Description
Crispy pizza puff cups deliver quick Italian-inspired magic to weeknight dinners. Cheese-filled pastry pockets packed with zesty marinara and melted mozzarella invite hungry friends to savor each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 8 ounces turkey pepperoni
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup marinara sauce
Cheese and Seasonings:
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Italian seasoning
Preparation Base:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- Ranch dressing for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Create a fragrant garlic butter mixture by combining all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly coat the interior of a cupcake tin with the prepared garlic butter using a pastry brush.
- Divide the pizza dough into uniform balls approximately the size of ping pong balls.
- Gently position each dough ball into the individual cups of the prepared tin.
- Drape a clean kitchen towel over the tin and allow the dough to expand and rise until it doubles in volume.
- Set the oven temperature to 350°F for optimal baking conditions.
- Using your fingertips, carefully depress the center of each dough ball to create cup-like indentations.
- Apply another light layer of garlic butter across the surface of the formed dough cups.
- Construct the first layer inside each cup by spreading a thin sauce base, sprinkling cheese, and adding pepperoni slices.
- Complete the mini pizza cups with an additional layer of sauce, more pepperoni, and a generous cheese topping.
- Enhance the flavor profile by evenly distributing Italian seasoning across the mini cups.
- Transfer the tin to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and allow the mini pizza cups to rest and cool for 5 minutes before serving to ensure structural integrity.
Notes
- Choose store-bought or homemade pizza dough for quick and customizable mini pizza cups.
- Try different cheese combinations like mozzarella, cheddar, or parmesan for unique flavor profiles.
- Replace pepperoni with roasted vegetables, mushrooms, or plant-based protein for a meat-free alternative.
- Use different sized muffin tins to create bite-sized or larger mini pizza cups depending on serving preferences.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg