Heart Shaped Beef Pepperoni Pizza (Printable)
A crisp crust pizza flavored with tomato sauce, mozzarella, beef pepperoni, and fresh basil shaped into a heart.
# What You’ll 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 of crushed red pepper flakes
# How To Make It:
01 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Pour in lukewarm water and olive oil, stirring until ingredients form a shaggy dough. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead vigorously for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm area for approximately 1 hour until doubled in size.
02 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Punch down risen dough to release air. Roll out on a floured surface into a 1/4-inch thick heart shape, approximately 10–12 inches across at its widest point. Transfer carefully to the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Spread tomato sauce evenly across the dough surface, leaving a 1/2-inch border for the crust. Sprinkle dried oregano and garlic powder over the sauce. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Distribute shredded mozzarella cheese in an even layer. Arrange beef pepperoni slices in an overlapping decorative pattern.
04 - Brush the exposed crust border with olive oil for golden coloring. Transfer pizza to the preheated oven and bake for 13–15 minutes until the crust turns deep golden brown and the cheese becomes bubbly with lightly browned spots.
05 - Remove pizza from the oven and immediately scatter fresh basil leaves over the hot surface. Let rest for 2–3 minutes to allow cheese to set slightly. Slice and serve while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- That moment when you pull it from the oven and the heart shape actually holds, everyone smiles before even taking a bite
- The homemade crust develops these tiny air pockets that get wonderfully crisp in spots while staying tender underneath all that cheese
02 -
- The heart shape is harder than it looks because dough wants to snap back, so roll it out a bit larger than you think you need
- Letting the pizza rest for those few minutes after baking feels impossible but prevents that sad moment when all your cheese slides off with the first cut
03 -
- Sprinkle a little cornmeal on the parchment paper for extra crunch on the bottom crust
- If the dough keeps fighting you, let it rest for 5 minutes then try again