Description
These cheesy pizza pockets are a delightful treat filled with gooey mozzarella, ricotta, and your choice of fillings, all encased in a soft, homemade dough. Perfect for a snack or a fun meal! Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 3/4 cup warm water (about 110°F or 43°C)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (or your choice of filling)
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce (for dipping)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Flour for dusting
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the activated yeast mixture along with the olive oil.
- Using a wooden spoon or your hands, mix the ingredients until they come together to form a dough. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it’s manageable.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead it for about 5-7 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Place the kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- In a medium bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and Italian seasoning. Mix well until all the cheeses are evenly distributed.
- If you’re using pepperoni or any other fillings, add them to the cheese mixture and stir until combined.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Transfer it back to a floured surface and divide it into 8 equal pieces.
- Take one piece of dough and roll it out into a circle about 6 inches in diameter.
- Place about 2 tablespoons of the cheese filling in the center of the dough circle.
- Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Press the edges together to seal, and then use a fork to crimp the edges.
- Repeat this process with the remaining pieces of dough and filling until all the pizza pockets are assembled.
- Place the assembled pizza pockets on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each one.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and puffed up.
- Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy your homemade cheesy pizza pockets!
Notes
- Feel free to customize the filling with your favorite ingredients, such as vegetables, different cheeses, or meats.
- These pizza pockets can be frozen before baking. Just thaw and bake when you’re ready to enjoy them!
- For a spicy kick, consider adding some crushed red pepper flakes to the cheese mixture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes