Irresistible Heart-Shaped Pepperoni Pizza Recipe Easy Homemade Valentine’s Day Treat
A fun and delicious heart-shaped pepperoni pizza perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion, featuring a crispy crust and gooey cheese with perfectly crispy pepperoni.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) warm water (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 3 ½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) pizza sauce
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 30–40 slices pepperoni
- Optional: sprinkle of dried oregano or red pepper flakes
- Cornmeal or flour for dusting the pizza peel or baking sheet
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F / 43°C) with the sugar and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Make the dough: Add olive oil, salt, and 3 ½ cups flour gradually to the yeast mixture. Stir until it starts coming together. Knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Let it rise: Shape dough into a ball, place in lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1 ½ hours until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat.
- Shape the dough: Punch down risen dough, roll out into a 12-inch circle, then shape gently into a heart.
- Prepare base: Dust baking sheet or pizza peel with cornmeal or flour and transfer heart-shaped dough onto it.
- Add sauce and toppings: Spread pizza sauce evenly leaving ½-inch border. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese, arrange pepperoni slices, and add optional oregano or red pepper flakes.
- Bake pizza: Slide pizza onto preheated stone or place baking sheet in oven. Bake 12-15 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling and browned.
- Cool and serve: Remove pizza carefully, let cool 3-5 minutes, then slice and enjoy.
Notes
Ensure yeast is foamy before mixing dough. Knead dough until elastic but not tough. Preheat oven and pizza stone for a crispy crust. Rotate pizza halfway through baking if oven cooks unevenly. Use less sauce to avoid soggy crust. Dough can be refrigerated up to 24 hours before baking. For gluten-free or vegan options, substitute flour and cheese accordingly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of pizz
- Calories: 280320
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Protein: 14
Keywords: heart-shaped pizza, pepperoni pizza, Valentine's Day recipe, homemade pizza, easy pizza recipe, cheesy pizza, pizza dough