02 Oct Pizza Birthday Party Fun: Making Homemade Pizza with Kids
Our little Ava has been really into cooking and so when we were discussing a theme for her 8th birthday party we decided to host a Chef Pizza Party where all her friends don chef hats and aprons, shape their pizza dough, and cook their creations in a propane-fired pizza oven. This also gave me an excuse to buy the Ooni Pizza oven I have always wanted! It was a win win. The hands-on and delicious experience was something the kids will remember for years to come. Let me guide you through the steps to throw an unforgettable pizza-making party and provide you with an easy homemade pizza dough recipe.
SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED:
Pizza Dough:
For the heart of your pizzas, you’ll need some homemade pizza dough. You can buy this from the store as well but with the quantity I needed it was so much cheaper and more fun to make this from scratch. I’ve got you covered with a simple recipe below!
Ingredients:
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions: In a small bowl, combine the warm water and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then sprinkle the yeast over the water. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture and olive oil into the well. Stir until the dough comes together. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size. Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any air bubbles. Now you’re ready to roll out the dough for your pizza party!
Pizza Toppings: A wide variety of toppings, including tomato sauce, shredded cheese, pepperoni, sliced veggies, olives, and more. I wanted to make sure the pizzas tasted authentic and even though I took the gamble on making my own pizza dough I did not want to make my own sauce, instead I found Don Pepino Pizza Sauce. The sauce is really yummy and the cans are really cute. I used them as decoration as a flower vase at each table as well.
Pizza Pans: Individual pizza pans for each child to shape and build their pizza. I bought mine on amazon, but you can also find them occasionally at the Dollar Tree.
Pizza Oven: A propane-fired pizza oven will be the star of the show. You can rent or purchase one, and we recommend a portable one for ease of use. I bought the Ooni Koda 12 Gas Pizza Oven.
Pizza Cutters: Child-friendly pizza cutters make for a safe and fun way to slice the finished pizzas.
PARTY HIGHLIGHTS:
Getting Started: As the children arrive, have them put on their chef hats and aprons. Prepare the pizza dough ahead of time, so it’s ready for shaping.
Shape and Top: Provide each child with a pizza pan and a ball of dough. Instruct them to flatten and shape the dough into a circle. Set out the toppings for them to choose from. It really helps to add cornmeal to the bottom of your crust so it doesn’t stick inside the oven.
Cooking Adventure: So we waited for the day of the party to fire up our brand new pizza oven and learn how to fire 20+ pizzas… on the fly! THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED! It was hard and there is definitely a learning curve! My poor husband struggled to cook the pizzas the first couple came out like a bit of a train wreck but eventually he got the hang of it and it worked out. I highly suggest you do a practice run before the party.
Enjoy the Fruits of Their Labor: Once the pizzas are cooked, let the kids use the pizza cutters to slice them up and serve. Don’t forget to snap some pictures of their proud faces!
Pizza Party Favors: Send your young chefs home with their own mini pizza pans and a recipe card for homemade pizza dough as a delightful party favor.
With this pizza party idea, your kids and their friends will have a blast creating their own personalized pizzas. It’s not just about making delicious food; it’s about creating lasting memories and valuable skills. Happy pizza-making!
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