Hey, guys! I've been making pizzas for 25 years, and my recipe is very simple. My best deep dish crust recipe is:
3 C. Bread Flour
1 C. Warm Water
1 T. Sugar
1 t. Salt
2 t. Yeast
1 T. Melted Butter
Dissolve the yeast, sugar and water for 5 minutes. Add the melted butter, flour and salt. Mix, then knead until smooth and springy. I use my Kitchenaid for this with the dough hook for about 10 minutes. Grease a large bowl with a little butter, cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise twice, punching down after an hour. After the second rise, I put the dough right into my 10" cast iron skillet pushing down the dough starting from the middle and pinching the dough up the sides of the pan. Then add your cheese (which is pressed into the dough) followed by what ever you want in the pie, and covered with sauce. I cook at 450 degrees (preheated) for 25-30 minutes on the middle rack. Let it cool for minutes, then remove with a sturdy spatula. The finished crust is crispy, and it actually separates from the pan which makes it easier to remove. I also use this for thin crust. It makes 1 deep dish or 2 thin crust pizzas. You will love this crust!
