Crispy Pizza Cupcakes
These crispy pizza cupcakes are an easy, kid-friendly finger food snack featuring a golden, crunchy pizza dough base filled with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni or veggies. Perfect for parties, quick snacks, and satisfying comfort food cravings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Total Time: 25-28 minutes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) store-bought pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) marinara or pizza sauce
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- About 20 pepperoni slices (or diced bell peppers or mushrooms for veggie option)
- 2 tablespoons (15 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano and basil mix)
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Brush each cup of a 12-cup muffin tin lightly with olive oil.
- Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8-inch (3 mm) thickness. If it shrinks back, let it rest for 5 minutes before rolling again.
- Cut the dough into 12 equal squares, roughly 3×3 inches (7.5×7.5 cm).
- Press each dough square gently into the muffin cups, coming slightly up the sides but not over the edge.
- Spread about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of pizza sauce evenly inside each dough cup.
- Sprinkle 1 to 1.5 tablespoons (15-20 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce in each cup.
- Add two pepperoni slices or chosen toppings on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle a pinch of dried Italian herbs and a little grated Parmesan over each cupcake.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until crusts are golden brown and cheese is bubbling.
- Remove from oven and let cool in the tin for about 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove the pizza cupcakes using a butter knife or small spatula if needed.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
Brush muffin cups and dough edges with olive oil for a crispy golden crust. Avoid overloading sauce to prevent soggy bottoms. If edges brown too quickly, tent with foil halfway through baking. Chill sticky dough for 10 minutes before rolling. Use fresh mozzarella for creamier melt. Reheat leftovers in oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes to restore crispiness. Freeze individually wrapped for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pizza cupcake
- Calories: 150180
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 7
Keywords: pizza cupcakes, kid-friendly snack, finger food, easy pizza recipe, party food, quick snack, cheesy pizza, pizza rolls alternative