Braided Pizza Bread

I was watching something on TV one night and saw a chef making something very similar to this… and I thought “hmm I can do that” This is so easy you really don’t even need to know how to cook, other than operating your oven. I decided to make it pretty basic the first time I made it, using the ingredients the boys like on their pizza. In my house, the boys would/could eat pizza everyday,
so when I can make something they enjoy ~ other variations to pizza, they are happy! I made this one for the kids, but, I plan to try other combinations. Once you try this.. I think you will be inspired as well… get creative! The possibilities are endless!

What you need:

1. Can refrigerated thin crust pizza dough
2. Pizza or marinara sauce, your favorite brand

3. approx. one cup sliced pepperoni or to taste
4. approx. two cups shredded mozarella
5. approx. 1/4 cup shredded romano or asiago or parmesan.. or all three
6. one egg , seperated (for eggwash)
7. Cookie sheet sprayed with Pam


8. Pastry cutter.. or kitchen shears
9. Garlic powder and italian seasoning


Preheat Oven 375. Prepare cookie sheet with pam. Remove pizza dough from can and place on cookie sheet.. unroll and spread out evenly

Layer pepperoni down the center.. the more the better! Just keep in mind that you want to be able to close it all up before baking!

Now add 3 to 4 tbsp. of the pizza sauce, then the mozeralla and other cheeses… to your taste… Sprinkle with italian seasoning.

Using the pastry cutter or sheers slice approx. 2″ slits along the edges of the dough, spaced about and inch or two apart on both sides…

Next “braid” the strips by criss-crossing them alternately over the layers like this…

Until you end up with something that looks like this…

Now, simply fold in the edges and press to seal…

Brush the top with the eggwash (one egg white mixed with a little water) and sprinkle with a little garlic powder and shredded parmesan…

Bake in 375 degree oven for 15 minutes or until bread it golden brown and cheese is melted…

Once I let it rest for about 10 minutes it was easy to slice. It was devoured in minutes! In fact, my son looked at me and said, "you definitely need to make a couple at a time" ... I told him if he'd run to the store and get me more pizza dough, I would be happy to make more! I'll be danged, he jumped up grabbed his keys and went to the store. His girlfriend was right there on board too!

So with her help, we made two more..... she made one right along side me, it was fun! I think their eyes were bigger than their stomachs because we ended up with some leftover. Not to worry, it was equally delicious for lunch the next day.