Making pizza with children might seem like ambitious, expert-level parenting, but it’s actually pretty easy – and very rewarding. All you need is a simple recipe (see below) and an eagle eye to keep eager little kitchen assistants from nibbling on all the toppings. Here’s how to make pizza for kids the easy way.
First things first: Some important kids’ pizza recipe prep
As with all kids’ cooking activities, a bit of prep can turn making pizza with kids into a much more relaxed experience. Lay out everything you need before you set your budding chefs loose in the kitchen, and everyone can get stuck in straight away.
Clear and clean a large worktop area or table.
Gather up your ingredients, and do any chopping up ahead of time.
Set the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6.
Pass out some aprons.
Dust the surfaces with flour.
All set? Then you’re ready to try our pizza recipe for kids.
How to make pizza dough for kids
Once you’ve seen how easy it is to make your own dough, you’ll be happy to add this kids’ pizza recipe to your regular dinner schedule. This makes enough for two.
250g plain flour
1 tsp yeast (the fast-action dried variety is good)
1 pinch of salt
300ml of water
1 tbsp of olive oil
Mix the dry ingredients together first, and then stir in the wet ingredients. This is the part children really enjoy – getting their hands covered in gloopy dough! If it gets too sticky, just sprinkle in a bit more flour. Shape the dough into a ball, cover it with clingfilm, and let it rest for around 15 minutes.
How to make pizza sauce for kids
The really simple option is good old passata. But if you’d like to make a sauce with a bit more flavour (and sneak some extra veggies into your kids’ diets) you could try this recipe. As it involves using the hob, it’s best to keep little hands away from this job, but older kids will enjoy helping out.
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
1 clove of garlic, crushed
2 tbsp of tomato puree
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 tsp of brown sugar
1 tsp of oregano
Add olive oil to a pan, and heat the onion and garlic until translucent. Stir in the tomato paste and fry for three minutes, then add everything else. Simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes to thicken the sauce, stirring now and then. Leave it to rest. Once cooled, whizz the sauce in a food processor. The kids can then spread it onto their pizza bases with a spoon.
And finally, toppings
This is the most fun part of any pizza recipe for kids: adding toppings. Mozzarella or grated cheddar is a must, while other favourites include mushrooms, ham, pepperoni, peppers, sweetcorn, and even pineapple.
Once your pizzas are covered in all your kids’ favourite toppings, place them on a generously floured baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven for around 15 minutes, or until the base is golden.
Top tip: Making pizza with kids is an amazing birthday party activity. Set up a pizza station on a table, with bowls of toppings, sauce and a piece of dough for each guest. They’ll enjoy rolling their dough out, spreading on the sauce, and choosing their toppings. The guests will feel like proper chefs if you give them chef hats and aprons, too.
Remember! Making pizza with kids can get messy . . .
. . . but that’s all part of the fun. If some of the tomato sauce misses the apron and flies straight onto your kids’ clothes, our guide to removing tomato stains with Persil liquid is here to help.
Check out Cleanipedia's tips and tricks for getting your baking trays clean and ready for the next kitchen adventure!