# Components:
→ Dough
01 - 1 lb pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
→ Sauce & Cheese
02 - 1/2 cup pizza sauce
03 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Toppings & Decoration
04 - 24 slices pepperoni (optional)
05 - 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons cornmeal (for dusting)
08 - 2 tablespoons black olives, thinly sliced
09 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly dust with cornmeal.
02 - Divide pizza dough into 24 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten gently into a 2-inch round.
03 - Place a small spoonful of pizza sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese in the center of each round. Add a pepperoni slice if desired.
04 - Pinch edges to seal and roll gently back into a ball. Place seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Brush each ball lightly with olive oil. For a deeper color, brush with a mixture of tomato paste and olive oil.
06 - Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over each ball.
07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and cheese is bubbling.
08 - Allow to cool for 2 minutes. Use thin strips of black olive to create basketball lines on each bite.
09 - Serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
