Crispy Muffin Tin Deep-Dish Pizza Cups Step-by-step instructions

Before you start

Prepare your workspace by having all ingredients measured and ready to go. Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) at least 20 minutes before you intend to bake, ensuring the oven reaches the target temperature.

Have your muffin tin, a pastry brush, and a clean butter knife nearby to make the assembly and removal process smooth and efficient.

Instructions

Dough Shaping

1. 1Prepare the muffin tin
   Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Lightly grease each cup of a 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray to ensure the pizza cups release easily after baking. This step is essential for achieving that characteristic crispy, golden exterior on the dough.
   Look for The muffin tin is well-oiled.
   Tip Use a pastry brush to ensure even coverage in the corners of each cup.
2. 2Form the dough
   Press each 40-gram dough ball into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared muffin cups. Ensure the dough is distributed evenly to create a uniform crust for each pizza cup. The dough should be thick enough to hold the fillings without leaking.
   Look for Dough covers the bottom and sides of the cups.
   Tip Dust hands with flour to prevent the dough from sticking during the shaping process.

The dough should be pressed firmly into the muffin cups, extending slightly above the rim to create a sturdy cup shape. Check that the thickness is even across the bottom and sides to ensure uniform baking.

Filling and Baking

3. 3Fill and bake
   Add a layer of mozzarella cheese into the bottom of each dough-lined cup. Top with a spoonful of marinara sauce and finish with two slices of pepperoni. Transfer the tin to the preheated oven and bake until the crust is puffed and golden brown, and the cheese is melted and bubbling, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Ensure the pepperoni is cooked through and reaches at least 160°F (71°C) to be safe for consumption.
   Look for Crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbling.
   Safe temperature 160°F (71°C) internal temperature (ground meat)
   Tip Do not overfill the cups to avoid spillover during the baking process.

The cheese should be fully melted and the marinara bubbling hot.

The edges of the dough should show a rich golden color, and the pepperoni should look crispy and slightly browned, indicating it is fully cooked.

Final Release

4. 4Cool and garnish
   Remove the muffin tin from the oven and allow the pizza cups to rest for 5 minutes. Use a butter knife to gently loosen the edges of each cup from the pan before lifting them out. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving while warm.
   Look for Pizza cups are firm enough to be lifted.
   Tip A quick run of the knife around the edges ensures a clean release.

The pizza cups should pull away from the edges of the tin easily after the short rest period. Ensure that the cheese has set slightly so the cups hold their shape when lifted from the muffin tin.

Common mistakes

Avoid overfilling the cups, as the cheese and sauce will expand and bubble over during the bake, causing the cups to stick to the pan.

Also, do not skip the oiling step; even if your pan is non-stick, a little extra oil is necessary to achieve the crispy cheese crust that makes these cups so delicious.

How to tell it’s done

The pizza cups are done when the dough is a deep golden brown and the cheese is completely melted with light, crispy brown spots on top. The pepperoni should be slightly curled and sizzling.

Use a food thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the pepperoni and meat components reaches at least 160°F (71°C) to ensure safety.

• Ground meat: 160°F (71°C) in the thickest part