I think it is difficult to roll out the dough thin enough at home. Most restaurants use a machine. On the other hand, some people who can throw dough up in the air and catch/stretch it can come pretty close.
Look for a recipe with little yeast that proofs for a long time. It shouldn't have much fat and probably no sugar or sweetener like honey.
Christina H.
Sunday 5th of August 2018
Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing all of your recipes and ideas. I began vacuum sealing cut romaine lettuce as per your instructions over the last couple of months. I love everything about the process and having lettuce ready to go and in good condition. I tried the whole wheat pizza dough recipe today and we all loved it. Thanks again.
Paula
Thursday 16th of August 2018
Hi Christina, So nice to hear from you. It's always encouraging to know when someone is really benefitting from some of my crazy ideas and instructions. Have a good weekend! Paula
Paula
Monday 6th of August 2018
Fantastic to hear from you Christina. How kind of you to come back to the blog and take the time to write. Have a great week!
Kendra
Monday 3rd of August 2015
So happy to see you back Paula. I'm so sorry for your recent loss. I will try this pizza crust for sure. A favorite pizza chain in Wisconsin also makes a honey whole wheat crust, which we really enjoy.
sis
Friday 24th of July 2015
Okay, you and Bonnie have gotten me on Fiber One, Gnu Bars, Greek Yogurt, and flax seed. :-) Guess I can try whole wheat pizza dough too. Made the sweet white bread again today. So good, but don't think it qualifies for the "healthy list". Just too easy to make with the bread machine. I don't have a good pizza pan, so will be on the search for one.
Paula
Friday 24th of July 2015
Check ebay for pizza pans. Amanda and I have both gotten restaurant-quality pans for cheap.