Easy, Cheesy Pizza Pinwheels with Pepperoni

Step 1

Mix. Mix the flour, salt, and yeast together in the bowl of your stand mixer. Add warm water, honey, and olive oil. Mix with the dough hook, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed, until the dough comes together in a shaggy mass on the dough hook and clears the sides of the bowl.

Step 2

Knead. Increase the speed to low-medium and knead for 3-5 minutes until the dough is soft, smooth, and elastic. The dough may cling slightly to the walls of the bowl but should pull away cleanly.

Step 3

Rise. Tuck the edges of the dough under to create a ball of dough with a smooth top. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and place in the fridge to rise for 1 hour.

Step 4

Make the sauce and grate the cheese. In a small bowl whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce. Grate the mozzarella cheese and set it aside (in the fridge if needed) until you need it.

Step 5

Shape. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and press it into a loose square shape. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out until it's about 10x18", dusting with flour as needed to prevent sticking. Periodically lift the dough to release tension — it will shrink back slightly. Then resume rolling.

Step 6

Fill. Use the back of a spoon to spread about three-quarters of the pizza sauce all over the dough, leaving a ½" strip at one short end clean. Reserve the remaining pizza sauce for later. Top the pizza sauce with about three-quarters of the grated mozzarella cheese and mini pepperonis.

Step 7

Roll and cut. Starting with one of the short ends, roll the dough rectangle into a log. Use a sharp knife to divide the log into thirds, then divide each third into thirds. It will get messy, don't worry about it. Place the pizza pinwheels in a parchment-lined 8" square or greased round pan.

Step 8

Rise again. Top the pizza pinwheels with dollops of the remaining pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese, then finish with more mini pepperonis. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap, then let rest somewhere warm for 1 hour until the rolls are nice and puffy looking.

Step 9

Bake. Bake in the center of a 350°F oven for 40-45 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 195°-200°F for doneness.

Step 10

Cool. Use the parchment paper to carefully lift the pizza pinwheels out of the pan and onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.