# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 1 lb pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
→ Sauce & Cheese
02 - 1/2 cup pizza sauce
03 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Toppings & Decoration
04 - 24 slices pepperoni (optional)
05 - 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons cornmeal for dusting
08 - 2 tablespoons black olives, thinly sliced for basketball lines
09 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust lightly with cornmeal.
02 - Divide dough into 24 equal parts. Roll each into a ball, then flatten to about 2 inches in diameter.
03 - Add a small spoonful of pizza sauce and sprinkle mozzarella cheese at the center of each dough round. Add a slice of pepperoni if desired.
04 - Pinch edges to enclose filling and roll gently into a smooth ball. Place seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Brush each ball lightly with olive oil. For richer color, mix tomato paste with olive oil and brush on top.
06 - Sprinkle finely grated Parmesan cheese over each ball.
07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown and cheese is bubbling.
08 - Cool for 2 minutes. Use thin black olive strips to create basketball lines on each bite-sized piece.
09 - Serve warm alongside additional pizza sauce for dipping.
