Description
Create a delightful and festive meal with these heart-shaped personal pizzas, perfect for any special occasion or just a fun twist on classic homemade pizza. Made with a simple yeast dough, flavorful sauce, and your favorite toppings, these pizzas bring joy and creativity to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
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)
Sauce & Seasoning
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Toppings
- 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 Yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating that the yeast is active and ready to use.
- Prepare Dough: In a large mixing bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, salt, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Stir until the dough begins to form, then knead on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating to ensure a crispy base.
- Shape Pizzas: Punch down the risen dough, then divide it into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece out into a heart shape about 1/4-inch thick on a floured surface. Transfer the shaped dough onto parchment paper or a pizza peel if using a stone.
- Add Sauce and Seasoning: Spread a thin layer of pizza or marinara sauce evenly over each heart-shaped dough. Sprinkle on dried oregano, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes if using, to add extra flavor.
- Top the Pizzas: Evenly distribute the shredded mozzarella cheese over each pizza, followed by the sliced pepperoni or your choice of toppings.
- Bake: Carefully transfer the pizzas to the oven or onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pizzas from the oven. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top and garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice and serve hot for a fun and delicious meal.
Notes
- Allowing the dough to rise properly ensures a light and fluffy crust.
- If you don’t have a pizza stone, a baking sheet turned upside down works well for baking.
- Customize toppings to your preference—vegetables, meats, or a blend of cheeses.
- Use parchment paper for easy transfer of shaped pizzas to the oven.
- Let the pizzas cool slightly before slicing to avoid cheese slipping off.
