Pizza is the ultimate crowd-pleasing party food, no matter the occasion or the time of year. Serve it cut into squares, while you stand up and sip cocktails; share three around a large table with friends. You can even crack an egg on top and call it brunch (stay tuned for more on that tomorrow!)

A good, homemade dough is the perfect blank slate for your favorite toppings. If it seems like a hassle, it doesn’t have to be — the dough is surprisingly simple and ideal for making ahead. Just let it rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight, and you’ll be ready to roll out, top off and bake in no time.

Pizza Dough

2 packages (5 tsp.) active dry yeast

2 1/2 cups (18 fl. oz./560 ml.) warm water (105-155 degrees F/40-46 degrees C)

2 tsp. malt syrup or granulated sugar

1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml.) olive oil

5 cups (25 oz./780 g.) bread flour, plus extra as needed

1 Tbs. sea salt

All-purpose flour for rolling and shaping

Proof the yeast Pour the yeast into the warm water in a bowl and gently stir until the yeast dissolves. Let the yeast and water stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If the yeast doesn’t foam, it is either inactive of you have used water that is too cold or too hot; start over with fresh yeast.)

Add the other ingredients When you have determined that the yeast is active, add the malt syrup or sugar, oil, flour and salt. The salt will kill the yeast if it comes in direct contact with it, so make sure to add the salt last.

Mix the dough Using a wooden spoon or your hands, stir the dough until it forms a rough mass. Using a plastic pastry scraper, scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface.

Knead the dough Knead the dough until soft, smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes, adding flour to the work surface as needed to prevent the dough from sticking to it.

Let the dough rise For the dough into a ball and transfer it to a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until it doubles in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (Alternatively, place the covered bowl in the refrigerator  overnight. Let the dough come to room temperature before shaping.)

Divide and shape the dough Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly oiled work surface. Cut it in half with a sharp knife or bench scraper. Gently shape each half into a loose ball by moving the dough in a circle and pushing the sides down toward the bottom so that the ball tightens a little.

Roll out the dough Cover one of the dough balls with a damp towel. Lightly dust the other dough ball with all-purpose flour. Using a rolling pin or your hands, roll or stretch the dough into a 12- to 14-inch (30- to 35-cm.) round and transfer to a baker’s peel or the top of an inverted baking pan. Top the pizza dough as desired and bake using the directions at right, or according to your recipe. Repeat with the remaining dough ball. Makes two 12- to 14-inch (30- to 35-cm.) pizza crusts.

Our pizzas featured at the top of this page – Salumi and Cheese, Potato and Rosemary, and Prosciutto and Fig — won’t disappoint, but you can also experiment with more of your favorite ingredients. Our recommendations:

• Sauces: tomato sauce, pesto, bechamel
• Cheeses: mozzarella, creamy Gorgonzola, fresh ricotta, Parmesan, fontina, fresh goat cheese
• Protein: sausage, pancetta, bresaola, anchovies, sardines, toasted chopped walnuts
• Vegetables & Fruits: tomatoes of all shapes and sizes; braised fennel; sauteed onions; sliced figs; halved grapes; potato slices; zucchini slices; eggplant slices; roasted garlic
• Fresh Finishes: arugula, spinach, chopped fresh herbs, prosciutto

Need more inspiration? Check out our favorite pizza recipes!