Frederic Melton
A cheese crown, also known as a frico crust, is a popular style of pizza where cheese is baked on the sides of the crust. The cheese is partially caramelized and crisped, adding flavor and texture to the pizza. To make a cheese crown pizza, you need to prepare the pizza dough and grate the cheese. A generous amount of olive oil is swirled in the pan to coat the bottom surface, which helps to catch and hold the grated cheese. The grated cheese is then sprinkled in the pan, followed by the pizza dough, which is shaped and gently placed on top of the cheese. The pizza is then baked in a hot oven to achieve a crispy and cheesy crust.
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What You'll Learn
Oven setup
Firstly, preheating your oven is essential. Aim to preheat your oven for about an hour before baking your pizza. This ensures that your oven reaches the desired temperature and maintains a consistent heat level throughout the cooking process.
The ideal oven temperature for a pizza with a cheese crown can vary depending on the type of pizza and your specific oven. For a Grandma Pizza, bake at a very high temperature of 500°F (260°C) for 12 to 15 minutes. For a Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza, lower the temperature to 450°F (232°C) and bake for 18 to 24 minutes. Adjust these temperatures and timings according to your oven's characteristics.
The placement of your pizza within the oven is also important. For a crispy cheese base, it is recommended to place the pizza on a rack near the bottom of the oven. This ensures that the bottom of the pizza gets adequately cooked and the cheese base becomes crispy. If your oven heats predominantly from the bottom, you might need to place the pizza on a higher rack or even directly on the oven floor to prevent the bottom from burning.
Using a pizza stone, baking steel, or a sturdy, upside-down baking sheet can also improve your pizza's cooking results. Place the pizza on the upper third rack of your oven. These materials help absorb moisture and promote even cooking, resulting in a crispier crust.
Lastly, consider the type of pan you use. A well-seasoned pizza pan or a half-sheet pan can be excellent choices. Coat the pan generously with olive oil to prevent sticking and ensure your pizza slides out easily once cooked.
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Dough preparation
The first step in making a pizza is to prepare the dough. Start by checking that you have the right equipment, including a stand mixer, a thermometer, and a baking sheet.
To make the dough, you will need warm water, sugar, yeast, flour, olive oil, and salt. The water temperature should be between 90 and 100°F—too cold, and the dough will take longer to rise; too hot, and it will kill the yeast. Sprinkle the yeast and sugar over the water in a bowl, whisk to combine, and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes until bubbles form on the surface. Next, add the flour, olive oil, and salt, and mix with a dough hook on low speed for about 2 minutes until the dough comes together.
Once the dough is mixed, it's time to knead it. On a well-floured surface, press one piece of dough into an 8-inch round with a 1-inch lip. Carefully lift the dough with your hands, cupping the lip to avoid flattening it. Working quickly, rotate the edge of the dough through your hands in a clockwise motion, allowing gravity to stretch it into a round shape. Place the dough back on the floured surface and stretch it into a 12-inch circle.
Now your dough is ready to be topped and baked!
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Cheese type
The cheese type you choose for your pizza crown can vary depending on your taste preferences and the desired texture and flavour of the final product. Here are some popular options:
Mozzarella Cheese: This is a classic choice for pizza due to its mild flavour and meltability. It pairs well with tangy tomato sauce and creates a milky, bubbly topping.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan, or Parmigiano-Reggiano, is a hard cheese with a bold, assertive flavour. It can be grated and sprinkled onto the pizza dough or used as a layer on the bottom of the pizza crust. Parmesan adds a crunchy texture and enhances the flavour of the pizza.
Cheddar Cheese: A good sharp cheddar can add a bold, distinctive flavour to your pizza. It pairs well with a smoky char on the crust and can be used as a bottom layer for a crunchy, caramelized texture.
Gruyère Cheese: Smoked Gruyère is another option for those who enjoy a smoky flavour. It complements the charred crust and can be used as a bottom layer for added texture and taste.
When creating a pizza crown, you can experiment with these cheeses or even combine them to find the perfect balance of flavours and textures. The key is to ensure the cheese is evenly distributed and melted to create a cohesive and delicious final product.
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Baking temperature
The baking temperature for your pizza will depend on the type of crust you want, the toppings you choose, and the equipment you have available.
For a thin crust, a high temperature of around 450–500 °F (230–260 °C) is recommended. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned. For a thicker crust, lower the temperature to 400–475 °F (200–245 °C) and bake for 10–15 minutes. Deep-dish pizzas require a longer baking time of 20–30 minutes at 400 °F (205 °C).
If you're using a pizza stone, preheat your oven with the stone inside to ensure the stone is hot when the pizza goes in. This will reduce cooking time and improve the crust texture. Aim for a temperature of 450–500 °F (250–260 °C) for the stone.
If you're baking your pizza on a baking sheet, be aware that this may increase the baking time slightly as it doesn't conduct heat as effectively as a pizza stone. In this case, a temperature of 400–500 °F (200–260 °C) is recommended, depending on the thickness of your crust.
The type of cheese you use will also impact the baking temperature and time. Fresh mozzarella has a high water content and may make the crust soggy, so it's best to use a combination of shredded low-moisture mozzarella and cubed fresh mozzarella. The low-moisture mozzarella will brown nicely in the oven, while the fresh mozzarella adds gooey, melted cheese. Other cheeses that work well include Fontina and Parmesan, which are also low-moisture cheeses and will brown fairly quickly.
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Baking time
First, ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature. The ideal temperature will depend on the type of pizza you are making. For a Grandma Pizza, you should aim for a very hot oven at around 500°F. In contrast, a Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza is baked at a slightly lower temperature of 450°F. If you are making a classic cheese pizza, preheat your oven to 400°F. It is recommended to preheat your oven for at least an hour with a pizza stone, baking steel, or a sturdy, upside-down baking sheet on the upper-third rack. This ensures a perfectly baked crust and melts the cheese crown to a golden, crispy texture.
The baking time will vary depending on the type of pizza and the desired doneness of the cheese crown. For a Grandma Pizza, bake for 12 to 15 minutes. A Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza will take a little longer, ranging from 18 to 24 minutes. A classic cheese pizza generally bakes for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the crust is browned and the cheese is bubbling. Keep a close eye on the pizza during the final minutes of baking to avoid overcooking.
It is essential to bake your pizza on the appropriate rack in the oven. For a crispy cheese crown, it is recommended to place the pizza on a rack near the bottom of the oven. This ensures that the cheese on the bottom of the crust crisps up nicely. If your oven heats predominantly from the bottom, you may need to place the pizza on a higher rack or even directly on the oven floor to prevent overbaking the bottom.
Once the baking time is complete, carefully remove your pizza from the oven. Use a spatula to immediately loosen the edges and then slide the pizza out onto a rack. Act quickly, as the longer the pizza cools in the pan, the more the cheese will stick to it. Enjoy your homemade pizza with a perfectly baked cheese crown!
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Frequently asked questions
A cheese crown is a recent popular pizza style where a layer of cheese is added to the bottom of the pizza, between the crust and the pan.
To make a cheese crown on a pizza, you need to first add a generous amount of olive oil to the pan. Next, sprinkle grated cheese in the pan, followed by the pizza dough. Bake the pizza on a rack near the bottom of the oven to crisp the cheese on the bottom of the crust.
You can use a variety of cheeses for a cheese crown on a pizza, such as Parmesan, cheddar, Gruyère, or mozzarella.
