Stuffed Pizza Football

More About This Recipe

• This football pizza will fuel hungry fans at your next game day party. 
  
  If you love A) gathering friends and family at your house to watch the big game and B) are looking for something quick and easy to serve that’s also festive and fun, this stuffed pizza football recipe is for you! In about the time it takes for delivery, you can have a football-shaped stuffed pizza hot and ready for all the fans watching the game.
  
  To make the pizza you'll need a football-shaped baking pan, which you can find at craft stores or cake decorating stores. With the pan in hand, all you have to do is fill the pizza with your favorite toppings and decorate it a bit to make it look like an authentic pigskin.
  
  Start by spraying your pan with some non-stick spray. Heat a small amount of water in the microwave for 15 seconds on high, then stir in the baking soda. It should foam a bit but that will go down quickly. This will give the pizza crust a deep brown color and flavor it a bit like a pretzel crust.
  
  Unroll the pizza dough onto a silicone-baking mat and brush some of the baking soda solution over top.
  
  Flip dough over into the baking pan so that the baking soda-brushed side is underneath touching the pan. Then sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.
  
  This step is optional, but it will keep your pizza from being overly greasy. Set the pepperoni in a single layer on a few layers of paper towels and microwave on high for 25 seconds. Pat the grease off the pepperoni using more paper towels.
  
  Put half the mozzarella cheese and half the pepperoni over the Parmesan cheese, then spread on half of the sauce.
  
  Repeat, layering the remaining cheese, pepperoni, and sauce.
  
  Fold the pizza dough over the fillings, pinching all the seams closed.
  
  Brush more of the baking soda solution over the dough.
  
  Bake for 14-16 minutes until deep golden brown. While the pizza is baking, get the decorations ready. Cut four strips from one long edge of the block of mozzarella cheese. Set one strip at either end of the football to create the stripes. Cut a 1/4-inch by 4-inch long strip of cheese and set it down the middle of the football.
  
  Cut 8 thin strips for laces and set them over the middle strip. Pop the pizza back in the oven for about a minute to allow the cheese laces to relax and drape over the middle strip. This will give the football a more natural look.
  
  Serve immediately and watch your football fans cheer over this cheesy, delicious treat!
  
  Beth happily spends her days creating fun food and handmade chocolate and enjoys sharing step-by-step tutorials with her readers on her blog Hungry Happenings. Be sure to check out her profile to see all the other festive foods she's made for Tablespoon.com.