Heart Shaped Beef Pepperoni (Printable)
Cheesy pizza with crisp crust, savory beef pepperoni, and melted mozzarella in a festive heart shape.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet (7 g) instant dry yeast
03 - 1 teaspoon sugar
04 - 3/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 cup warm water
→ Sauce
07 - 1 cup tomato passata or pizza sauce
08 - 1 clove garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/4 teaspoon 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 tablespoon olive oil for brushing
16 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 475°F. Place pizza stone in oven if using to heat thoroughly.
02 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add olive oil and warm water. Mix until shaggy dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on floured surface for 5-7 minutes until smooth. Place in 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 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 over sauce. Arrange beef pepperoni slices decoratively. Top with grated Parmesan.
07 - Brush crust edges with olive oil using a pastry brush for golden coloring.
08 - Bake for 12-15 minutes until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly and slightly melted.
09 - Remove from oven. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The heart shape transforms an ordinary pizza night into something that feels like a celebration without requiring any fancy techniques
- Beef pepperoni brings that perfect salty snap and crispy edges that make restaurant pizza so addictive
02 -
- Shaping freehand can be tricky, so I sometimes cut a large heart from parchment paper and place it under the dough as a guide
- The dough will puff and shift slightly in the oven, so do not stress if your heart is not perfect. Imperfect hearts are still charming.
03 -
- Do not overload the sauce or your heart-shaped crust will become soggy in the center, where it is thickest
- Arrange pepperoni slices slightly overlapping near the edges, as they will shrink and cup when they cook