Texas Toast Pizza
Ingredients:
To create this delicious Texas Toast Pizza, gather the following ingredients:
• Texas Toast: 8 slices (each slice typically about 1 inch thick)
• Pizza Sauce: 1 cup (store-bought or homemade)
• Mozzarella Cheese: 2 cups shredded (preferably whole milk for optimal melt)
• Pepperoni: 1 cup (or your choice of toppings such as mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, etc.)
• Optional Toppings: Fresh basil, grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes
Tips for Selecting the Best Ingredients:
• Texas Toast: Choose a brand with thick slices to ensure a hearty base that holds up well to toppings.
• Pizza Sauce: Opt for a high-quality sauce with robust flavors. You can enhance store-bought sauce with herbs like oregano and basil.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Whole milk mozzarella offers a richer flavor and better melting properties compared to part-skim varieties.
• Pepperoni: For an authentic taste, select thinly sliced pepperoni that crisps up nicely in the oven.
Step-by-Step Directions
Follow these simple steps to create your Ultimate Texas Toast Pizza:
1. Preheat Your Oven
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). This high temperature ensures that your Texas toast becomes crispy while the cheese melts perfectly.
2. Prepare the Texas Toast
Arrange the Slices: Place the Texas toast slices on a baking sheet. For easier cleanup, you can line the sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Bake the Toast: Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the Texas toast for 2 minutes per side. This step helps the bread crisp up and provides a sturdy base for the toppings.
3. Add the Sauce and Toppings
Spread the Sauce: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and evenly spread pizza sauce over each slice of Texas toast.
Add Cheese: Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce-covered toast.
Top with Pepperoni: Arrange pepperoni slices (or your chosen toppings) over the cheese. Feel free to get creative with additional toppings like sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives.
4. Broil Until Perfect
Lower the Oven Rack: Move the oven rack to the top position, about 6 inches from the broiler.
Broil on Low: Turn on the broiler to low and place the baking sheet back in the oven. Broil the pizzas for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the pepperoni is slightly crispy.
Monitor Closely: Keep a close eye on the pizzas to prevent burning, as broilers can vary in intensity.
5. Serve and enjoy!
Cool slightly: Allow the pizzas to cool for a minute or two to set the toppings.
Garnish (Optional): Add fresh basil leaves, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan, or a dash of red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
Serve: Slice and serve immediately. Enjoy your homemade Texas Toast Pizza with family and friends!