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    Home » Recipes » Pizza

    Pizzette Recipe Mini Italian Pizza Bites

    Published: Apr 3, 2021 · Modified: Feb 7, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Recipe Jump to Video
    These pizzette, mini pizza bites, are a classic Italian street food you find at Cafes and Bakeries to buy and eat on the go. They are also very popular to serve at children's parties and informal buffets.
    These pizzette, mini pizza bites, are a classic Italian street food you find at Cafes and Bakeries to buy and eat on the go. They are also very popular to serve at children's parties and informal buffets.
    These pizzette, mini pizza bites, are a classic Italian street food you find at Cafes and Bakeries to buy and eat on the go. They are also very popular to serve at children's parties and informal buffets.

    These pizzette, mini Italian pizza bites, are classic Italian street food you find at Cafes and Bakeries to buy and eat on the go. They are lighter and softer than pizza as they are not made with regular pizza dough. It is a yeast dough made with flour, butter, egg, and milk. They are perfect to serve as an aperitivo and are very popular at children's parties and informal buffets. They are easily eaten in one bite.

    Pizzette Italian pizza bites
    Jump to:
    • What is a Pizzette
    • Pizzette dough ingredients
    • Tools I use to make it easier
    • Making the dough
    • Shaping the pizzette
    • Baking the pizzette
    • When Italians eat pizzette
    • What to serve with Italian pizza bites
    • Pizza recipes you might also like
    • 📋 Pizzette Recipe Mini Pizza Bites

    What is a Pizzette

    In Italian when "ette" (plural) is added at the end of a word, we mean small, little. That is what Pizzette are: mini pizza bites, about 3 in - 7 cm in size.

    However, Pizzette are not the same as pizza. The dough is slightly different and softer. As they are made to be eaten on the go, they are easy to hold and can be eaten in 2 bites.

    That is why also the topping is very simple: just tomato sauce with some herbs and often (but not always) a small piece of mozzarella.

    This recipe has been given to me by Eliana De Matteis, she is an Italian language teacher who teaches the Italian language through cooking and you can find her videos on her Facebook page Eliana in Cucina.

    pizzette laid on a tray

    Pizzette dough ingredients

    To make the pizzette dough, you need the following ingredients:

    • Manitoba flour: it is a special flour used for pizza. You can find it in this amazon affiliate link; however, if you don't have it, you can replace it with a regular all-purpose flour
    • All-purpose flour: if you want to use good quality flour, I would suggest the Caputo brand
    • Milk: you can either use low-fat or regular
    • Butter: the butter should be melted. I like to melt it in the microwave with the milk as it is also usually cold from the fridge. You can melt it over a regular stove if you don't have a microwave. Before you add the egg into the mix, make sure they are back to room temperature; otherwise, the egg will cook in the hot milk
    • Egg: I have my chickens free to walk around the garden, so I always have free-range eggs. I do recommend free range not only for the taste but also for animal wellbeing.
    • Sugar: only one small teaspoon of castor (regular) sugar is needed to activate the yeast. The dough is not sweet.
    • Salt: 2 teaspoon
    • Dry yeast: I prefer dry yeast to fresh one as I can keep a stock at home and make pizza and bread anytime I want. The fresh yeast should be used within a short time frame and kept in the fridge. As yeast is a living bacteria and fresh yeast quickly expires, and the dough will not rise
    ingredients for a savory brioche dough

    Tools I use to make it easier

    To make these pizzette with the minimum effort, I found two solutions.

    First, I make the dough in the bread machine. I just have to mix the wet and the dry ingredients, and the bread machine will do the rest. 1.5 hours later I have perfect dough.

    If you don't have a bread machine, you can read how to make dough without the bread machine in this article.

    The second solution is the dough press: it is made of 2 heavy cast iron discs that press the dough in between with an easy handle, making a round shape.

    It is often used for tortillas, but when I need to shape the dough into rounds, it is so much easier.

    I use it to make cannoli siciliani, wraps, piadine and pizzette.

    Without a dough press, you have to roll the dough, cut the rounds with a cookie cutter, re-roll the dough scraps, cut the rounds and continue until all the dough is cut into shape. I find it very time-consuming.

