HOMEMADE PIZZA BUNS| HOW TO MAKE PIZZA BUNS

If you like pizza, then this is a recipe for you. Pizza Buns are such a great party food and are always popular. It is made just like a pizza but with a twist. Instead of baking a flat pizza, these pizza buns are first rolled and then baked.

You can serve them as a starter or at a weekend dinner. They are easy but need a little patience. When I first made them, I kept admiring them as they looked so good. This recipe doesn't require a whole lot of ingredients. You just need flour, water, yeast, and milk along with cheese & pizza sauce.

If you want to check out more baking recipes, then do check Homemade Pizza Dough & Pesto Babka.

These Pizza Buns are soft and yet have a perfect crust. You can experiment with different flavors as per your taste & preference. Leftover Pizza Buns area perfect evening snack and go well with marinara sauce or with any dipping sauce.

WHAT IS PIZZA BUN?

A Pizza Bun is basically a pizza shaped like a pinwheel bun. It is made by using a yeast dough that is flattened out and then the stuffing of pizza sauce, cheese, and bell peppers, etc is added. Then it is rolled into a log and equal-sized buns are cut from the log.

PIZZA BUNS INGREDIENTS

• FLOUR: I have used bread flour in the recipe, but all-purpose flour will work too. Or for a healthier version, you can also add Whole Wheat Flour. You can also use different proportions of flour in the recipe. 
• OIL: Oil or Butter, both will work in the recipe.
• YEAST: Active yeast is used to raise the dough and it also makes the dough soft. Any brand of Instant yeast will work in the recipe. 
• MILK: Use warm milk in the recipe, which will help in activating the yeast. Do not use hot or cold milk.
• FLAVORING: You can also add some flavoring in the dough like basil, Italian seasoning, etc. 
• PIZZA SAUCE: You can use homemade or store-bought pizza sauce. I have used Trader Joe's Pizza Sauce as I like its flavor the best. 
• CHEESE: You can use any pizza cheese for the recipe. I have used Mozzarella Cheese in the recipe. 
• TOPPING: You can add peppers, onions, olives, etc as pizza toppings if you like. I have added red & green peppers. 
• GARNISH: You can garnish with some Oregano, Chili Pepper Flakes, and some fresh Basil. 

TIPS TO REMEMBER

1. Mix honey or any sweetener with liquid (milk/water) for activating the yeast. Honey or sugar will help in activating the yeast quickly.
2. The liquid (milk/water) should be warm and not hot. If the liquid is hot, you won't be able to activate the yeast.
3. Knead the dough until it forms like a dough. Don't over-mix it.
4. For raising the dough, you can place the dough in a warm place for 1-2 hours or in an Instant Pot.
5. Before baking, brush some butter or olive oil on the dough. This will help in making the bread crust brown & crispy.

HOW TO MAKE PIZZA BUNS

1. MAKE DOUGH: Make the dough by adding flour, milk, oil, and yeast in a stand mixer attached bowl. Keep kneading until it forms like a dough.

   

   

2. RAISE DOUGH: Let the dough rest at a warm place for 1-2 hours or in an Instant Pot until it doubles in size.

   

   

3. ROLL THE DOUGH: Once the dough has risen, knead it one more time. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough in a rectangular shape until it is ¼- ½ inch in thickness.

   

   

   

   

4. ADD TOPPINGS: Add a generous layer of pasta sauce (homemade or store-bought) in the middle. Add bell peppers and a generous layer of cheese. Leave the sides, as it will help in rolling the dough if it doesn't have any sauce there.
5. SHAPE INTO LOG: Beginning with the longer side, roll the dough in a log shape. Use some flour, if the dough is sticking. Seal the dough log.
6. CUT THE DOUGH: Using a dough cutter or knife, cut the log into equal-sized buns. You may get 10-12 buns from the log.

   

   

   

7. PLACE ON BAKING SHEET: Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly brush oil on the baking sheet. Place buns on the baking sheet and leave a gap of two fingers between two buns. Cover with parchment paper and let it sit for 30 minutes.
8. BAKE THE BUNS: Preheat oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. After 30 minutes, buns might rise in size. Place baking sheet in preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees until the crust is golden in color.
9. GARNISH: Lastly, garnish with some Oregano and Chili Flakes before serving. 

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW TO STORE PIZZA BUNS?

You can store Pizza Buns at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the freezer for 1-2 months. Before using, defrost for a couple of hours. Then reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

WHY ARE MY PIZZA BUNS SO DRY?

Pizza Buns is an easy bread that doesn't require much kneading. Sometimes when you knead the dough for too long, the bread may turn dry. So the best way to make buns is to knead until flour & yeast are lightly combined and it forms like a dough.

WHY ARE MY PIZZA BUNS NOT RISING?

Pizza Buns is made using yeast and that helps in raising the dough and making it soft. So if the dough is not rising that may be because yeast is not activated. To activate the yeast properly, always use warm liquid. Also, mix honey or sugar with the liquid. Honey/sugar helps in activating the yeast quickly.