Calzones

Cooking with Kids

My Nanny Kids really enjoy making yeast doughs. They particular like punching down the dough after it rises and kneading it. They also love putting pizza sauce and cheese on their own calzones and helping fold the dough over and making a decorative edge. Here’s how we made the calzones pictured above.

You Will Need:

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
2-1/4 teaspoons yeast
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup pizza sauce, divided
1/4 cup diced pepperoni (optional)
1 cup shredded mozzarella

What to Do:

1. Combine flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Combine olive oil and water and whisk into dry ingredients. Continue to stir and mix until a cohesive ball of dough forms.

2. Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead until dough is smooth and only slightly tacky to the touch.

3. Place dough in a greased bowl and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

4. Preheat oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment or Silpat liners.

5. Punch down the dough to deflate it and divide into 8 pieces.

6. Roll out each piece to about 8 inches diameter. On one half, place a spoonful of pizza sauce, then some pepperoni, then some cheese, making sure to leave 1/2 inch edge.

7. Fold other side of dough over and pinch edges to seal, creating a decorative fold if you like. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

8. Cut slices in top of calzone to allow some steam to escape (see photo). Bake calzones for about 10-12 minutes, rotating pans halfway through.

References:

Recipe from stetted. com
Photo by Stephanie Felzenberg