Q1: What is the absolute best way to shape pizza dough into a ghost without it tearing?

The number one secret is to make sure your pizza dough is at room temperature before you begin. Cold pizza dough is very stiff and will tend to spring back and tear easily. By letting your dough sit on the counter for about 30-60 minutes, you are allowing the gluten to relax, which will make it wonderfully soft, pliable, and easy to stretch into your perfect, spooky ghost shape.

Q2: Can I make these Halloween pizzas ahead of time for a party?

This pizza is at its absolute best when it is baked and served fresh. However, you can save a ton of time by preparing your ricotta sauce , shredding your cheese , and even shaping your raw pizza dough ghosts on the baking sheets ahead of time. Simply cover the shaped dough with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.

Q3: What is the secret to a crispy pizza crust at home?

The secret is high heat and par-baking . It is crucial to preheat your oven to the absolute highest temperature it can go. This recipe also uses the brilliant trick of par-baking the plain crust first with the garlic oil. This is the key that sets the crust and ensures that it will be perfectly crisp and not soggy, even with a creamy ricotta topping.

Q4: Can I make this recipe vegan?

Yes! To make this recipe vegan, simply be sure to use a brand of pizza dough that does not contain any eggs or dairy. Then, you can substitute the cheeses with an equal amount of your favorite brand of dairy-free ricotta, Parmesan, and shredded mozzarella substitutes.

Q5: What can I use instead of ricotta for the white pizza sauce?

If you're not a fan of ricotta, you can create a delicious white pizza sauce by using a simple base of extra-virgin olive oil and a generous amount of minced garlic . You can also use a classic, creamy Alfredo sauce as the base for your ghosts.

Ghost Pizzas (Perfect for Halloween!)

An easy and festive recipe for individual, ‘scary’ ghost-shaped white pizzas, perfect for a fun Halloween meal. The recipe uses prepared pizza dough, which is stretched and shaped into a ghost form. The dough is first par-baked with a simple garlic-oil spread. It is then topped with a creamy mixture of ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, followed by a layer of shredded mozzarella. The pizzas are baked until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and finished with two black olive slices for the ghost’s eyes.

Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

1 pound prepared pizza dough
All-purpose flour, for rolling
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely grated
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella (about 6 ounces)
Pitted black olives, sliced, for decorating

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll and stretch each piece into an 8- to 9-inch oval.
Transfer the ovals to the prepared baking sheets (2 per sheet). Pull one end of each oval to one side to create a tapered, ghost-like tail.
In a small bowl, mix the olive oil and grated garlic. Brush this mixture over the 4 ghost-shaped doughs. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the crusts are golden and set.
While the crusts bake, mix the ricotta, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning together in a small bowl.
Remove the par-baked crusts from the oven. Spread the ricotta mixture over the ghosts, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the ricotta mixture.
Return the pizzas to the oven and bake for about 5 more minutes, until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
Place two black olive slices on each ghost for the eyes. Serve immediately.

Notes

This is a fun, creative recipe that is very easy to make using store-bought pizza dough.
Par-baking the crust before adding the wet cheese toppings is a key step to ensure the dough is cooked through and not soggy.
Rotating the baking sheets during the bake helps the pizzas to cook and brown evenly.

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/ghost-pizzas/