Heart Shaped Pepperoni Pizza (Printable Version)

Tender crust, rich sauce, and savory beef pepperoni shaped into a romantic heart for special occasions.

# What You Need:

→ Pizza 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)

# How-To:

01 - Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Stir gently and let sit for 5 minutes until mixture becomes foamy and activated.
02 - Whisk flour and salt together in a large bowl. Pour in the activated yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir until dough begins to form and pulls away from sides of bowl.
03 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth, elastic, and springs back when pressed.
04 - Shape dough into a ball, place in lightly oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap or damp towel. Let rise in warm area for 30 minutes until doubled in size.
05 - Set oven to 475°F. Place pizza stone or baking sheet inside to preheat while dough rises.
06 - Punch down risen dough and roll out on parchment paper into large heart shape approximately ⅓ inch thick.
07 - Spread pizza sauce evenly over dough surface, leaving ½-inch border around edges for crust.
08 - Distribute shredded mozzarella cheese over sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top if using.
09 - Place beef pepperoni slices in attractive pattern over cheese, following heart shape contour.
10 - Sprinkle Italian herbs evenly across toppings. Carefully transfer pizza on parchment to preheated stone or baking sheet.
11 - Bake for 12–15 minutes until crust turns golden brown and cheese bubbles and begins to brown slightly.
12 - Remove from oven, garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The homemade dough comes together in under 10 minutes and tastes infinitely better than store bought
  • Beef pepperoni adds a subtly different savory note that pairs beautifully with the herbs
  • There is something ridiculously charming about pulling a heart shaped pizza out of the oven, bubbling and golden
02 -
  • The water temperature is crucial for the yeast, too hot will kill it and too cold will not wake it up
  • Letting your oven fully preheat with the stone inside makes the difference between a soggy bottom and a crisp restaurant style crust
  • Do not overload the toppings or the middle will not cook through before the edges burn
03 -
  • Use a light dusting of cornmeal under the parchment paper for extra crunch and easier transfer
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more easily and create a more consistent dough texture

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