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Chicago Tavern Thin Crust (On-Demand, 60 Minutes)
$0.00 USD
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Master the crispy, square-cut Midwest classic — start anytime, bake tonight
Chicago isn’t just deep dish. The pizza locals actually eat every week is Tavern-Style Thin Crust — ultra-thin, shatter-crisp, edge-to-edge toppings, and cut into party squares.
In this detailed Virtual Pizza Academy on-demand class, you’ll learn the authentic techniques pizzerias use to produce a rigid, crunchy crust that still has flavor and structure — not a cracker, not a floppy NY slice… the perfect in-between.
This is a precision pizza. And once you understand the method, it becomes one of the most repeatable styles you can make at home.
What You’ll Learn
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The real Chicago tavern dough formula (low hydration, high flavor)
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How to develop gluten without chewiness
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The secret to a crisp bite that doesn’t dry out
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Dough ball sizing and scaling for any oven
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Sheeting vs rolling — and why it matters
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Sauce application for full coverage without sogginess
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Cheese distribution for even browning
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How to prevent bubbles and blistering
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Proper bake temperature and timing
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The iconic square-cut technique (and why triangles are wrong here)
Included With The Class
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Full start-to-finish instructional video
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Printable recipe handbook
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Fermentation schedule options (same-day and next-day)
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Home oven optimization guide
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Commercial deck oven notes
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Troubleshooting guide: pale crust, dry crust, soft center, burning cheese
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The Chicago Tavern Dough Calculator — instantly scale dough balls and batches with accurate hydration and yeast percentages
Skill Level
Beginner friendly — but detailed enough for serious pizza makers and pizzeria operators.
What Makes This Different
Most thin crust recipes produce either:
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a cracker
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or a floppy NY-style pie
This class teaches the controlled gluten development and baking approach that creates a rigid yet tender crust with a clean snap — the hallmark of authentic Chicago tavern pizza.
Bake When You Want
On-demand means:
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Watch anytime
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Pause & rewind
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Bake along at your pace
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Revisit forever
If you love crispy pizza — this will likely become your weekly go-to style.
Learn the pizza Chicago actually eats.
