The Little Mister LOVES pizza, so that’s what we had at his Where the Wild Things Are birthday party last month. There were almost 50 people at the party (we’re a big family), so we ordered out. But if there had been fewer people, I would have made a pizza crown or two! These are really fun for children’s parties, and they come together in a snap. I’m a fan of any party food that makes a lot of servings without a lot of trouble.

This particular recipe comes from a pizza Christmas tree I saw on Pinterest, with a few slight changes. I used pepperoni and fresh basil as fillings, but you can use whatever you want! Just make sure the pieces are small enough that when you seal the pizza ball nothing tears a hole in the dough.

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King of the Wild Things: Pull-Apart Pizza Crown

“…they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all and made him king of all wild things.”

— Where the Wild Things Are

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cans pizza dough
• string cheese sticks (mine were 4 inches long, so I needed 9)
• 3/4 cup pizza sauce (I used the sauce from this pizza recipe)
• pepperoni, optional
• fresh basil, optional
• 1 egg whisked with 1 tsp water
• 2 tsp melted butter and garlic powder, for garnish (not pictured)

 

Makes 1 pizza crown (36 pizza bites)

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. 1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside (a standard baking sheet will technically work, but it will be a tight fit). Cut your string cheese into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
      2. Unroll your first sheet of pizza dough on a cutting board and gently pull and stretch until it is 12″x16″. Cut the dough into 18 equal pieces.
         
      3. Spread 1 tsp pizza sauce in the middle of each piece. If desired, add a piece of basil and 2 pieces of pepperoni. Place 1 cheese chunk in the center of each piece.
         
      4. Fold the corners over the filling and securely pinch closed to form a ball.
      5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 with your second sheet of dough. Place the balls seam-side-down on the parchment-lined baking sheet and begin arranging them in the shape of a crown. I used 25 balls to create the outline of the crown and the remaining 11 to fill in the center. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
         
         

         

      6. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle on some garlic powder.
         
      7. Serve to the King of the Wild Things while gnashing your terrible teeth.

    

   Check out my other pizza recipes!

   

   Coffin Pizza Pockets

   

   Starship Enterprise Pizza from Star Trek

   

   Scully’s Pizza from The X-Files