Heart Shaped Beef Pepperoni Pizza (Printable)
Delight in a heart-shaped pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, beef pepperoni, and fresh basil for a flavorful meal.
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp instant dry yeast
03 - 1/2 tsp sugar
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 2/3 cup lukewarm water
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Sauce
07 - 1/2 cup tomato passata or pizza sauce
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
10 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Toppings
11 - 5 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
12 - 3 oz beef pepperoni slices
13 - 1 small handful fresh basil leaves
14 - 1 tbsp olive oil for brushing
15 - Optional pinch crushed red pepper flakes
# How To Cook:
01 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Pour in lukewarm water and olive oil, stirring until incorporated. Transfer to a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm area for 1 hour until doubled in volume.
02 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Punch down the risen dough and roll out on a floured surface to approximately 1/4 inch thickness. Form into a heart shape using your hands or a heart template, ensuring even thickness throughout.
03 - Spread tomato sauce evenly over the dough surface, leaving a 1/2 inch border for the crust. Season sauce with dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Distribute shredded mozzarella cheese across the sauce, then arrange beef pepperoni slices in an even pattern.
04 - Brush the exposed crust border with olive oil for golden coloring. Transfer to preheated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes until crust is deep golden brown, cheese is fully melted and bubbly, and pepperoni edges are slightly crisp.
05 - Remove pizza from oven and immediately scatter fresh basil leaves over the hot surface to release their aromatic oils. Allow to rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing to set the cheese. Serve warm while basil is still fragrant.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- That moment when you pull it from the oven and the cheese is still bubbling against the pepperoni
- The way fresh basil hits hot pizza and makes your entire kitchen smell like an Italian grandmother's hug
02 -
- Rolling dough thinner than 0.5 cm will make it too fragile to transfer to the baking sheet intact
- The heart shape will puff and distort slightly during baking. This is normal and part of the charm.
03 -
- Pre-bake the crust for 3 minutes before adding toppings if you like it extra crispy
- Place pepperoni on paper towels while prepping to remove excess oil