Pepperoni Hot Honey Sweet Potato (Print version)
Gluten-free sweet potato crust with spicy pepperoni and hot honey drizzle
# What you'll need:
→ Sweet Potato Crust
01 - 2 cups grated raw sweet potato (about 14 oz)
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 2/3 cup almond flour
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Toppings
09 - 3/4 cup pizza sauce, store-bought or homemade
10 - 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
11 - 3 oz sliced pepperoni
12 - 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 1/3 cup sliced jarred hot cherry peppers (optional)
→ Hot Honey Drizzle
14 - 1/4 cup honey
15 - 1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as sriracha
→ Garnish
16 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet or pizza pan with parchment paper and lightly brush with olive oil.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated sweet potato, eggs, Parmesan cheese, almond flour, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly until a cohesive, sticky dough forms.
03 - Transfer the sweet potato mixture onto the prepared pan. Press and spread it into a 12-inch round circle approximately 1/4 inch thick, smoothing and shaping the edges evenly.
04 - Bake the crust for 20 minutes until golden brown and set. Remove from the oven and gently press down any areas that have puffed up during baking.
05 - Spread the pizza sauce evenly across the surface of the crust. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese in an even layer over the sauce.
06 - Distribute the sliced pepperoni, red onion, and hot cherry peppers evenly over the mozzarella layer.
07 - Return the pizza to the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, bubbling, and lightly golden.
08 - While the pizza bakes, combine the honey and hot sauce in a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat until fluid, or microwave in a heatproof bowl for 10 to 20 seconds. Stir until well blended.
09 - Remove the pizza from the oven. Drizzle the hot honey generously over the top and scatter fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice into wedges and serve immediately.
# Expert suggestions:
01 -
- The sweet potato crust crisps up in ways regular dough never could, and you get to eat pizza without feeling like you swallowed a brick afterward.
- Hot honey drizzled over pepperoni is the kind of combination that makes you close your eyes and chew slowly on the first bite.
02 -
- Skipping the moisture squeezing step is the single biggest reason this crust fails, so press that grated sweet potato in a towel like you mean it.
- Flipping the crust after the first bake gives you a crispy bottom that holds up under heavy toppings without falling apart.
03 -
- Lightly oil your hands before pressing the dough into the pan because sweet potato sticks to everything and oiled palms make shaping ten times easier.
- Drizzle the hot honey right before serving, not before, because the heat of the pizza will thin it out too much and it will pool instead of creating those beautiful streaks.