DIY Pizza Night: Make, Bake & Mingle at the Lakehouse
Posted on [Date] • By A+A
DIY Pizza Night: Make, Bake & Mingle at the Lakehouse
At some point during your stay at the Lilac Lakehouse, there will come a moment—probably around sunset, definitely under the pergola—when someone says, “Should we do pizza tonight?” And the answer is always yes.
Pizza night isn’t just a meal here—it’s a full experience. It’s messy countertops, someone playing DJ in the background, kids sneaking cheese off the prep board, and that smoky scent from the oven that floats through the garden and tells you something delicious is on the way.
Never made pizza from scratch? No problem. Here’s your full DIY guide to turning dough into dinner—and making some memories in the process.
DIY Pizza Night
🍕 Step 1: Prep Your Dough
You’ve got two options here: make it from scratch or buy it premade from a local market or grocer. If you’re up for making it yourself, here’s a simple no-fail recipe:
Lilac Lakehouse Dough Recipe (makes 4 small pizzas)
4 cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups warm water
1 tbsp olive oil
2¼ tsp instant yeast
1 tsp salt
Mix, knead for 8–10 minutes, let rise in a warm spot for 1–2 hours, then divide and roll into personal-size rounds.
Not a baker? Totally fine. Just grab fresh dough from a local shop and skip to the fun part.
🧀 Step 2: Set Up Your Pizza Bar
This is the best part. Clear the kitchen island or deck table and lay out bowls with your toppings. A good spread includes:
Tomato sauce or pesto
Mozzarella, goat cheese, parmesan
Pepperoni, prosciutto, cooked sausage
Sliced mushrooms, red onion, olives
Fresh basil, arugula, chili flakes
Olive oil and garlic for a finishing drizzle
You can go classic, creative, or completely unhinged. We’re not judging. Dessert pizza? We support it.
Step 3: Fire Up the Pizza Oven
Head out to the pergola and start the oven early—it needs 45 to 60 minutes to heat up. Build a small fire in the center using the kindling and firewood underneath the oven. Feed it slowly until you’ve got a hot bed of glowing coals. The stone is ready when a drop of water sizzles instantly.
If you’re new to wood-fired ovens, check out our “How to Light the Pizza Oven” guide nearby. Or message us—we’re happy to walk you through it.
Step 4: Bake, Watch, & Celebrate
Lightly flour your pizza peel. Place your topped pizza on it, then slide it directly onto the hot stone using a confident, swift motion (pizza peels and gloves are provided).
Watch closely—pizzas cook fast, usually 90 seconds to 3 minutes. Turn them once for even baking and that signature crispy crust.
Once it’s golden and bubbling? Pull it out, slice it up, and hand it off.
Tips for Pizza Night Success
Keep toppings light so the crust doesn’t get soggy
Make one pizza at a time and take turns—it’s more fun that way
Don’t stress about perfection. Misshaped dough and burned edges? All part of the charm
Enjoy every bite, even if your pizza is more “abstract art” than symmetrical circle
Cleaning Up
Let the fire burn out fully. Once cool, brush out the ashes gently with the provided tools. Please don’t dump hot ashes in the garbage—leave them in the ash bucket overnight to cool completely.
Any leftover dough? Wrap it in cling film for tomorrow’s lunch. Cold wood-fired pizza is its own love language.
This is more than dinner—it’s a moment. One that gets flour on your shirt, heat on your cheeks, and smiles around the table. So take your time. Play with toppings. Make a mess. Laugh a lot. And let pizza night at the Lilac Lakehouse become your new favourite tradition.