Crispy Heart-Shaped Pepperoni Pizza
A quick and easy crispy heart-shaped pepperoni pizza perfect for cozy dinners, featuring a golden crunchy crust, bubbly cheese, and slightly charred pepperoni edges.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 3 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- Olive oil (for brushing the crust)
- ½ cup tomato sauce (smooth, preferably low-sugar)
- 1 to 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (whole milk mozzarella preferred)
- 20 to 25 thinly sliced pepperoni slices
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Flour or cornmeal (for dusting the baking surface)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it on the middle rack to heat for at least 20 minutes.
- Lightly flour your countertop and roll out the pizza dough into a roughly 10-inch (25 cm) circle. Shape the dough into a heart by pinching the top center and elongating the bottom point.
- Dust your baking surface with flour or cornmeal to prevent sticking. Transfer the heart-shaped dough onto a pizza peel or the back of a baking sheet.
- Brush the edges of the dough with olive oil to help the crust brown and prevent drying.
- Spread the tomato sauce evenly across the dough, leaving about a ½-inch border for the crust.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce without overloading.
- Arrange the pepperoni slices on top without overlapping to allow crisping.
- Finish with a dusting of Parmesan cheese and a pinch of dried oregano. Add red pepper flakes if desired.
- Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the crust is golden and crisp, cheese is bubbly, and pepperoni edges are slightly charred.
- Remove from oven and let rest for a couple of minutes before slicing to allow the cheese to set.
Notes
Preheat the baking surface well to achieve a crispy crust. Brush olive oil on the crust edges to enhance browning and prevent drying. Avoid overloading cheese and sauce to keep crust crisp. Let pizza rest before slicing to prevent messy cheese pulls. For extra crispness, broil for 1-2 minutes watching closely. Use parchment paper to help maintain heart shape during transfer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One slice (assuming
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: pepperoni pizza, heart-shaped pizza, crispy pizza, easy pizza recipe, cozy dinner, quick pizza, homemade pizza