Calzones using frozen dough balls from Sam's Club

I discovered Sam's Club pizza dough balls about 4 yrs ago.  A friend of mine told me that her daughter buys them and how many things you could use it for besides just pizza!  So of course I started buying them!  You get 20 frozen dough balls for $16 which is such a great deal!  You can split the dough balls with a friend or just keep them all in your freezer. The dough balls come in separate bags which have oil in them to prevent sticking.

One dough ball makes 1 large pizza or 3 to 4 calzones or one medium pizzas and one small or 3 to 4 small individual pizzas.

* I found out one day when I forgot to set a dough ball.....that you can place it in the microwave frozen in the bag,  turn it on for 1 minute (on high) then turn it over for another minute.  If you have time leave it in the microwave for 15 to 20 minutes without opening the door.  If you don't have time  (to keep dough in for 15 mins) just turn it on for another 30 seconds or until it is totally defrosted!  If you do it too long you will start to get hard spots on the dough...if that happens just take that part off.


Here is some variations:

Calzones - Cut dough ball into 3 or 4 pieces  ( I have pics below)  roll out each one to make a circle. The trick is not getting your circle to thin in the middle or it will tear and your filling will come out. Add whatever you want to the middle then top it with cheese.  Fold the circle over and press down the edges forming a seal.  Bake at 425 for 12 to 15 minutes or until dough is done.  Brush with olive oil or butter.  I have a recipe for marinara on here so you can dip it in the sauce or top your calzone.

Stromboli- you basically make this like the calzone but the only difference is you add sauce inside which makes it tricky!  The sauce starts to break down the dough and its hard to work with.  If you're a pro and like the sauce inside start with the sauce then add whatever else you want then fold it over like the calzone.  Bake at 425 for 12 to 15 mins or until dough is done.  Brush with olive oil or butter.

Bread knots - just pull of golf ball size pieces and roll them out like you would when making a snake out of play dough then tie them up in knot. Bake them at  375 degrees for 12 to 15 mins or until done. When they come out of the oven brush them with melted butter or olive oil then sprinkle garlic salt or parmesan cheese.  You can saute some garlic in butter then pour that on each one, there is really so much you can do.

Loaf of bread - Place one risen dough ball into a floured and greased loaf pan, baking it at 375 for about 45 minutes or until done.

Cinnamon-sugar pizza - Roll out dough like you would pizza and add melted butter to the dough then sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon on top.  Bake at 425 for about 12 to 15 minutes or until dough is done.

Cheese bread - Roll dough out like you would pizza, brush on some melted butter then sprinkle on some seasonings like Lawry's Garlic Salt (green lid) or basil, topping with shredded cheese.  Bake at 425 for 12 to 15 minutes or until dough is done.  I used some stuff called Brady Street Cheese Sprinkle from Penzeys Spices.  If you haven't been to Penzeys yet, ya need to find one!  They are popping up all over.  In the Dallas area they have one in Arlington at The Highlands and one in Dallas of Preston Rd.

You can pretty much make whatever you want with this dough!  Be creative!

Basically you just go to the Sam's Club Cafe where they sell pizza by the slice and etc and say I would like a case of dough balls.  You pay for the dough balls there at the cafe. 

Oh and if you are making calzones you can freeze them then bake.  I just make them up then put them in a freezer ziplock bag uncooked.  When you want to bake one just take it out of bag and place in a preheated oven.  There are times I have 4 to 6 in the freezer which makes for a great quick lunch or dinner!

Set the dough ball out the morning or for at least about 6 to 8 hrs.  One time I forgot to set it out the night before and so I put it in the microwave on defrost and it came out fine.

After the 8 hrs is up you have a risen dough ball

I'm making calzones so this is what I am using for the filling... cooked sausage, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.  You can add whatever you want to veggies, chopped ham, hamburger or ???

flour the surface you are going to use and a rolling pin does help

divide the dough by 3 or 4 if you are making calzones

roll out one of the section

add ingredients and top with cheese

fold over dough pressing fingers at the edge to form a seal so things don't leak out

Here is what you get...I split mine into 3 so they are quit large

Bake in a 425 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until doughs seems done throughout then brush on some olive oil or butter.  When you brush on the the oil or butter the brown comes shinning out!