Crown Pizza with Sesame Braided Crust Step-by-step instructions

Before you start

Before starting, make sure the pizza dough is at room temperature for easy rolling. Preheat the oven to 420°F (215°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Have the olive oil, sesame seeds, and marinara sauce ready. If using homemade dough, prepare it ahead of time. The marinara sauce can be warmed on the stove or in the microwave while the pizza bakes.

Instructions

Shape the Crown

1. 1Roll and Cut the Dough
   On a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper, roll the pizza dough into a large circle, about 14 inches across. Place a small bowl upside down in the center of the dough and press gently to create an indentation. Use a pizza cutter to cut eight star-burst slits inside the inner circle, radiating from the center to the edge of the bowl indent.
   Look for The dough is a large circle with a visible inner ring and eight evenly spaced slits.
   Tip Keep the dough well-floured so the rolling pin doesn't stick. The slits should be about 1 inch apart at the center.
2. 2Form the Braided Crown
   Lift each of the eight dough points from the center and pinch them to the outer edge of the circle, creating a wreath-like crown with pointed tips. Press the pinched ends firmly to seal. The result should look like a sunburst or crown with eight distinct points.
   Look for The dough now resembles a wreath with eight pointed peaks around the edge.
   Tip Pinch the dough tightly so the points hold their shape during baking. If the dough springs back, let it rest for 5 minutes.

At the end of this phase, you should have a large circle of dough with a visible inner ring and eight star-burst slits. The points are pinched to the outer edge, forming a crown with eight distinct peaks. The dough should be evenly shaped and hold its form. If it springs back, let it rest for a few minutes before continuing.

Bake to Golden

3. 3Brush and Sprinkle
   Preheat the oven to 420°F (215°C). Brush the entire surface of the crown pizza with olive oil, making sure to coat the braided points and the inner ring. Sprinkle sesame seeds evenly over the oiled dough, pressing them gently so they adhere.
   Look for The dough glistens with oil and is evenly covered with sesame seeds.
   Tip Use a pastry brush for even coverage. The sesame seeds will toast and turn golden during baking.
4. 4Bake the Crown
   Transfer the parchment paper with the crown pizza onto a baking sheet. Bake at 420°F (215°C) for 18 minutes, until the crust is deep golden brown and the sesame seeds are toasted. The braided points should be crisp and the center slightly puffed.
   Look for The crust is golden brown, the sesame seeds are fragrant, and the points are crispy.
   Tip Rotate the baking sheet halfway through for even browning. If the points brown too quickly, tent with foil.

After baking, the crown pizza should be deep golden brown with toasted sesame seeds. The points should be crisp and the inner ring slightly puffed.

The kitchen will smell of toasted bread and sesame. If the points are browning too quickly, cover them with foil. The pizza should be fully baked through with no raw dough in the center.

Serve and Dip

5. 5Add the Sauce and Serve
   Place a small bowl of warm marinara sauce in the center of the crown pizza. Pull apart a slice from the wreath and dunk it into the sauce. Serve immediately while the crust is crispy and the cheese (if added) is molten.
   Look for The crown pizza is golden, the sauce is warm, and the crust pulls apart easily.
   Tip For extra flavor, sprinkle a little grated Parmesan over the top before serving, if desired. The sauce can be warmed on the stove or in the microwave.

The crown pizza is ready to serve. Place a bowl of warm marinara in the center. When you pull a slice, it should come away cleanly from the wreath. The crust should be crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The marinara should be warm and ready for dipping. Serve immediately for the best texture.

Common mistakes

One common mistake is rolling the dough too thin, which can cause the crown points to burn before the center is cooked. Another is not pinching the points firmly enough, causing them to separate during baking.

Avoid over-flouring the dough, as it can make the crust tough. Also, make sure the oven is fully preheated before baking to ensure even browning. If the points brown too quickly, cover them loosely with foil.

How to tell it’s done

The crown pizza is done when the crust is deep golden brown and the sesame seeds are toasted and fragrant. The braided points should be crisp and hold their shape when lifted.

If you added cheese, it should be melted and bubbly. The internal temperature of the dough should reach at least 200°F (93°C) to ensure it's fully baked. Let it cool for a minute or two before serving.