When picking up pre-made pizza dough at Trader Joe's, your first instinct is to, duh, think of all the different kinds of pizza recipes you can make with it. But pizza dough is actually a super versatile ingredient. Dare to get a little more creative, and you can use Trader Joe's pizza dough to whip up a savory—or sweet—snack that slays in the flavor department.
Here are five fresh and unexpected recipes to make using pre-made Trader Joe's pizza dough:
Cinnamon Twists
Cinnamon rolls are great and all, but have you had cinnamon twists before? Thanks to Trader Joe's pizza dough—plus a few other basic ingredients—you can have an easy breakfast (or dessert!) for a crowd in less than 30 minutes. These twists are perfect for dunking in your morning coffee, or if you're feeling it, a cup of steaming hot chocolate.
How to Make It
Ingredients
- Trader Joe's Pizza Dough
- Trader Joe's Butter
- Trader Joe's Organic Cane Sugar
- Cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of sugar with 2 tablespoons of cinnamon.
- In another small bowl, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the pizza dough into a thin rectangle.
- Brush the butter onto the pizza dough, then sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar.
- Fold the rectangle in half. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into thin strips.
- Twist the dough with your fingers, then place them on a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
Everything Pretzel Bites
Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Seasoning always ranks as one of the most popular Trader Joe's items, simply because it goes well on almost everything. Using the pizza dough, you can make some pretzel bites for a perfect game day appetizer, seasoned with—you guessed it—everything bagel seasoning.
How to Make It
Ingredients
- Trader Joe's Pizza Dough
- Trader Joe's Large White Eggs
- Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
- Trader Joe's Queso Cheese Dip
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Roll the pizza dough out into a thin rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into strips, then into small bite-sized pieces.
- Fill a medium-sized pot with water and bring it to a boil. Cook a handful of pizza bites in the water for 30 seconds at a time. Drain.
- Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or oil. Add the pizza bites to the pan.
- Whisk an egg in a small bowl, then brush the egg on top of the pizza bites.
- Sprinkle the everything seasoning on the bites.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Switch to broil and cook for another 3 minutes to make them golden-brown.
Garlic Knots
Why wait to order Italian takeout when making garlic knots with Trader Joe's pizza dough is so easy? With four ingredients, you will have the perfect side dish to go with any of these healthy Italian recipes for dinner.
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How to Make It
Ingredients
- Trader Joe's Pizza Dough
- Trader Joe's Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- Trader Joe's Minced Garlic
- Parsley
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Roll the pizza dough into a thin rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into strips.
- Tie the strips into a knot.
- Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or oil. Add the knots to the sheet.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of minced garlic to each knot.
- Chop a handful of parsley leaves using a knife or kitchen shears.
- Sprinkle the tops of each knot with shredded parmesan and the chopped parsley.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
Mini Pepperoni Calzones
Switch up your usual pepperoni pizza and turn it into mini calzones instead! This recipe makes four individual calzones, which means you can always prep these out for dinners throughout the week. Just pop them in the oven to reheat when it's time for dinner! Don't like pepperoni? Use any other type of toppings or sauces instead! The possibilities are endless.
How to Make It
Ingredients
- Trader Joe's Pizza Dough
- Trader Joe's Ciao Pepperoni
- Trader Joe's Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- Trader Joe's Pizza Sauce
- Trader Joe's Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Roll the pizza dough into a thin square. Cut the square into four smaller squares using a pizza cutter.
- Place a spoonful (or two) of pizza sauce on each square, as well as some shredded parmesan, mozzarella, and a few slices of pepperoni.
- Fold one of the corners of the square to the other corner. Using your fingers, fold the bottom of the calzone onto the top to seal it.
- Place the calzones on a baking sheet and bake for 18 minutes.
Apple Balsamic Flatbread
While this apple balsamic flatbread is closer to a pizza compared to the rest of these original creations, it is unique simply because it doesn't have a sauce base. Instead, this flatbread is lined with slices of sharp cheddar cheese and sprinkled with sweet and salty toppings to balance it out. This flatbread is the perfect appetizer for a dinner party, or pair it with a healthy salad and glasses of Trader Joe's wine for an easy weeknight dinner for two.
How to Make It
Ingredients
- Trader Joe's Pizza Dough
- Trader Joe's Cheddar Cheese
- Trader Joe's Balsamic Glaze
- Trader Joe's Fully Cooked Uncured Bacon
- 1 green apple
- 1 red onion
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Slice all of the apple into thin pieces. Slice 1/4 of the red onion as well.
- Dice the bacon into smaller bits.
- Roll the pizza dough into an oval shape.
- Add slices of cheddar cheese onto the dough. Sprinkle the bacon on top, then add the sliced onion and apple.
- Slowly drizzle the balsamic glaze on top of the flatbread.
- Bake for 17 minutes.
3.3/5(71 Reviews)
Kiersten Hickman
Kiersten Hickman is a freelance health and nutrition journalist. Read more about Kiersten
