Fun, bite-sized mini pizzas shaped like basketballs with mozzarella, sauce, and optional pepperoni.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 1 lb pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
→ Sauce & Cheese
02 - 1/2 cup pizza sauce
03 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Toppings & Decoration
04 - 24 slices pepperoni (optional)
05 - 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons cornmeal for dusting
08 - 2 tablespoons thinly sliced black olives
09 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly dust with cornmeal.
02 - Cut pizza dough into 24 equal portions. Roll each into a ball, then gently flatten each to a 2-inch round.
03 - Place a small spoonful of pizza sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella in the center of each dough round. Add a pepperoni slice if desired.
04 - Pinch edges to enclose filling, then roll gently back into a ball. Set seam-side down on the baking sheet.
05 - Brush each ball lightly with olive oil. For a deeper color, mix tomato paste with olive oil and brush on top.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan evenly over each ball.
07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and cheese is bubbling.
08 - Let cool 2 minutes. Use thin strips of black olive to create basketball lines on each bite.
09 - Serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
