Heart Shaped Beef Pepperoni (Printable)
Festive heart-shaped pizza with savory beef pepperoni, crispy crust, and melted mozzarella cheese.
# What You Need:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet (7 g) instant dry yeast
03 - 1 tsp sugar
04 - 3/4 tsp salt
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 cup warm water
→ Sauce
07 - 1 cup tomato passata or pizza sauce
08 - 1 clove garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1/4 tsp dried basil
11 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Toppings
12 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 4 oz beef pepperoni, sliced
14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil for brushing
16 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish
# How To Cook:
01 - Preheat oven to 475°F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat thoroughly.
02 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add olive oil and warm water. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
03 - Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes.
04 - Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a ball, then flatten and shape into a large heart approximately 10–12 inches across on a floured baking sheet or parchment paper.
05 - Combine tomato passata, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly.
06 - Spread sauce evenly over each heart-shaped dough. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Arrange beef pepperoni slices decoratively and top with grated Parmesan.
07 - Brush the crust edges with olive oil for a golden finish.
08 - Bake for 12–15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
09 - Remove from oven and garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The homemade dough comes together faster than delivery would arrive, and the taste is incomparably better
- Shaping pizza into hearts transforms an ordinary dinner into something that feels like a celebration
02 -
- If your dough keeps springing back when you're shaping it, let it rest for 5 more minutes and try again
- The heart shape doesn't need to be perfect, in fact the wonky ones become family legends
03 -
- A pizza stone makes a huge difference in crust texture, but a preheated baking sheet works almost as well
- Don't overload the sauce or your crust will get soggy, less is more here