Nothing says “I love you” like a homemade heart-shaped pizza! This delightful stuffed crust pizza is perfect for Valentine’s Day, date nights, or any time you want to add a little extra love to your meal. With gooey mozzarella, heart-shaped pepperoni, and a crispy crust, this pizza is sure to impress!
Ingredients
Makes 1 heart-shaped pizza (with enough leftover ingredients for a second regular pizza if desired).
- Pizza Dough – Store-bought or homemade, both work well!
- Kitchen Ready Tomatoes – Look for canned tomatoes labeled ‘Kitchen Ready’ or use your favorite pizza sauce.
- Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese – Buy it in a block for the best melting texture (avoid pre-shredded cheese).
- Pepperoni – At least 20 slices, cut into heart shapes.
- String Cheese – 7 to 9 sticks, for stuffing the crust.
- Salt, Oregano, Basil – For a quick Italian seasoning blend.
- Olive Oil – For brushing the crust.
- Cornmeal – Prevents sticking on your work surface and baking sheet.
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 425ºF.
- If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.
- No pizza stone? No problem! A sheet pan works just fine.
2. Prepare the Ingredients
- Mix salt, oregano, and basil in a small bowl and set aside.
- Shred the mozzarella cheese (it grates easier when cold). If it’s tricky to shred, you can pull it apart into small chunks.
- Prepare the string cheese by unwrapping 7 sticks, keeping 2 more on standby. Cut one stick in half to create two shorter pieces.
- Cut the pepperoni into hearts using a small cookie cutter or by folding each slice in half and cutting a half-heart shape.
3. Roll Out the Dough
- Roll your pizza dough into a large circle. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
- Sprinkle cornmeal onto your work surface or baking pan.
- Transfer the dough to the center of the prepared surface.
4. Shape the Stuffed Crust
- Arrange 4 to 6 string cheese sticks in a ‘V’ shape at the bottom of the dough.
- Use 2 more sticks to form the top of the heart.
- Place the 2 half-sticks to connect the top and bottom ‘V’ sections.
- Carefully fold the dough over the cheese, starting at the top. Seal by pressing the edges together.
5. Add Toppings
- Brush olive oil onto the stuffed crust.
- Spread kitchen-ready tomatoes or pizza sauce evenly over the center.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning mix over the sauce.
- Top with mozzarella cheese and arrange heart-shaped pepperoni on top.
6. Bake the Pizza
- If using a pizza stone, carefully transfer the pizza onto the hot stone.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let the pizza rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing.
7. Slice and Serve
- There’s no wrong way to cut a heart-shaped pizza! Try slicing it down the middle (like a ‘broken heart’) and then into triangle pieces.
- Enjoy your delicious homemade pizza with a fresh side salad or a sweet treat like lemon squares!
Love this recipe? Try these next!
- Simple Spinach Side Salad
- Lemon Squares
- Strawberry Chocolate Sweetheart Smoothie
This heart-shaped pizza is fun to make and even more fun to eat. Whether you’re sharing it with a loved one or enjoying it solo, it’s a recipe filled with love and cheesy goodness!
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