Bring a little taste of Oktoberfest into your own kitchen this fall!  Even if you can’t make it to an “official” Oktoberfest festival (or you don’t have one in your community), you can still enjoy the fun right in your own home.

There’s a little bit of Deutschland in every slice of this quick, creative pizza. If you like sausage and ‘kraut, you’ll love this dish! -Angela Spengler, Clovis, New Mexico

Thanks to Taste of Home readers just like you, we have recipes suitable for holidays throughout the year. This German Oktoberfest Pizza Recipe is perfect for those who love sausage and sauerkraut. It is made using a tube of refrigerated pizza dough, which works great for those last minute evening meals.

Top it With Mashed Potatoes! Instead of topping the crust with traditional tomato-based pizza sauce, this recipe uses mashed potatoes. What’s not to love about that? I like the tip one Taste of Home fan shared in her “review” of the recipe. She suggests using instant garlic mashed potatoes for extra flavor. Great idea!

If you find your family members’ tastes in pizza toppings vary, make a couple of pizzas. One can be traditional and the other more adventurous. If you don’t care for sauerkraut, omit that topping, or increase the kraut if your family loves it.

Add some Oktoberfest Music — Music is another simple way to add to an at home Oktoberfest celebration. Visit http://www.oktoberfest-songs.com/ for a list of popular Oktoberfest songs. This site includes German as well as English favorites.

Finally, since we’re in the heart of fall football season, you may want to try an Oktoberfest theme on game day. Cut the pizza into small appetizer-sized pieces. You could even load the pizza toppings on a purchased pre-baked crust and finish it off on your grill to serve warm at a tailgate.

Enjoy!

Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, Taste of Home Cooking School