Description

Homemade Cheesy Pizza Pockets are delicious handheld snacks featuring a buttery dough filled with a flavorful blend of tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and pepperoni. Baked until golden and puffy, these pizza pockets offer a perfect combination of crispy crust and gooey cheese, ideal for appetizers, lunches, or quick dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, chilled and diced
3/4 cup of milk

Filling

1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup of tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon of dried basil
1/2 cup of pepperoni slices or any preferred pizza toppings

Egg Wash

1 egg, beaten

Instructions

Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder thoroughly to blend the dry ingredients evenly.
Incorporate butter: Gradually add the diced chilled butter into the flour mixture. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, which creates a flaky dough texture.
Add milk and form dough: Pour in the milk and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a dough forms, bringing the mixture together cohesively.
Knead dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it for about 2 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Roll out dough: Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to approximately 1/8 inch thickness, preparing it for shaping.
Cut dough circles: Cut out dough circles about 3 to 4 inches in diameter using a cookie cutter or a large glass to form the pockets.
Prepare sauce mixture: In a small bowl, blend together tomato sauce, dried oregano, and dried basil to create a seasoned pizza sauce.
Add sauce to dough: Place a small spoonful of the prepared sauce mixture in the center of each dough circle as the base of the filling.
Add cheese and toppings: Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the sauce, and top with a few slices of pepperoni or your chosen preferred pizza toppings for flavor.
Fold and seal pockets: Carefully fold each dough circle in half over the fillings to form a crescent shape and firmly crimp the edges with a fork to ensure they are sealed and no filling escapes during baking.
Arrange on baking sheet: Place the filled pizza pockets evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
Apply egg wash: Brush each pocket lightly with the beaten egg to give them a golden, shiny finish when baked.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the pizza pockets are golden brown and puffed up, indicating they are cooked through.
Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and allow the pockets to cool for a few minutes before serving to avoid burning your mouth and to let flavors settle.

Notes

You can substitute pepperoni with any preferred pizza toppings such as cooked sausage, vegetables, or olives.
Make sure the butter is chilled before rubbing it into the flour to achieve a flaky dough texture.
Use an egg wash to enhance browning and shine on the pizza pockets.
If you want a crispier crust, bake a few minutes longer but watch closely to prevent burning.
These pockets can be reheated in an oven or air fryer for best texture retention.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: pizza pockets, cheesy pizza pockets, homemade pizza pockets, baked pizza pockets, pizza snacks, appetizer, mozzarella, pepperoni