Description
Follow these steps to shape your pizza dough into a perfect heart for a fun meal or romantic dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 batch pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni or preferred toppings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cornmeal
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare your pizza dough according to your recipe or package directions until it is ready to shape.
- Preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly dust a pizza peel or baking sheet with cornmeal.
- Divide the dough into two pieces if you want a larger heart, or use the whole batch for one medium heart.
- To shape the heart: Roll or stretch one piece of dough into a rough circle or oval shape.
- Take a small piece of dough (about 1/4 of the total dough) and roll it into a rope.
- Place the rope across the top center of the circle, forming the dip of the heart shape. Pinch the ends of the rope firmly onto the main dough circle to secure the top two curves.
- Gently shape the bottom of the dough into a point. Adjust the curves at the top until you achieve a pleasing heart shape.
- Transfer the shaped dough onto your prepared baking sheet. Brush the edges lightly with olive oil or an egg wash for browning.
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Add your desired toppings, like pepperoni.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Check frequently to ensure the thinner points do not burn before the center cooks.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For a crispier crust, place a pizza stone in the oven while it preheats.
- If you are making a very large heart, you may need to slightly increase the cooking time.
- Use toppings that cook quickly, such as thin-sliced vegetables or pre-cooked meats.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 pizza
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 35