Description
Create a fun and delicious meal with these Heart-Shaped Pizzas, perfect for celebrations or a special dinner. This recipe features a homemade yeast dough crust, flavorful pizza sauce, and your favorite toppings baked to golden perfection. Easy to prepare and sure to impress!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
For the Sauce & Toppings
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or any preferred cheese)
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni (or your choice of toppings like vegetables, mushrooms, olives, etc.)
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
- Olive oil (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is activated.
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Gradually add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm area for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape the Pizzas: Once risen, punch down the dough and divide it into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a heart shape about 1/4 inch thick and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Add Sauce and Seasoning: Spread about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce evenly over each heart-shaped dough. Sprinkle dried oregano, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes on top of the sauce for enhanced flavor.
- Add Cheese and Toppings: Evenly distribute shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then add pepperoni slices or your choice of toppings. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over each pizza.
- Bake the Pizzas: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Bake the pizzas on the middle rack for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove pizzas from the oven and let them cool slightly. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired before serving hot.
Notes
- You can substitute all-purpose flour with bread flour for a chewier crust.
- Feel free to customize toppings to suit dietary preferences or what you have on hand.
- Make sure the water used for activating yeast is not too hot to avoid killing the yeast.
- If you prefer a thinner crust, roll the dough out thinner and adjust baking time accordingly.
- Leftover dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