    With a dough press, you just need to cut the dough in equal sizes and press each piece into the press. So much easier!

    Pizzette dough over a dough press

    Making the dough

    To make the dough in the bread machine, you need to prepare the wet and dry ingredients separately.

    Preparing the wet ingredients

    1. Melt the butter with the milk in the microwave for 1 minute at low power
    2. Let them cool down before you add the egg otherwise the egg will cook
    3. Add one egg
    4. Mix until all the wet ingredients are combined
    mixing the wet ingredients

    Preparing the dry ingredients

    1. Mix the two flours
    2. Add the salt and the sugar
    3. Stir with a fork
    mixing the dry ingredients

    Preparing the dough in the bread machine

    1. Pour the wet ingredients into the bread machine bucket
    2. Add the dry ingredients
    3. Put the dry yeast
    4. Place the basket in the bread machine with the cycle "Dough". The dough will be ready in 1.5 hours

    N.B: If you don't have a bread machine you can check the article: how to make dough without the bread machine

    puting the ingredients in the bread machine

    Shaping the pizzette

    1. Place the dough on a well-floured surface
    2. Cut the dough into 40 pieces
    3. Make 40 little balls
    shaping the pizzette
    1. Open the dough press, place a sheet of parchment paper on the bottom disk of the dough press, and dust with flour
    2. Place a well-floured dough ball in the center
    3. Cover with another sheet of parchment paper
    4. Close the press and press the dough
    5. Remove the pizzetta disk and start again
    6. Until all the balls are pressed

    N.B.: if you don't have a dough press you can shape the disk by rolling the dough and using a cookie cutter or a glass to cut the round shapes.

    shaping the pizzette with a dough press

    Baking the pizzette

    1. Place the pizzette dough on a baking pan covered with parchment paper
    2. Pour half spoon of tomato sauce on each pizzetta and sprinkle some salt
    3. Spread the tomato sauce around the pizzette with the back of a spoon
    4. Add some chopped basil
    5. Bake in a hot oven at 355 F - 180 C for 20 minutes
    6. Top with half of mozzarella bites while they are still warm
    putting the topping on the pizzette

    When Italians eat pizzette

    Pizzette dough is made with flour, yeast, milk, egg, and butter, making their base soft and light to the bite. They are the perfect street food to eat on the go.

    I grew up buying pizzette on my way to school and having them for snacks during the morning break. They are small enough to satisfy children's appetites without overfeeding them.

    They are also very popular at children's parties, served together with small Panini filled with salami or ham. Their small size allows kids to gulp them without missing any playing time.

    Pizzette can also be served as a snack with an aperitif, the perfect Aperocena: an informal tapas-style dinner with a selection of cocktails.

    panini filled with ham and salami on a plate

    What to serve with Italian pizza bites

    Pizzette can be served warm or at room temperature. They are perfect for an informal buffet.

    To create a table with Italian street food you can serve them with panini filled with ham, arancini, fried eggplant balls, fried zucchini flowers and sausage rolls.

    Fried eggpant balls on a tray with sticks

    Pizza recipes you might also like

    For more pizza recipes, check out the category: Pizza

    Also check the recipes below:

    • Fried Pizza
    • Pizza Bianca Romana
    • Artichoke Pizza with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Scamorza Cheese
    • Pizza with Fresh Vegetables
    • Traditional Italian White Pizza With Pesto
    • Pissaladiere Nicoise
    • Focaccia Pizza
    • Pizza with Nutella
    fried pizza and panzerotti

    If you are making these pizzette Italian pizza bites, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

    Pizzette Italian pizza bites

    📋 Pizzette Recipe Mini Pizza Bites

    5 from 5 votes
    Laura Tobin
    Servings 40 pizzette bites
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Resting time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe
    These pizzette, mini pizza bites, are a classic Italian street food you find at Cafes and bakeries to buy and eat on the go. They are also very popular to serve at children's parties and informal buffets.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Measuring mugs
    • Mini Measuring Set
    • Bread machine
    • Dough Press
    • Mega Baking Pan

    Ingredients
     

    • 3 cups Manitoba flour can be replaced with All-purpose flour
    • 1 cup Caputo flour 00 all-purpose
    • 1 cup milk
    • ¼ cup melted butter
    • 1 fresh eggs
    • 2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon caster sugar
    • 1 package yeast 2 tsp

