Mini Pizza Puffs
I saw this trend happening on social media and I decided to try it because tiny pizzas sound delicious. This is a copy-cat of the Little Caesar’s Crazy Puffs which are essentially little cupcake-sized pizzas.
I made Jim Lahey’s no-knead dough for my pizza dough, but you can also just buy ready made dough from the grocery store or Trader Joe’s (if you have a TJ’s). For the sauce I made my favorite quick pizza sauce which is super flavorful and tomato-y. For the protein I used little pancetta cubes because they remind me of Totino’s Party Pizzas, but better quality. And then for the cheese I used fresh mozzarella and hand shredded chunks on top.
These are pretty fabulous and should be a family favorite, and if your kids can’t get past the anchovies in the tomato sauce (not that they need to know) you can leave them out.
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Mini Pizza Puffs
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 8 oz pancetta cubes or pepperonis
- Pizza dough, cut into 2 inch balls- you should have 18 balls
- 2 1/2 tomatoes sliced into quarters, I used tomatoes on the vine- about 3 inches diameter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 anchovies
- large pinch of salt (more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a blender (I like to use my ninja or nutribullet) and blend. Salt to taste
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- This will make 18 pizza puffs. I used a muffin tin for 12 muffins and also a 6 muffin muffin tin. Butter or oil muffin tins, it helps to also butter/oil the top area as well because the cheese can bubble over.
- Take one of the pizza dough balls and press it gently into the muffin cup, pressing the dough against the walls as well.
- Spoon in a small amount of pizza sauce, top with a small amount of pancetta, then tear 1 fresh mozzarella slice into 1/4s or 1/3s and layer on top. Then top again with a small amount of pancetta.
- Bake in oven for 25-35 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly. This time will vary, so keep an eye on the puffs and take them out when they look done. I cooked mine for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and eat as is or dip in remaining pizza sauce.
