Making your own vegan pizza dough couldn’t be easier! It comes together with pantry staples and is ready in an hour. Prepare it with your favorite toppings for an at-home pizza night, or keep it on hand for dinners during busy weeks!
❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
- Pantry staples: Just 7 ingredients are needed for this basic crust recipe.
- Full of flavor: A dash of garlic powder in the dough creates an incredible savory flavor!
- Kid-friendly: With how easy this vegan pizza dough recipe is to put together, you’ll be able to get your kids involved in the process. They’ll also love preparing their own pizza with their favorite toppings!
- Versatile: The best part about homemade pizza is how many customizations there are. Add whichever veggies you like, top it with vegan chicken, stuff the dough, or try turning it into garlic bread!
If you enjoy making your own vegan pizza dough, you need to check out our dairy-free bread, no-knead sourdough, and air fryer pizza rolls!
🌾 What is vegan pizza dough?
Pizza dough almost always starts with a base of flour, yeast, water, sugar, salt, and olive oil. It is then proofed, kneaded, shaped, and baked into a pizza crust.
There are endless ways to make pizza dough. However, for our recipe, we included plant-based ingredients, organic cane sugar, and garlic powder for extra flavor.
🌱 Is pizza dough vegan?
Most pizza dough recipes are already vegan, but some establishments are known to include milk or honey in their dough.
As we always say, it’s best to double-check the ingredient list of pre-made doughs or ask about the ingredients in restaurant-style pizzas.
Ultimately, the easiest way to ensure your dough is vegan is to simply make it at home! This pizza dough recipe is 100% egg and dairy-free.
📜 History
Flatbread has been enjoyed since ancient times, taking many forms throughout history. Over the years, it’s transformed from basic flatbread recipes into artisan pizza masterpieces available today.
It is believed that pizza was first invented in Naples as a fast, affordable meal for working-class Neapolitans. But, it didn’t start gaining traction until the 40s when Italians brought this food to America.
Pizzerias began popping up in large metropolitan areas across the United States, the first of which was in New York in 1905. It’s no wonder why New Yorkers take their pizza so seriously!
🤨 Bread flour vs all-purpose flour
The primary difference between bread flour and all-purpose flour is the amount of protein each one contains.
- Bread flour: Hard wheat flour with a protein content of 12-15%.
- All-purpose flour: Soft wheat flour with a protein content of 8-12%.
It might seem insignificant, but even a slight difference in protein will yield very different results. The higher the protein content, the more gluten bonds there are. As a result, the dough will turn out more structured and chewy.
For pizza dough, the two can generally be used interchangeably. That said, if you’re subbing bread flour for all-purpose flour, you should allow the dough more time to rest. This will help the extra gluten bonds relax and tenderize.
⏱ Active dry yeast vs instant yeast
Both active dry yeast and instant yeast are used to leaven dough for bread, pizza, and other baked goods. The main difference between the two is how they are incorporated into recipes.
- Active dry yeast: Must be dissolved in water before it is used.
- Instant yeast: Can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients with no prior proofing.
For more information on the types of yeast and how to use each one, visit Epicurious.
🛒 Ingredients & substitutions
- Flour: We use standard all-purpose flour for our dough, which is a medium-protein flour. For a chewier vegan pizza crust, substitute it with bread flour. If needed, you can also use a 1:1 gluten-free blend.
- Instant yeast: Go for instant yeast for this dough since it can be added directly to the dry ingredients. If you only have active dry yeast, make sure to proof it in warm water before adding it to the dough.
- Sugar: We prefer organic cane sugar to activate the yeast, but any granulated sugar you have on hand can be used.
- Garlic powder: Adds a subtly savory element. Feel free to omit the garlic, but we are garlic fiends!
- Salt: To enhance the flavor of the rest of the ingredients, creating a perfectly balanced dough. Use fine-ground salt for even distribution.
- Lukewarm water: Warm water activates the yeast. You don’t want boiling water as it will kill the yeast, and cold water won’t activate it properly. Since it’s added directly to the flour, the ideal temperature is 120-130 degrees F for instant yeast.
- Olive oil: A drizzle of oil helps create a tender, moist texture while providing a rich flavor. We prefer to use extra-virgin olive oil for pizza, but a neutral option like avocado, sunflower, or canola oil can be substituted.
For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.
📝 How to make vegan pizza dough
Step 1: Combine the ingredients
To begin, whisk the flour, garlic powder, salt, instant yeast, and cane sugar together in a large bowl. Then, add the water and olive oil.
Incorporate the ingredients together as much as possible using a spatula or electric stand mixer.
Step 2: Knead the dough
Once mixed, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface, and knead with your hand for 7-8 minutes or until it is smooth and elastic.
Step 3: Rest the dough
Brush the dough and the mixing bowl with olive oil. Then, transfer the dough to the bowl, and cover it with cling wrap and a tea towel. Let the dough rest in a warm place for 60-90 minutes or until it has doubled in size.
Step 4: Roll the dough
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F, and roll or stretch the dough on a floured surface until it is 1/4-inch thick all around.
Step 5: Form the crust
Transfer the dough to a pizza stone or pan, and tuck the edges in on themselves to make a thick band around the outside.
Brush everywhere with a light layer of olive oil. To prevent bubbles, you can use a fork to gently pierce the dough all around (although this is optional).