    For the topping

    • 3 oz fresh mozzarella
    • ½ cup chopped basil leaves
    • 3.5 oz tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    Making the dough

    • Melt the butter with the milk in the microwave for 1 minute at low power
      1 cup milk, ¼ cup melted butter
    • Let them cool down before you add the egg otherwise, the egg will cook
    • Add one egg and mix until all the wet ingredients are combined
      1 fresh eggs
    • Mix the two flours
      3 cups Manitoba flour, 1 cup Caputo flour 00
    • Add the salt and the sugar and stir with a fork
      2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon caster sugar
    • Pour the wet ingredients into the bread machine bucket
    • Add the dry ingredients
    • Last, add the dry yeast
      1 package yeast
    • Place the basket in the bread machine with the cycle "Dough". The dough will be ready in 1.5 hours

    Shaping the pizzette

    • Place the dough on a well-floured surface
    • Cut the dough into 40 pieces
    • Make 40 little balls
    • Open the dough press, place a sheet of parchment paper on the bottom disc of the dough press, and dust with flour
    • Place a well-floured dough ball in the center
    • Cover with another sheet of parchment paper
    • Close the press and press the dough
    • Remove the pizzetta round and start again
    • Until all the balls are pressed

    Baking the pizzette

    • Place the pizzette dough on a baking pan covered with parchment paper
    • Pour half spoon of tomato sauce on each pizzetta and sprinkle some salt
      3.5 oz tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon salt
    • Spread the tomato sauce around the pizzette with the back of a spoon
    • Add some chopped basil
      ½ cup chopped basil leaves
    • Bake in a hot oven at 355 F - 180 C for 20 minutes
    • Top with half of the mozzarella bites while they are still warm
      3 oz fresh mozzarella
    • They can be served warm or at room temperature

    Video

    Notes

    • If you don't have a microwave you can melt it over a regular stove.
    • Before you add the egg into the mix, make sure they are at room temperature otherwise the egg will cook in the hot milk
    • If you don't have a bread machine you can check the article: how to make dough without the bread machine
    • If you don't have a dough press you can shape the rounds by rolling the dough and using a cookie cutter or a glass to cut the round shapes.
    • You will probably have to bake the pizzette in batches as they will not all fit at once into a large baking pan

    Nutrition

    Calories: 69kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 157mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 92IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!
    important notes on ingredients

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      Pizza Fritta Montanara Fried Pizza Dough

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sue

      April 03, 2021 at 8:00 pm

      5 stars
      These little pizza bites made a perfect appetizer. I enjoyed them with a lovely glass of wine. 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 04, 2021 at 6:46 am

        They are great with a glass of winve. Thank you

        Reply
    2. Andrea

      April 03, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      5 stars
      These are perfect for a get together or just for a weekend lunch. I can't wait to taste this dough.

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 04, 2021 at 6:46 am

        Yes, they are very nice. Thank you

        Reply
    3. Lindsay

      April 04, 2021 at 12:52 am

      5 stars
      These are adoorable little pizza bits and i love that your recipe is simple but authentic. Adding this to my list for snacks to make for play dates!

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 04, 2021 at 6:41 am

        Thank you, they are great for play dates

        Reply
    4. Irina

      April 04, 2021 at 1:14 am

      5 stars
      Oh, I love the word "Pizzette"!!! It sounds so cute that I want to make these small pizzas ASAP. I love the idea of serving them this summer outdoors. 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 04, 2021 at 6:41 am

        Thanks, they are perfect for an outdoor gathering

        Reply
    5. Juli

      April 04, 2021 at 2:14 am

      5 stars
      I had never heard of such a thing before! They look perfect for childrens snacks or a great addition to a buffet!!

      Reply
      • Laura

        April 04, 2021 at 6:40 am

        Yes, they are perfect as they can eat them on the go

        Reply
    5 from 5 votes

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    Laura Giunta Tobin

    Hi, I’m Laura. Welcome to my blog! While many talk about Italian food, I’ve lived it firsthand. Here, I share real Italian home cooking, just as it’s made in Italy. Won’t you join me?

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