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–+ servings
Garlic butter in a brown dish surrounded by dough balls on a wooden chopping board
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5 from 23 votes

Dough Balls Recipe

We've created this dough balls recipe for easy, homemade dough balls that you can enjoy at home!
Using simple everyday ingredients you can make your own dough balls similar to the ones from Pizza Express.
Serve these as an appetizer at a party, a starter with garlic butter, a side with pasta dishes or for dessert with a sweet dip. They are perfect for any occasion and will be your new favourite treat!
Prep Time15 minutes
Active Time10 minutes
Dough Rest time45 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Party, Side Dish, Sides, Snack, Starter
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: dough ball recipe, doughballs, easy dough balls, how to make doughballs, pizza express dough balls, quick dough ball, savoury dough balls, simple dough ball, starter ideas, sweet dough balls
Yield: 14 Dough Balls
Calories: 16kcal
Author: Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

Ingredients

  • 75 ml Warm Water
  • 75 ml Whole fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon Dry Yeast or active /instant yeast
  • 250 grams Strong White Bread Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil

Optional Dip -Garlic Butter | Check the blog post for more sweet or savoury ideas!

  • 1 teaspoon garlic
  • 3 tablespoon Butter
  • ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning

Instructions

How to activate dried yeast.

  • If using dried yeast put milk and water into a microwaveable jug or bowl. Heat on high for 30 seconds. The temperature should be 40°C
    75 ml Warm Water, 75 ml Whole fat milk
    Milk in a measuring jug with a thermometer taking the temperature of the milk which shows 40.7C
  • Add yeast and stir in. Leave to activate whilst preparing dry ingredients.
    1 tsp Dry Yeast
    Dried yeast added to the milk in a measuring jug

If using active/instant yeast there is no need to activate yeast first, simply add straight to the dry ingredients with the milk and water.

  • In a large mixing bowl add flour, sugar and salt.
    250 grams Strong White Bread Flour, 1 tsp Sugar, 1 tsp Salt
    Strong white bread flour, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl
  • Pour in olive oil and the yeast mixture prepared in step 1-2
    75 ml Warm Water, 75 ml Whole fat milk, 1 tbsp Olive Oil, 1 tsp Dry Yeast
    Warm milk and yeast mixture being poured onto the flour in a mixing bowl
  • For a stand mixer use a dough hook to mix together for 6 minutes
    flour mix being whisked with a dough hook in an electric mixer
  • If kneading by hand 10 minutes
    Kneaded the dough by hands
  • Pop dough into an olive oil greased bowl. Cover with a wet tea towel and leave to rise for 30 minutes to1 hour. Until doubled in size.
    If making garlic butter as well, take the butter out of the fridge now to soften.
    Dough ball in a glass bowl being covered with a red damp towel
  • Turn dough out onto a floured surface.
    A large dough ball on a floured surface
  • To shape into balls, take the large dough ball and squeeze a smaller ball between your thumb and forefinger. They should be slightly smaller than the size of a golf ball.
    Forming a small dough ball by squeezing the dough between thumb and index finger
  • Twist ball around with the other hand until it easily breaks away.
    Pulling apart the dough ball away from the rest of the dough by hand
  • Place in a parchment-lined baking tray with spaces between cover with a wet tea towel again. Rest for 15 minutes.
    Fourteen dough balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper being covered with a damp red towel
  • Coat each ball with olive oil
    Coating the dough balls with olive oil with a black brush
  • Oven bake for 8-10 minutes - 180°C fan oven / 200°C / 400°F/ Gas mark 6.
    Brush over with more oil after cooking.
    Fourteen cooked dough balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper
  • To make garlic butter mix together butter, garlic and Italian seasoning
    1 tsp garlic, 3 tbsp Butter, ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
    Butter, garlic and Italian seasoning in a glass bowl
  • Serve with garlic butter dip whilst still warm.
    See blog post for more serving suggestions!
    A stack of dough balls served with garlic butter on the side

Video

Notes

Nutrition information has been calculated for each dough ball without the garlic butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 16kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg