Step 3: The Toppings

This is where the personal pizzas get really personal. Set out bowls of toppings for everyone to choose from. Set out everything from the traditional to the unconventional, and let everyone spread toppings in any combination they like. If the kids are working with uncooked crusts, spread flour over the table or counter top where their pizzas are being assembled so the dough doesn't stick to the work surface.

Ideas for Toppings

Basics
bowls of sauce with spoons for scooping
mozzarella (shredded)
cheddar cheese (shredded)
gouda cheese (sliced or shredded)
feta (crumbled)

Veggies
mushrooms
olives
bell peppers
fresh tomato slices
sun-dried tomatoes
pineapple slices or chunks
fresh spinach
cilantro (chopped)
black beans

Meat
pepperoni
bacon bits
Canadian bacon
crumbled cooked sausage
shredded or chopped cooked chicken (a good way to use leftover rotisserie)
thinly sliced steak (undercooked so it doesn't dry out in the oven)
uncooked shrimp (they will cook in the oven)

Unconventional Pizza Recipes

Garlic Chicken
Chicken Ranch
Pesto
Cranberry Brie

Step 4: Cooking

With the smaller size of the pizzas, you should be able to fit at least four in an oven at one time on two greased baking sheets (the sheets will catch any drippy cheese and sauce). For crispy crusts, try cooking them on pizza stones. Alternatively, you can partially bake the crusts before everyone adds their toppings, and then place each assembled pie directly on the oven racks -- this will help all the pizzas in the oven cook more evenly and reduce cooking time, while also making the crusts nice and crispy.

Make sure little hands stay away from the hot oven.

The small pizzas require a little less cooking time than a full-sized one, so keep an eye on the progress. Check on them at around 10 minutes, and make sure the crusts and any meat are properly cooked through.

Dessert

While your little guests are happily munching away on their creations, throw dessert in the oven. The kids will go wild for this colorful fruit pizza with a cookie-dough crust. Save some time by mixing the dough earlier in the day, and refrigerating it until you're ready to roll and bake it.

Let the kids help put the toppings on it for the perfect cap to their pizza party.