Show the love this Valentine’s Day with an easy, showstopping heart-shaped pizza!
It’s a perfect way to let someone know how much you adore them — and a fun date night activity to enjoy with your significant other!
Making the Dough From Scratch
First things first — you’ve got to handle the dough. Sure, you can grab the ready-made stuff at the store, but making it from scratch is way more fun, especially if you’ve got someone to share the process with!
So, if you want to learn how to make the ultimate pizza dough, here are a few tips to get you started.
Many pros swear by bread flour for a crispier crust, but if you’re after something softer and chewier, all-purpose flour is the way to go.
And while a simple mix of flour and water can do the trick, why not kick things up a notch? Add a dash of garlic powder, dried basil, oil, and salt to your base to make it a bit more exciting for your taste buds.
Once you’ve got your ingredients, knead them together until you’ve got a smooth ball.
How To Make Heart-Shaped Pizzas
Now comes the fun part: stretching out your dough into a heart. But before that, you need to roll it out into a circle first… remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Once you’re happy with the size and thickness, pinch and pull the bottom of the circle to create a point. At this stage, it should look like an upside-down teardrop.
After that, use your finger to gently press down at the top of the circle toward the center. Adjust the edges as needed, and just like that, you’ve got a heart-shaped dough!
Choosing the Perfect Toppings
With your base ready, it’s time to load up on toppings! This is where you can get creative and make it your own, but here are my go-to picks:
- Tomato sauce: For convenience, I usually grab a store-bought option like Rao’s.
- Pepperoni: Whether it’s classic slices or turkey pepperoni, you can’t go wrong.
- Cheese: I like to mix my cheeses, so for this recipe, I’m using a combo of mozzarella for that melty goodness and parmesan for a sharp, nutty kick.
- Oregano or basil: A sprinkle of fresh or dried herbs adds a lovely aroma and depth of flavor.
- Red pepper flakes: Totally optional, but if you’re into a little heat, a generous dash of chili flakes will do the trick.
Feel free to customize it to your liking — it’s your pizza, after all!
Heart-Shaped Pepperoni Pizza
Credit: @booboo_pizza
Ingredients
For the pizza dough:
- 2-2⅓ cups of all purpose flour OR bread flour
- 1 packet of instant yeast
- 1½ teaspoons of sugar
- ¾ teaspoon of salt
- A pinch of garlic powder and dried basil
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- ¾ cup of warm water
For the toppings:
- 30-40 pepperoni slices
- ½ cup of tomato sauce
- 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella (more, if you want it cheesier)
- 3-4 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons of chopped oregano and basil
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Start by making the pizza dough: combine one cup of flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and dried herbs in a large bowl. Add olive oil and warm water, then stir everything together with a wooden spoon until well incorporated.
- Gradually add another cup of flour, stirring constantly until the mixture forms a cohesive, elastic dough. Don’t worry if it’s a little sticky — it should still be workable with your hands.
- Grab a separate bowl and lightly brush the sides with olive oil. Dust your hands with flour, shape the dough into a ball, and place it in the prepared bowl.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm spot for about 30 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
- While waiting, preheat your oven to 425-450°F.
- After that, use your hands to gently deflate your dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Roll it out into a flat circle, then pinch the bottom to form a point and press down at the top to create a heart shape.
- To form the crust, fold the edges over and press gently. Transfer the heart-shaped dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Brush the pizza base with olive oil then dock the crust with a fork to prevent any bubbles from forming.
- Bake the dough for 6 minutes, then remove it from the oven. Layer your toppings, starting with red sauce, followed by cheese and pepperoni (or your favorite ingredients).
- Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 8–12 minutes, or until the crust turns golden and the pepperoni crisps up.
- Once done, take it out of the oven, top with fresh herbs and spices, and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Now you’re ready to dig in — Happy Valentine’s Day!
Featured image credit to @pizzachannelkevin.
