Ultimate Detroit Style Pizza

Ultimate Detroit Style Pizza is a intermediate American (Detroit-style) recipe that serves 4. 420 calories per serving.

Prep: 2 hrs 25 min | Cook: 15 min | Total: 3 hrs 55 min

Cost: $10.39 total, $2.60 per serving

Ingredients

  • 190 g Bread flour (High-protein bread flour preferred)
  • 10 g Whole wheat flour (optional) (For extra flavor; can omit)
  • 2 g Diastatic malt powder (1% of flour weight)
  • 2 g Instant yeast (About 1/2 tsp)
  • 150 g Water (Room temperature)
  • 5 g Salt (About 1 tsp)
  • 1.5 tbsp Olive oil (For pan greasing)
  • 400 g Whole peeled tomatoes (high quality) (One 14-15 oz can; Stanislaus Alta Cucina, Jersey Fresh, Cento, or similar)
  • 3 g Salt (for sauce)
  • 1 tsp Dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp Dried thyme
  • 0.25 tsp Garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp Milk powder
  • 0.25 tsp Red pepper flakes
  • 225 g Wisconsin brick cheese (Grated; about 8 oz)
  • 60 g Pepperoni (flat, not cupping style) (Optional, for traditional topping)

Instructions

  1. Mix Dough (Initial Mix)

    Combine bread flour, (optional) whole wheat flour, diastatic malt powder, and instant yeast in a large mixing bowl. Add 75% hydration water (150g for 200g flour). Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Do not add salt yet.

    Time: PT5M

  2. Rest Dough (Autolyse)

    Cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.

    Time: PT20M

    Temperature: 22-25°C

  3. Add Salt and Incorporate

    Sprinkle salt over the dough. Press and fold the salt into the dough until fully incorporated.

    Time: PT3M

  4. Bulk Fermentation with Stretch and Folds

    Transfer dough to a clear container (optional). Let rise at room temperature until increased by 50% in volume (about 1.5 hours). Every 20 minutes, perform a set of stretch and folds (4 sets total).

    Time: PT1H30M

    Temperature: 22-25°C

  5. Cold Fermentation

    Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1-4 days (3 days is ideal). Optionally, perform one more set of stretch and folds after 24 hours.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: 4°C

  6. Prepare Pizza Sauce

    Blend tomatoes until smooth. Add 3g salt, 1 tsp oregano, 0.5 tsp thyme, 0.25 tsp garlic powder, 0.25 tsp milk powder, and 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes. Simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until reduced by 1/3 to 1/2 (about 20 minutes).

    Time: PT25M

    Temperature: Medium-low heat

  7. Grate Cheese

    Grate Wisconsin brick cheese (or substitute blend) using a box grater. Store in fridge until ready to use.

    Time: PT5M

  8. Oil Pan

    Coat Detroit-style pizza pan with olive oil, then wipe with a paper towel so only a thin layer remains.

    Time: PT2M

  9. Shape Dough in Pan

    Remove dough from fridge. Form into a tight ball, close seam at bottom, and place in oiled pan. Flatten slightly. Cover and let rest 1 hour at room temperature.

    Time: PT1H

    Temperature: 22-25°C

  10. Stretch Dough to Pan Edges

    After 1 hour, gently stretch dough toward pan edges. Cover and let rest 30 minutes. Repeat stretching if needed until dough stays at edges (usually 2-3 times, 30 minutes apart).

    Time: PT1H

    Temperature: 22-25°C

  11. Final Proof

    Let dough rise, covered, for 2 hours at room temperature until puffy and airy.

    Time: PT2H

    Temperature: 22-25°C

  12. Preheat Oven

    About 20 minutes before baking, preheat oven to its highest temperature (ideally 550°F/290°C).

    Time: PT20M

    Temperature: 550°F

  13. Par-Topping and Initial Bake

    Top dough with a layer of flat pepperoni (if using), then a thin layer of cheese (just enough to cover dough, not edges). Bake on middle rack for 7 minutes.

    Time: PT7M

    Temperature: 550°F

  14. Final Topping and Bake

    Remove pizza from oven. Add remaining cheese, focusing on edges for crispy cheese crown. Spoon sauce in racing stripes over top. Add any additional toppings. Return to oven and bake 4 minutes more. Optionally broil for 2-3 minutes for extra charring.

    Time: PT7M

    Temperature: 550°F (broil optional)

  15. Remove and Serve

    Let pizza cool in pan for 2-3 minutes, then run a spatula around edges and transfer to cutting board. Slice and serve.

    Time: PT5M

  16. Cleanup

    Wash all bowls, pans, utensils, blender, grater, and countertop. Wipe down oven area if any cheese or oil splattered.

    Time: PT1H15M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
420
Protein
18g
Carbohydrates
48g
Fat
18g
Fiber
3g

Dietary info: Vegetarian (if omitting pepperoni), Not gluten-free, Not vegan

Allergens: Wheat, Milk (dairy), Possible: Soy (if using some brands of pepperoni or cheese)

Last updated: April 11, 2026

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Ultimate Detroit Style Pizza

A meticulously developed, authentic Detroit style pizza with a light, airy, crispy-edged crust, tangy tomato sauce, and rich Wisconsin brick cheese. This recipe is designed for home cooks seeking to replicate the true Detroit pizzeria experience, including cold-fermented dough, a signature cheese blend, and the classic 'racing stripe' sauce finish.

IntermediateAmerican (Detroit-style)Serves 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
7h 55m
Prep
39m
Cook
1h 2m
Cleanup
9h 36m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$10.39
Total cost
$2.60
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Mixing dough with correct hydration and salt timing.
  • Performing stretch and folds for gluten development.
  • Cold fermentation for flavor.
  • Simmering sauce without burning.
  • Shaping and proofing dough for airy texture.
  • Par-topping and staged cheese application for crispy cheese edge.
  • Baking at high temperature for proper crust and cheese browning.

Safety Warnings

  • Oven and pan will be extremely hot; use oven mitts.
  • Cheese and oil can splatter; avoid burns.
  • Sharp tools (grater, knife) require caution.
  • Do not use glass pans above their rated temperature.

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