Mini French Bread Pizza Appetizers are a surefire hit each and every time they're served.
*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2014. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.
I like to make my own French Bread Pizzas to serve on any given night of the week. They're always a hit and most times, in order to save time, I use store-bought, pre-made garlic bread. This time I decided I'd make my own homemade French bread and then top it with all sorts of fresh veggies to keep them a little more figure-friendly.I chose to cut the bread vertically, instead of the horizontal cut I usually make, so we'd have some mini appetizer-sized delights, just in time for the big game.
Even though my family of carnivores would have preferred mounds of meat on their mini French bread pizzas, they did have to admit that these are just plain yummy, no matter how you slice them.
Just so you know, the topping choices you decide to add to these mini pizzas are totally your own. If you're a pepperoni fan, add some. If you're a sausage fan, cook and crumble some, then add it. If you like ham and pineapple, go for it. There are no rules here... It's just pizza, not rocket science! 🙂
Should you decide to make these appetizer pizzas with store-bought garlic bread you'll be saving a lot of time and steps, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing that.
But, if you're like me and enjoy the process of making your own bread from time to time, I highly recommend you follow the recipe below. Nothing compares to fresh, homemade bread for that awesome taste and crunch! And nothing feels better than knowing the exact ingredients that went into making your own fresh, French bread crusts that you'll be feeding your family and friends.
FRENCH BREAD {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Yield: 2 loaves
For the French Bread:
2 cups warm, to the touch, water (approximately 110-110 degrees)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
5 - 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon cornmeal
-In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add in the sugar and let it rest and get foamy (about 10 minutes).
-In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl, combine 5 cups of flour and the salt.
-Using the dough hook, (or a wooden spoon) add the yeast mixture to the flour and salt. Mix well to combine and then add in the oil. Continue stirring, and/or kneading (if using the stand mixer), until the dough is smooth and elastic. *Note - if the dough is too sticky, knead in some of the additional flour until you get a smooth and elastic consistency.
-Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to double in volume in a warm, draft-free place for about an hour.
-Punch the dough down and dived it into two equal pieces.
-On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough to form a slender loaf.
-Place the loaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet (making sure to leave a few inches in between each loaf to allow for expansion), that has been lightly sprinkled with cornmeal. *Note - If you have a French bread loaf pan, lay the slender loaves in the pan, on a baking sheet, and omit the cornmeal.
-Slash the tops of each loaf with a sharp knife (optional).
-Allow the loaves to rise again until doubled (approximately 45-50 minutes), in a warm, draft-free place.
-Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
-Bake the loaves in the preheated oven for approximately 30-35 minutes or until the loaves are beautifully golden in color and sound hollow when tapped.
-Allow the bread to cool completely before cutting.
MINI FRENCH BREAD APPETIZER PIZZAS {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Yield: 24-30
2 loaves of French bread (either store-bought or homemade)
1 small can of tomato paste
garlic powder
toppings of your choice (I used uncooked, green pepper, onion, and mushroom)
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt
dried oregano
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
-Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
-Slice each the French bread loaf vertically, into 1 ½" pieces
-Place the sliced bread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.
-Spread a layer of tomato paste onto each French bread crust and sprinkle each pizza with garlic powder (to taste)
-Add the toppings of your choice to each mini pizza slice.
-Sprinkle each pizza with a little bit of salt and dried oregano (to taste).
-Top each pizza with some shredded cheese.
-Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted to your liking.
-Sprinkle the pizzas with the fresh basil and serve.
These appetizers are delicious for any type of entertaining you happen to be doing, and they'll feed a big, hungry crowd in one fell swoop. Mmmmmm. Move over to Stouffer's, you've just been replaced! 😉
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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
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