Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Heart Shaped Pizzas
Valentine’s Day is a perfect occasion to create lasting memories with your loved ones. Instead of going out, why not stay in and make something special together? In my family, we started a tradition of making heart-shaped pizzas over 30 years ago, and it has become a cherished part of our celebrations.
In the early days of this tradition, when my cooking skills were not as refined, I would use pre-made pizza dough from our local Italian deli.
Over time, I’ve perfected my pizza dough recipe, combining an older version with a recommendation from my sister Fran.
The result is a delicious and easy-to-make pizza dough that adds a personal touch to our Valentine’s Day celebration.
Let’s jump into how to make these delicious heart shaped pizzas!
Perfecting the Pizza Dough
First, you want to make your pizza dough.
Making your own pizza dough might sound intimidating, but it’s a fun and rewarding process.
The key is to treat the yeast correctly to achieve a chewy yet crispy texture. I’ve learned from experience to use a candy thermometer to ensure the water temperature is between 110 and 120 degrees.
This step is crucial for successful yeast activation.
The Dough Rising Process
After mixing the yeast with flour in a stand mixer, let the dough rise in a warm environment.
A helpful trick is to preheat an empty microwave for a few minutes, creating an ideal space for the dough to double in size.
This process takes approximately one and a half to two hours.
Shaping the Heart Pizzas
When you’re ready to shape the pizzas, heavily flour your surface and hands, as the dough can be sticky.
Form the dough into individual balls for smaller hearts or two large ones.
If using a pizza stone, preheat the oven to 475 degrees for an hour. Place each dough ball on parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Toppings and Personalization
For the sauce, you can use pre-made pizza sauce or crushed tomatoes seasoned with garlic powder, oregano, basil, and Romano cheese.
Get creative with toppings; we love cutting pepperoni into heart shapes for that extra special touch.
Fresh basil and arugula added right after baking create a delightful flavor.
Tips for Success
Investing in a good stand mixer and a pizza stone can make the process easier and enhance the final result.
Even if you mix the dough by hand, consider getting a pizza stone for a perfect crust.
Remember, the effort you put into making these heart-shaped pizzas is a way of showing your loved ones how special they are.
Heart Shaped Pizzas Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups OO Flour
- 1 1/4 Cups AP Flour
- 1 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1 Packet Quick Rise Yeast
- 1 Tsp Sugar
- 1 3/4 Cup Warm Water (110 -115 degrees)
- Pizza Sauce or 1 Can Cento Crushed Tomatoes
- Garlic Powder, Oregano, Basil, Romano Cheese
- 2 Bags Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 2-4 TB Romano or Parm Cheese
Instructions
- Mix OO Flour, AP Flour, and salt in the mixer bowl.
- Mix yeast and sugar in warm water, let it rest for 15 minutes until bubbles form.
- Add yeast mixture to flour, mix with the dough hook until it forms a sticky ball.
- Cover the bowl, let it rise in a warm area for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Preheat pizza stone at 475 degrees for about an hour.
- Divide the dough into four balls on a heavily floured surface.
- Form each ball into a heart shape on parchment paper.
- Add sauce, seasonings, mozzarella, and heart-shaped pepperoni.
- Transfer the pizza to the oven using a pizza peel, bake for about 15 minutes (check after 12 minutes).
Enjoy!
Whether you follow this recipe or take the easy route with store-bought dough, the effort is worth it to show your loved ones how much you care on Valentine’s Day. Cooking truly comes from the heart, and sharing a heart shaped pizza is a delightful way to celebrate love.
So, this year, embrace the joy of crafting a homemade meal and sharing it with those who hold a special place in your heart. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Heart Shaped Pizzas
Equipment
- 1 Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer
- 1-2 Pizza Stones
- 1 Pizza Peel Not essential but makes transporting pizza to and from oven so much easier. You can buy pizza stones that come with a peel
- 1 Kitchen Shears To cut your pepperoni in heart shapes
- Parchment Paper
- 1 Candy Thermometer Optional – to test temp of water for yeast
Ingredients
- 2 Cups OO Flour
- 1 1/4 Cups AP Flour
- 1 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1 Packet Quick Rise Yeast
- 1 Tsp Sugar
- 1 3/4 Cup Warm Water – 110 -115 degrees
Pizza Sauce
- 1 Can Cento Crushed Tomatoes Or purchase pre made Pizza Sauce
- Sprinkle tomatoes with Garlic Powder, Oregano, Basil and Romano Cheese
- 2 Bags Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 2-4 TB Romano or Parm Cheese
Instructions
- Mix OO Flour, AP Flour and salt in bowl of mixer
- Add yeast and sugar to warm water and mix well. Let rest for 15 minutes till bubbles form on the top
- Add yeast mixture to flour mixture and mix with dough hook in your stand mixture or mix by hand with a wooden spoon. Dough will be sticky but should still form into a sticky ball. If need be add 1/8 to 1/4 cup of AP flour till it forms a loose ball
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a clean dish towel and put in warm area to rise.
- You could run empty microwave for 3 minutes as this heats up the inside of the microwave then put bowl inside to rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours
- Preheat your pizza stone at 475 degrees for about an hour before cooking the pizzas
- Once dough has doubled in size put out on heavily floured area and divide in four balls
- Keep 1 cup AP flour in bowl to continue to flour hands and surface until the dough can be handled without sticking to your hands
- Put floured ball on a piece of parchment no larger than your stone size and form into shape of a heart with a slight crust around the edges
- Add Pizza Sauce or Cento Crushed Tomatoes leaving a plain crust around the edge of the heart
- If using crushed tomatoes you will want to season with salt, pepper, oregano, basil and garlic powder. I find some pre made pizza sauces can use some of this as well but it's up to your taste
- Top your sauce with shredded mozzarella and the heart shaped pepperoni and any other toppings of your choice
- I do not suggest to add more than three toppings to your pizzas as it can make the crust soggy.
- Using pizza peel put pizza on the parchment in the oven for about 15 minutes – Check after 12 minutes as it cooks very quickly on the stone