Step 6: Bake the pizza
Spread your favorite pizza toppings on top of the dough, and bake it for 12-15 minutes, or until the toppings have melted and the vegan pizza crust is golden brown. Let the pizza cool slightly, slice, and serve. Happy eating!
If you have questions about this vegan pizza dough recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!
🥗 What to serve with vegan pizza
Once your vegan pizza dough has been loaded with toppings and baked to golden-brown perfection, serve it alongside dishes like these:
- Kale caesar salad: A classic salad made with kale instead of lettuce.
- Vegan garlic bread: Crispy, crunchy, and zesty garlic bread.
- Baked buffalo cauliflower wings: A seriously addictive superfood snack.
- Air fryer zucchini: The easiest side that happens to be extremely healthy!
🍅 How to use vegan pizza dough
There are endless ways to serve your vegan pizza dough. However, we always love starting with a layer of tomato sauce followed by a sprinkle of vegan cheese.
You can follow those up with veggies like caramelized onions, roasted garlic, mushrooms, peppers, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and more.
Don’t forget the dipping sauce. Dip or dunk vegan pizza crust in jalapeño cheese sauce, creamy balsamic dressing, vegan Caesar dressing, or vegan ranch.
🌡️ Storage & reheating
If you have leftover vegan pizza dough or make a large batch, follow these tips to keep it fresh:
- Fridge: To prepare in advance, make the dough, cover it tightly with cling wrap, and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: For a longer-lasting option, form the dough, roll it into a ball, cover it in cling wrap, and freeze it in a sealable bag for up to 3 months.
- Baking: When you’re ready for pizza, let the frozen dough thaw in the fridge overnight, and bake it as per the recipe instructions.
♻️ Variations
- Thin crust: For an ultra-thin vegan pizza crust, roll or stretch the dough out to 1/8-inch thick.
- Stuffed crust: Layer your favorite vegan cheese and herbs around the edge of the crust, and roll it over itself to create a ring.
- Seasonings: Add extra herbs and spices such as Italian seasonings, oregano, or red pepper flakes for an elevated flavor.
- Gluten-free: Make a gluten-free version with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Just note, the texture won’t be quite the same.
🧑🍳 Top tips
- Use warm water: This is crucial in activating the yeast and achieving a fluffy dough. Scorching water will kill the yeast, and cold water won’t activate it quickly enough.
- Don’t overwork the dough: Once the dough has rested, don’t overwork it too much. Continuing to roll and adjust the dough will result in a tough and dense pizza dough.
- Pierce the crust: Use a fork to poke small holes around the crust, preventing it from bubbling up too much in the oven.
- Adjust the cooking time: Every oven bakes differently. Be sure to keep an eye on the dough, and adjust the cooking time as needed to prevent burning.
💬 FAQ
Yes, just replace the flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, and follow the instructions on the recipe card.
If you don’t have an electric mixer, go old-fashioned and knead the pizza dough by hand instead. This is what we always do!
Pizza dough is not the same as bread dough. There are several differences between the two, including moisture level, gluten development, and ingredients. Pizza dough has a lower water-to-flour ratio, and it is worked longer to create more gluten development. Additionally, bread dough often contains eggs, milk, and butter.
🍴 More vegan staples
If you enjoyed this vegan pizza dough recipe, be sure to check out some more easy vegan staples like the following:
- Flour tortillas: The perfect recipe for burritos, fajitas, tacos, and more.
- Corn tortillas: Soft, tender, 3-ingredient tortillas made from scratch.
- Blue corn tortillas: A more rustic and nutty version of white corn tortillas.
- Dairy-free bread: Homemade bread that’s perfect for sandwiches!
Best Vegan Pizza Dough
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Rolling Pin
- Pizza stone
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspooons (1 packet) instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup lukewarm (120°F) water
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil, plus more to grease the bowl
Instructions
Dough
- Whisk the flour, instant yeast, cane sugar, garlic powder, and salt together in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the water and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Mix together as much as possible with a spatula or an electric mixer with the hook attachment.
- When you can no longer mix well with the spatula or the mixer, knead on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and elastic, about 7-8 minutes.
Rise
- Next, brush the surface of the dough and the mixing bowl with a little more olive oil, then add the dough to the bowl and cover with a cling wrap and a clean towel.
- Let the pizza dough rise for 60-90 minutes in a warm place like your oven with the light on.
Shape & bake
- Once the dough has doubled in size, start preheating your oven to 425°F. Roll or stretch the dough out on a floured surface until it’s about ¼-inch thick.
- Transfer the dough to a pizza stone or pan, then tuck the crust under or over itself to make a thick band around the edges. To prevent bubbles, you can gently pierce the crust with a fork.
- Spread your favorite toppings on (we used red pizza sauce and vegan cheese). Bake it for 12-15 minutes, or until the toppings are melted and the crust is golden brown. Happy eating!
Notes
- Use warm water: This is crucial in activating the yeast and achieving a fluffy dough. Scorching water will kill the yeast, and cold water won’t activate it quickly enough.
- Don’t overwork the dough: Once the dough has rested, don’t overwork it too much. Continuing to roll and adjust the dough will result in a tough and dense pizza dough.
- Pierce the crust: Use a fork to poke small holes around the crust, preventing it from bubbling up too much in the oven.
- Adjust the cooking time: Every oven bakes differently. Be sure to keep an eye on the dough, and adjust the cooking time as needed to prevent burning.
- Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.
