Easy Whole-Wheat Vegan Pizza Dough (Oil-Free)

This easy whole-wheat vegan pizza dough recipe is the best and will give you a crust that is tender, light, and crunchy. Made with 5 simple ingredients, this homemade oil-free pizza crust is a much healthier alternative to take-out pizza.

I love pizza. Who doesn’t? But, a good whole wheat pizza crust that doesn’t taste like cardboard is hard to find…until now.

Many store-bought brands are loaded with oil, chemicals, and God knows what. So, I made it my mission to come up with something better. And, I believe I have succeeded.

To be honest, I feel like I just split the atom.

Pizza nights were always a big thing for my family before going vegan. And, now, they are again and they’re also delicious.

If you thought your pizza days were over or you’d never have time to make homemade crust, think again my friend. Your life is about to change. Homemade pizza for days!

So, let’s get to it!

Ingredients

All you need are 5 simple wholesome ingredients to make this amazing whole grain vegan pizza dough. And, you probably have most, if not all, of these ingredients ready to go.

• Flour: I prefer whole wheat pastry flour, but regular whole wheat flour or white whole wheat flour works. If whole wheat flour is not an option, organic unbleache all-purpose flour works very nicely.
• Vital Wheat Gluten: I feel like this is the secret ingredient. It gives the dough that nice tender texture once it bakes. You can leave it out if you wish but you will need to add an equal amount of flour to compensate. And, the pizza crust will be a little firmer after it has baked.
• Non-dairy Milk: unsweetened almond milk was my choice but any unsweetened non-dairy milk will work.
• Yeast: be sure and use “active dry yeast” and not instant yeast. And, use lukewarm or warm water…NOT HOT!
• Sugar: helps the yeast to activate. You only need a little and I prefer organic pure cane sugar.

How To Make Whole-Wheat Vegan Pizza Dough

This homemade pizza dough is so simple and rivals any take-out or frozen pizza. And, you won’t believe how delicious it is. Let’s make it!

1. In a large bowl, add all of the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
2. Mix the non-dairy milk, warm water, and yeast together.
3. Pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and mix as thoroughly as possible with a wooden spoon. Use your hands to finish combining all of the ingredients and then work into a ball.
4. Cover the mixing bowl with a clean dish towel and let the bowl sit on the counter at room temperature for 2 hours. The dough should double in size.
5. Preheat your oven to 430˚F.
6. Divide the dough in two equal pieces.
7. Place one portion of the dough onto a piece of parchment paper, lightly dust the pizza dough with flour, and press the dough out with your hands into a 10-inch circle. You could also use a rolling pin to roll the dough out as well. If it’s a bit sticky sprinkle with more flour.
8. Leave the dough on the parchment paper and transfer it to a pizza pan. Then use a fork to poke holes in the dough.
9. Top with oil-free pizza sauce and your favorite veggies then bake for 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden.
10. Repeat the process with the other portion of dough.

That’s it! Simple, delicious, and healthy pizza.

Vegan Pizza Serving and Topping Suggestions

The best thing about pizza is that it’s a blank canvas. You can do whatever you like. But, I thought I’d share of few suggestions to get you going.

First things first, the cheese. STAY AWAY FROM VEGAN STORE-BOUGHT CHEESE! It ain’t healthy. But, this Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Mozzarella from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken is simply divine.

I love mushrooms, spinach, red onion, and roasted garlic with a sprinkle of basil and oregano. So freaking good!

My wife loves topping her healthy vegan pizza pie with roasted broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes.

But, you do you. Get creative! Try topping your pizza with bbq sauce, BBQ Soy Curls, and some black-eyed peas. Yes, I know it sounds crazy. But, it’s pretty amazing.

If you’re a pesto freak this oil-free pesto from Healthy Midwestern Girl is off the chain and makes a great sauce. Top with a few pine nuts and some fresh tomatoes and you’ve got a pizza that will impress anyone!

Maybe you prefer thin crust pizzas. No problem. Simply roll out the dough until you reach the thickness you desire.

Tips For the Best Whole-Wheat Vegan Pizza Dough

Here are a few suggestions to ensure your pizza dough turns out great. I would suggest you follow them as I speak from experience.

• Use lukewarm water NOT hot water because it will kill the yeast. Trust me on this one.
• Letting the dough rise is called proofing and it’s important so the yeast will rise. The dough needs to be in a warm place. Not dark and cool.
• Let your oven heat for at least 10 minutes after it has preheated to the suggested temperature. This will ensure your crust bakes all the way through.
• Don’t overload your pizza with a ton of sauce and toppings. The crust won’t hold up and it will be hard for everything to cook completely. And, everyone will make fun of you.

Best Way To Store Whole-Wheat Vegan Pizza Dough

This whole wheat pizza dough recipe is an excellent make-ahead option. Depending on when you want to use it here is how you can store it.

Refrigerator

If you plan on making pizza within 24-48 hours, simply wrap each dough ball in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge. Remove and follow the directions.

Freezer

Wrap each dough ball in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How To Thaw Frozen Pizza Dough

Remove frozen pizza dough from the freezer and place it in the fridge overnight. Then, remove the dough from the fridge and set it on the counter about an hour before you intend to use it.

This allows the dought to set up.

Leftover Pizza Slices

Leftovers are usually not an issue at my house, but should you find yourself with extras here is how you can store the pizza slice.

Place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

When you’re ready to reheat place the slices in the microwave for 30 seconds or heat in a nonstick skillet over low heat.

You can even freeze any leftover pizza slices. Place each slice in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 4-6 weeks.

More Vegan Bread Recipes

If you’re like me and love a good carb coma here are a few more bread recipes that require no previous baking experience.

• Whole Wheat Beer Bread
• Vegan Irish Soda Bread
• Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Muffins
• The Best Vegan Cornbread
• No Yeast Bread

I hope you enjoy this Easy Whole Wheat Vegan Pizza Dough. Please leave a comment below with a star rating. And, be sure and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #shaneandsimple. I want to see your work. Enjoy!