Heart-Shaped Pizza
This easy recipe guides you through making the dough, shaping it into a heart, and choosing your favorite toppings. It's a fun way to add a twist to pizza night and show some love with every slice! Perfect for kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
- Pizza dough: You can use store-bought or homemade dough.
- Pizza sauce: Marinara or your favorite pizza sauce.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Toppings of your choice: Pepperoni vegetables, cooked chicken, etc.
- Olive oil: For brushing the crust.
- Optional: Parmesan cheese Italian herbs for seasoning.
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you’re using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.
- Roll Out Dough: On a floured surface, roll out your pizza dough into a rough circle. It doesn’t have to be perfect; just aim for even thickness.
- Shape the Heart: To create the heart shape, place your rolled dough on a piece of parchment paper. Then, shape the dough into a heart by pushing the top center down a bit and rounding the top edges to form the upper part of the heart. Pinch and pull the bottom to form the point of the heart.
- Add Sauce and Toppings: Spread pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Then, add your chosen toppings.
- Prepare for Baking: If you like a crispy crust, brush the edges of the dough with a little olive oil.
- Bake the Pizza: Carefully transfer the pizza (on the parchment paper) to the preheated oven or pizza stone. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
- Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. You can sprinkle some Parmesan cheese and Italian herbs on top for extra flavor. Slice and serve while warm.
Notes
Pizza Dough
Homemade pizza dough is simpler than you might think and it’s a great way to add a personal touch to your heart-shaped pizza.Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ teaspoons (one packet) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup warm water (not hot, about 110°F/45°C)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is frothy. If the mixture doesn’t froth, the yeast might be inactive, and you’ll need to try with a new packet.
- Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix with a spoon or your hands until a dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead it for about 5 to 7 minutes, until it’s smooth and elastic. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
- Let it Rise: Place the dough in a clean, oiled bowl, and cover it with a damp cloth. Let it sit in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Punch Down and Shape: Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any air bubbles. Transfer it to a floured surface and shape it into a ball. Then, you can roll it out and shape it into a heart for your pizza.