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Easy, Kid-Friendly “Lion King” Pizza

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 10 reviews
  • Author: Trish Corlew
  • Cook Time: approximately 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 8 slices 1x

Description

This easy idea for a “Lion King” themed pizza will be a hit when working with kids in the kitchen this summer!


Ingredients

Scale

Pizza dough, homemade or store-bought refrigerated

Pizza sauce, homemade or store-bought

Mozzarella cheese, about 3 cups

Pepperoni

Sliced black olives, for eyes

3 julienned carrot strips

For Homemade Dough (Optional):

3 1/2 to 4 cups bread flour, plus more for rolling

1 teaspoon sugar

1 envelope instant dry yeast

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 1/2 cups water, 110 degrees F

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Roll out pizza dough on a lightly floured surface or pastry mat into a circle. 
  3. Place shaped dough on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove pizza dough from oven and add sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, black olives, and carrots to resemble a lion face.
  5. Return to oven and bake an additional 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the thickness of your dough and desired doneness.

For Homemade Dough (Optional):

  1. Combine the bread flour,  salt, sugar, yeast in a stand mixer. Add water and oil while still mixing,  until the dough forms into a ball.  Add in more flour if needed.  Once dough has completely combined, scoop it out onto a floured surface and knead it into a big, smooth ball.
  2. Thoroughly oil down a large bowl with the remaining olive oil. Next, place dough in the bowl and cover it with a towel or plastic wrap. Let it rise for at least an hour.
  3. About ten minutes before you are ready to make your pizza, flip the dough back out onto a flour-covered cutting board and coat it in the flour—cover it again for about 10 minutes.  Then you will be ready to roll it out for the pizza!

Notes

If using a store bought pizza dough, try bringing it to room temperature before you roll it out/shape it! It makes things so much easier.