# Recipe for personal pizzas from pre-made dough? (also rant about enshittification of Google) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [December 4, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403 "2025-12-04T16:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/1 "2025-12-04T16:08:36Z")
So the actual factual question, first: Anyone have a good recipe for personal pizzas from pre-made fresh dough? The dough (from Whole foods) comes in 1 pound bags (unfrozen), how do I subdivide them to make personal pizzas (6-8 inches each)? Do I let it rise first, or subdivide before proving? (Need answer fast on this one as its for tonight US EST) (Google rant: how TF is it not possible to find this in Google!!? This classic example of how crap its gotten. It’s a fairly obscure specific question, about _personal_ pizzas specifically, with a much more common generic question “how do I make pizza from pre made dough”. So in 2025 there is no combination of search terms and quotation marks that will convince Google that I need to know about the _personal_ pizzas not just generic full size pizzas 😠 ) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/2 "2025-12-04T16:16:43Z")
What we do with homemade pizza dough: let it rise in one big ball. Then subdivide into personal-sized balls, and let rise again. For premade dough, I assume it’s already gone through the first rise? If so, subdivide first before letting it rise again. It’s not terrible to subdivide after the second rising, but the extra manipulation does counteract some of the rise. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/3 "2025-12-04T16:18:46Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Then subdivide into personal-sized balls, and let rise again Thanks. About what weight of dough do you use per-pizza? These come in 1 pound bags ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/4 "2025-12-04T16:23:37Z")
We buy bags like that. We usually cut them in half and make two pizzas, each of us eating half of each pizza. So I would assume if we wanted to make personal pizzas, we’d cut into fourths. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/5 "2025-12-04T16:26:24Z")
That sounds about right. (I typically handle the actual baking part, not the prep part.) The size is less important than the thickness, in terms of baking time. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/6 "2025-12-04T16:34:35Z")
Be aware that a lot of the pre-made balls can be a bit difficult to stretch out. The solution to this is to give them time. Make sure, first, that they have had a couple hours to come up to room temp, and then when you’re stretching them out (I go by hand), if they have a tendency to stubbornly shrink down, to just stretch them out as best you can, cover them, let rest 15 minutes, and try again. Keep repeating until you get them to the thinness and size you desire. I find myself with Trader Joe’s and Aldi dough to have to take an hour or so before the dough is relaxed enough. It’s possible you’ll have better luck than I, but my homemade doughs don’t do this, or at least not to the extent the store-bought doughs I’ve had do. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/7 "2025-12-04T16:34:44Z")
Whole Foods, hey? I think I’m going to try it. Beggars wants $46 for a 16 ounce pizza. It’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/8 "2025-12-04T16:36:06Z")
Damn, and I thought $28 for an 18-inch at my go-to joint (Obbie’s) was expensive. Check out Aldi and Trader Joe’s as well, if those are more convenient to you. Aldi usually has it in the refrigerated section by the cold cuts. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/9 "2025-12-04T16:36:25Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Whole Foods They call it Whole Paycheck for a reason;) they were 5 bucks a pop just for the dough 😉 I’ll get the toppings and sauce from Giant as God knows how expensive they would be 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/10 "2025-12-04T16:38:20Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > They call it Whole Paycheck for a reason;) they were 5 bucks a pop just for the dough At Aldi, they’re like $1.35, I think. I often find them at 50% off, too, so bonus. And they cook up great on my pizza stone (well, quarry tile, technically). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/11 "2025-12-04T16:39:05Z")
I Googled “recipe for pizza with store bought dough” and this was the top answer > **[How to Cook Store Bought Pizza Dough: A Simple Guide for Perfect Pizza](https://www.prepapizza.com/blogs/news/how-to-cook-store-bought-pizza-dough-a-simple-guide-for-perfect-pizza-at-home)** > > Cooking with store-bought pizza dough is an easy way to create a delicious homemade pizza with minimal effort. By using Prepa Pizza’s premade dough, you can skip the labor-intensive dough-making process and focus on crafting the perfect toppings... There were lots of recipes. I have no idea how good any of them are. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/12 "2025-12-04T16:42:11Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I Googled “recipe for pizza with store bought dough” and this was the top answer _Exactly_! There are a ton of recipes for full-sized pizzas from pre-made dough. But I want a recipe for personal size pizzas. I am sure they exist, this is the Internet after all I’m sure there is a recipe for goat cheese personal pizzas on a wild spelt flour base. But Google can’t find them, it’s gotten too “clever” and assumes I’m asking about just about the generic case, because that’s what most people ask. But I want the recipe for personal pizza. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/13 "2025-12-04T16:44:46Z")
Thanks for info everyone. I will go with @Pleonast and (the somewhat unfortunately named for this question 😉 ) @Dung_Beetle suggestions. I’ll divide into 4 quarters before raising I’ll report back! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/14 "2025-12-04T16:44:56Z")
In my ignorance I would have thought just do the same thing and make it smaller. I didn’t realize there was a difference. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/15 "2025-12-04T16:46:06Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > make it smaller But how much smaller and when do you subdivide it? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/16 "2025-12-04T16:46:47Z")
Oh, duh. I totally forgot the OP with Aldi tangent. I do this literally all the time with my doughs: I make one pizza for the kids, one for the parents. I let it rise, cut it in half and smooth out the seams into two dough balls, cover them, and then let them rest for about 30 minutes before shaping them. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/17 "2025-12-04T17:11:57Z")
All the replies seem to be dough-based advice, and maybe that’s all the OP was looking for, it’s not clear from re-reading it whether a full recipe is being asked for or not. But in any case, if the OP wants sauce advice, I like Kenji’s NY-style pizza sauce recipe: > **[Homemade NY-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/new-york-style-pizza-sauce)** > > No need to go in search of a slice joint. You can make a New York-style pizza at home any time you want, starting with this faithful and perfectly calibrated recipe for the sauce. For cheese, a good brand of whole-milk mozzarrella. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/18 "2025-12-04T17:17:29Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > So in 2025 there is no combination of search terms and quotation marks that will convince Google that I need to know about the _personal_ pizzas not just generic full size pizzas 😠 What does it matter? The only difference between the two would be cooking time. As far as handling the dough, that would be the same? The dough doesn’t care if it ends up as 1 large pizza or 4 personal ones. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/19 "2025-12-04T17:23:58Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > _Exactly_! There are a ton of recipes for full-sized pizzas from pre-made dough. But I want a recipe for personal size pizzas. I am sure they exist, this is the Internet after all I’m sure there is a recipe for goat cheese personal pizzas on a wild spelt flour base. But Google can’t find them, it’s gotten too “clever” and assumes I’m asking about just about the generic case, because that’s what most people ask. But I want the recipe for personal pizza. I just Googled “how to make personal size pizza with dough” and a bunch of recipes for personal sized pies came up. In fact the _only_ results were for individual sized pizzas. 🤷 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403/20 "2025-12-04T17:47:09Z")
I didn’t know you need a recipe to make pizza. If the dough is premade. Isn’t it kind of a “have it like you want it” thingy? My only advice, it’s very easy to over top small pizzas, making it difficult to handle and eat. Do it your way. (Pizza dough is very easy and cheap to make, btw) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recipe-for-personal-pizzas-from-pre-made-dough-also-rant-about-enshittification-of-google/1025403.md?page=2)