The soft mini pizzas and rolls for buffet are a true delight that cannot be missed at your special events. These little gems of goodness, soft and fragrant, are perfect for enriching your buffets, appetizers, or simply for a tasty snack. Their soft and light texture makes them irresistible, while the versatility of the recipe allows you to personalize them according to your tastes or those of your guests. Making them at home is not only a way to ensure they are always fresh and fragrant, but it is also a great opportunity to involve the whole family in the kitchen.
Take a look at these recipes as well, they are perfect to add to your buffet:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 26 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.18 oz fresh yeast
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 3 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- to taste tomato sauce
- to taste salt
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste oregano
- cooked ham
- cheese
- bacon
- mortadella
- milk (for brushing)
Tools
- Stand Mixer
- Baking Pans
Steps
To make the soft mini pizzas and rolls for buffet, start by dissolving the fresh yeast in a bowl with lukewarm water. Let it rest for a few minutes. Then add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved, also pour in the milk and start incorporating the flour, little by little, mixing with a wooden spoon or with your hands (to ease the work, you can use a stand mixer). When the dough begins to form, add the salt and oil and continue to knead until you obtain a smooth and elastic dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead vigorously for at least 10 minutes. This step is fundamental to develop the gluten network, which will give the mini pizzas their characteristic softness.
Once the dough is well-kneaded, form a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until the dough has doubled in volume. Rising time can vary based on temperature, so check the dough from time to time.When the dough is well risen, transfer it back to the work surface, form small balls about 1 oz each, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let them rise again for about 30 minutes.
The small balls that will become mini pizzas should be pressed in the center and topped with tomato sauce, oil, salt, and oregano.
Bake the mini pizzas in a hot oven for about 12-13 minutes on the second-to-last rack of the oven (add mozzarella or string cheese only during the last 3 minutes) until they are slightly golden on top.
Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
The rolls should simply be brushed with milk and baked in a preheated static oven on the second-to-last rack at 392°F for about 12-13 minutes.
Once baked, transfer the rolls to a wire rack to cool, and then fill them with deli meats and cheeses to taste! I filled mine with ham and cheese, some with mortadella, and others with bacon!
They are also great with a sweet filling like jam or spreadable cream.
Enjoy your meal!
Storage and Tips
To keep the soft mini pizzas and rolls fresh and fragrant even after preparation, there are some tricks you can adopt, both for short-term storage and to make them in advance.
First of all, one of the secrets to ensuring your baked goods remain soft is to avoid overbaking them. Check the baking in the last few minutes: when you see they are just golden, remove them from the oven immediately. If they stay too long in the oven, they may harden once cooled.
Once baked, let the rolls or mini pizzas cool completely on a rack. This is crucial to avoid moisture condensing on the bottom, making the base wet or sticky. When they are well-cooled, if you are not consuming them immediately, the best way to store them is in airtight food bags or airtight containers. If possible, separate the layers with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
If you want to prepare the rolls and mini pizzas in advance for a buffet or an event, you can easily freeze them. Once cooled, store them in freezer bags, trying to remove as much air as possible, or in airtight containers. When it’s time to use them, let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours or briefly heat them in a low-temperature oven (about 212°F). The pass in the oven will make them fragrant again, as if freshly baked.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I use only water or only milk to make the dough?
Yes, you can certainly use only water or only milk to make the dough for the soft mini pizzas, depending on the result you want to achieve.
If you use only water, you will get a lighter dough, with a more neutral consistency. The mini pizzas will be soft but slightly less rich in flavor compared to those made with milk. This is a great method if you prefer a simpler dough, also suitable for more flavorful fillings.
If you choose to use only milk, the result will be a softer dough with a richer consistency.
