Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Pizzette da Colazione (Breakfast Pizzas)
Tiny, soft, savory pizzas topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella. A common mid-morning snack (merenda) for Italian school children.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 27 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 12 servings
- pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
- tomato passata (puree)
- olive oil
- salt
- oregano
- fresh mozzarella or scamorza cheese
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Round cutter
Instructions
- 1
Prepare Dough
Take your pizza dough (at room temperature) and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface.
- 2
Cut Rounds
Use a 3 or 4-inch round cutter (or a drinking glass) to cut out small circles of dough.
- 3
Transfer to Pan
Place the dough circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving an inch of space between them.
- 4
Prepare the Sauce
In a small bowl, mix the tomato passata with a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of dried oregano.
- 5
Sauce the Pizzette
Spoon a small amount (about 1 teaspoon) of the tomato sauce onto the center of each dough circle. Do not spread it all the way to the edges.
- 6
Rest
Let the sauced dough circles rest for 15 minutes. This allows them to puff up slightly, creating a soft, bread-like texture rather than a crispy crust.
- 7
Preheat Oven
While they rest, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- 8
Add Cheese
Add a small cube or pinch of shredded mozzarella to the center of each pizzetta.
- 9
Bake
Bake for 10-12 minutes until the dough is puffed and golden, and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- 10
Cool
Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly. They are often eaten warm, not piping hot.
- 11
Garnish (Optional)
Top with a tiny fresh basil leaf if desired.
- 12
Serve
Serve as a savory breakfast or pack in a lunchbox for a mid-day snack.
Cooking Tips
- Letting the dough rest after adding the sauce is the secret to getting that soft, bakery-style texture.
- Keep the toppings very simple. A pizzetta should be light and easy to eat.
Variations
- Pizzette Bianche: Omit the tomato sauce. Top only with olive oil, rosemary, and coarse salt.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Found in every bakery (panetteria) across Italy, usually sold by weight.
Nutrition Estimate
150 calories · 5g protein · 18g carbs · 6g fat · 1g fiber per serving
