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This copycat pretzel crust pizza is better than store-bought, and totally delicious! It’s so easy and fun to make at home!
![This copycat pretzel crust pizza is better than store-bought and totally delicious! It's so easy and fun to make at home!](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
Who else loves family pizza night? When my older kids were little, we made homemade pizza almost every Friday night for dinner. I had gotten to the point of being able to make a pizza from start to finish in about 30 minutes. Somehow we fell out of the habit of homemade pizza for a few years, and ended up ordering lots of delivery pizza during that time. These days, though, we’re back to making homemade pizza almost every Saturday, and everyone loves it. While we were in that stretch of ordering take-out pizza, my oldest fell in love with the pretzel crust pizza from Little Caesars. Since I’m in a make-everything-from-scratch mood again, I decided that it was high time that I figured out my own version of it. Little Caesars only has it available periodically anyway, so this way we can enjoy it whenever we want!
![](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712684892_838_Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
This pizza has a crispy, chewy, salty pretzel crust, with a creamy homemade cheese sauce. It’s topped with even more gooey cheese and pepperoni. What could be better than that? It’s also super easy to make, and doesn’t take much longer than a basic pizza recipe.
![](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712684893_504_Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
Making a homemade pretzel crust is surprisingly easy! You’ll make the pizza dough as usual, then brush the dough with a baking soda solution before adding toppings. Next you’ll sprinkle on a little pretzel salt, and bake it into a crispy and chewy crust!
![](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712684893_859_Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
If you’re short on time, or just don’t feel like putting in the extra effort, you can definitely use a store-bought queso or cheese sauce instead. The homemade cheese sauce is definitely worth making, though! It’s really simple to make, with just a few pantry and fridge staples, but it makes the pizza extra delicious.
![](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712684893_346_Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
I usually use freshly shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese for our pizzas. It’s worth it to spend a few extra minutes grating the cheese, and it melts so much better than pre-shredded cheese. Top the pizza with your favorite pepperoni, and you’re all set! Bake it in a super hot oven until the cheese is bubbly and just slightly browned.
![](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712684893_380_Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
This pretzel crust pizza is the absolute best! It’s just as tasty as take-out pizza, without too much more effort. It’s one of our family’s favorites!
![This copycat pretzel crust pizza is better than store-bought and totally delicious! It's so easy and fun to make at home!](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712684895_884_Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
Pretzel Crust Pizza
Course Main Course
Prep Time 30 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Ingredients
for the crust:
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- pinch of sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups flour
for the cheese sauce:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pinch of pepper
- 3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce optional
for assembling:
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon pretzel salt or coarse salt
- 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese shredded
- 4 ounces pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 500 for at least 30 minutes, with a pizza stone or overturned baking sheet inside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit five minutes, or until bubbly. Add the flour and salt, and mix until a dough forms. Knead gently, adding more flour as needed, to form a soft dough. Cover and let rest 15 minutes.
- While the dough is resting, make the cheese sauce by melting the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a paste, and cook 2-3 minutes, until golden. Slowly add the milk, whisking frequently, and cook until bubbling and thickened. Whisk in the salt, pepper, cheddar cheese, and hot sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- When ready to assemble the pizza, sprinkle a piece of parchment paper with corn meal. Gently deflate the pizza dough and stretch it into a large circle, about 14 inches in diameter on the parchment sheet. In a small bowl, whisk together the warm water and baking soda. Brush the baking soda mixture around the outer edge of the pizza crust, then sprinkle with the pretzel salt.
- Spread the cheese sauce over the crust, leaving a 3/4 inch margin around the edges. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the pizza, then arrange the pepperoni on top. Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven using a pizza peel or cutting board. Bake 10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Let cool 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
![This copycat pretzel crust pizza is better than store-bought and totally delicious! It's so easy and fun to make at home!](https://yakimotudongura.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712684895_198_Pretzel-Crust-Pizza.jpg)
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