Apparatus and method for producing scored dough pieces

A production line for producing frozen un-proofed dough pieces with a plurality scores, the production line comprising:

• a conveyor configured to transport a dough sheet having a lower skin for contacting the conveyor and an upper skin opposite the lower skin;
• at least one circular cutter configured to cut the dough sheet into a plurality of dough strips as the at least one circular cutter rotates, the at least one circular cutter having a dough engaging portion configured to press the upper skin toward the lower skin to pinch the upper and lower skins together while cutting to form first and second dough strip sides;
• a cutting device for cutting the plurality of dough strips to form a plurality of un-proofed dough pieces;
• and
• at least one blade configured to penetrate the upper skin to cut through in part the dough sheet from the upper skin toward the lower skin to form a score for each of the plurality of un-proofed dough pieces prior to freezing the plurality of un-proofed dough pieces, wherein the at least one blade is configured to form the score that forms an opening during baking of a respective one of said plurality of un-proofed dough pieces.