Heart Shaped Beef Pepperoni

The first time I made heart shaped pizza was actually an accident. I was trying to make a regular round pizza and the dough kept springing back into this weird lopsided heart shape. My sister walked into the kitchen, laughed, and said it looked like something cupid would deliver after a few glasses of wine.

My roommate now requests this shape for birthdays bad days and Tuesdays. There is something about food that looks like someone put actual thought into it that turns a regular dinner into a tiny occasion.

Ingredients

• All purpose flour: Bread flour gives you a chewier crust but regular flour works perfectly fine for home cooking
• Instant yeast: No proofing needed which means you can skip the whole waiting game
• Warm water: Think bath temperature not hot tap water which can kill your yeast
• Tomato passata: Smoother than crushed tomatoes but has more body than plain sauce
• Beef pepperoni: Stands up to heat better than turkey pepperoni and gets those delicious crispy cups
• Mozzarella cheese: Shred it yourself if you can because pre shredded cheese has anti caking agents that prevent melting

Instructions

Preheat your oven properly:

Get that oven to 475°F and if you have a pizza stone throw it in now. A hot surface equals crispy crust.

Mix the dough:

Combine flour yeast sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add olive oil and warm water then mix until it looks shaggy and messy.

Knead until smooth:

Work the dough on a floured surface for 5 to 7 minutes. It should feel soft and slightly tacky but not sticky.

Let it rest:

Place dough in an oiled bowl cover it and walk away for 10 minutes. This relaxes the gluten so it is easier to shape.

Shape the hearts:

Divide dough in half roll each piece into a ball then flatten into a heart shape about 10 to 12 inches across. Imperfect hearts taste the same.

Make the sauce:

Whisk together tomato passata minced garlic oregano basil salt and pepper.

Assemble:

Spread sauce over each heart then pile on mozzarella. Arrange pepperoni in whatever pattern makes you happy and finish with Parmesan.

Bake:

Brush the crust edges with olive oil then bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden and bubbling.

Finish:

Top with fresh basil if you have it then slice and serve while cheese is still molten.

Pin It

Last Valentine's Day I made these for my single friends and we sat around eating heart pizza and complaining about dating. It was honestly perfect.

Getting The Shape Right

Freehand shaping is charmingly imperfect but you can cut a large heart from parchment paper and use it as a template if you want symmetry. The dough shrinks back a bit so stretch slightly larger than your target size.

Dough Handling

If the dough keeps fighting back let it rest for another 5 minutes. Gluten is stubborn but it eventually gives up. Use floured hands and work from the center outward pushing gently.

Baking Like A Pro

A pizza stone or steel gives you restaurant style results but a preheated baking sheet works too. The key is getting your cooking surface hot before the dough touches it.

• Rotate the pizza halfway through baking for even browning
• Let it cool for 2 minutes before slicing so the cheese sets slightly
• A pizza peel makes transferring easier but a rimless baking sheet is a good hack

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Heart pizza makes regular nights feel special and special nights feel extraordinary. Sometimes that is exactly what dinner needs to be.

Recipe FAQs

→ How do I shape the dough into a heart?

Roll the dough into a ball, then flatten it gently on a floured surface. Use your hands or a heart-shaped template to form the edges evenly.

→ Can I use a different type of pepperoni?

Yes, turkey or vegetarian pepperoni can be substituted for the beef variant without losing flavor.

→ What’s the best way to get a crispy crust?

Preheat the oven thoroughly and use a pizza stone or baking sheet. Brushing olive oil on the crust edges before baking helps create crispness.

→ Can I add extra toppings to this pizza?

Absolutely. Vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms complement the pepperoni and cheese well and add more depth to the flavor.

→ How long does the whole process take?

Preparing and baking this pizza takes about 35 minutes, including a short resting time for the dough.