Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

A healthy whole wheat crust that comes out soft and chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Use with your favorite pizza toppings.

Ingredients:

1 Tbs honey
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 Tbs. active dry yeast
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Directions:

(1) In a large bowl, dissolve honey in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let stand for about 10 minutes or until foamy.
(2) Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all-purpose flour until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface floured with the remaining all-purpose flour, and knead until all of the flour has been absorbed and the ball of dough becomes smooth (about 10 minutes). Place dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat the surface. Cover loosely with a towel. Let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
(3) When the dough has doubled, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 2 pieces for 2 thin crust pizzas or leave whole to make one very thick crust. Form into a tight ball. Light rise for about 45 minutes or until doubled.
(4) Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until it will not stretch any further. When the circle has reached the desired size place on well greased pizza pan that has been sprinkled with corn meal. Top pizza with your favorite toppings.
(5) Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (depending on thickness) in the preheated oven or until the crust is crisp and golden at the edges and cheese is melted.

Helpful Hints:

(1) If you're like me I usually don't have time to let the dough rise. I've found that if I take a microwavable dish, like my glass measuring cup, fill it with water and microwave the water until it boils (usually 3 minutes) it will make the microwave very steamy. I then put my dough in the microwave with the water for about 1/2 hour and it always rises beautifully for me.

(2) For the thicker crust: before adding pizza toppings like sauce, etc. first use a fork and place small holes all over the crust. Then bake the crust alone in the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes to set the crust. I've found that if I don't do that the pizza will be very doughy in the middle.