Step 1: Preheat the Oven

• Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). A hot oven is crucial for achieving that perfect, crispy crust.

Step 2: Roll Out the Dough

• On a floured surface, roll out your pizza dough to your desired thickness—about ¼ inch works well. Transfer the rolled-out dough onto a baking sheet or pizza stone. If you’re using a baking sheet, consider lining it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Step 3: Spread the Sauce

• Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving about a half-inch border for the crust. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread it out nicely.

Step 4: Add Cheese and Toppings

• Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, ensuring it’s well-covered. Then, add your assorted toppings—this is where you can get creative!

Step 5: Create Skull Shapes with Ricotta

• In a small bowl, spoon out the ricotta cheese and use your skull-shaped cookie cutter to cut out skull shapes. If you don’t have a cutter, use a knife to create your own skull shapes.

Step 6: Position the Skulls

• Place the skull shapes on top of the pizza. You can use pieces of black olives to create eyes for each skull, adding to the spooky effect.

Step 7: Add More Cheese

• Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the entire pizza, including the skulls. This will help the skull shapes blend into the overall cheesy goodness.

Step 8: Brush with Olive Oil

• Lightly brush the exposed crust with olive oil for flavor and to help it turn golden brown as it bakes.

Step 9: Bake the Pizza

• Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning!

Step 10: Let It Cool and Serve

• Once done, remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing. This helps the cheese set and makes it easier to serve. Cut into slices and enjoy your spooky creation!