Heart Shaped Pepperoni Pizza (Printable version)

Tender crust with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and beef pepperoni shaped into a festive heart.

# List of ingredients:

→ Dough

01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ½ cup warm water (110°F)
03 - 1 tsp active dry yeast
04 - 1 tsp sugar
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Sauce

07 - ⅓ cup pizza or marinara sauce

→ Cheese

08 - 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

→ Toppings

10 - 18–20 slices beef pepperoni
11 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, or pizza seasoning)
12 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Stir gently and let sit for 5 minutes until mixture becomes foamy.
02 - Whisk flour and salt together in a large bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
03 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes until doubled in size.
05 - Preheat oven to 475°F. Place a pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven to heat thoroughly.
06 - Punch down dough and roll out on parchment paper into a large heart shape, approximately ⅓ inch thick.
07 - Spread pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges.
08 - Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan (if using) over the sauce layer.
09 - Place beef pepperoni slices in an attractive pattern over the cheese, following the heart shape.
10 - Sprinkle with Italian herbs. Carefully transfer the pizza on parchment to the hot stone or baking sheet.
11 - Bake for 12–15 minutes until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
12 - Remove from oven, garnish with fresh basil if desired, slice, and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The homemade dough comes together faster than delivery would arrive, and the taste is infinitely better
  • Beef pepperoni adds a deeper savory note that pairs beautifully with the herbs and creates those irresistible crispy edges
02 -
  • Working with parchment paper instead of trying to transfer the dough directly will save you from many heart shaped disasters
  • The heart shape can lose its definition in the oven, so make the indent more pronounced than you think you need
03 -
  • If your dough keeps snapping back while rolling, let it rest for five minutes and try again—gluten needs time to relax
  • Room temperature ingredients help the dough come together faster and more evenly

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