# 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 thinly sliced black olives
09 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust lightly with cornmeal.
02 - Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then gently flatten into a 2-inch round.
03 - Place a small spoonful of pizza sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella in the center of each round. Add a slice of pepperoni if desired.
04 - Pinch the edges to seal the filling and roll back into a ball. Position seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Brush each ball lightly with olive oil. For richer color, mix olive oil with tomato paste and brush atop each ball. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
06 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and cheese bubbles.
07 - Cool for 2 minutes. Use thin strips of black olive to create basketball lines on each bite.
08 - Serve warm with extra pizza sauce for dipping.
