Description
These Mini Heart-Shaped Pizzas are perfect for a fun and delicious meal. Made from scratch with a simple yeast dough, topped with classic pizza sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings like pepperoni and fresh basil. Baked to golden perfection, these adorable pizzas are sure to delight kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
Toppings
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves (optional)
- Olive oil for brushing
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center to pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil.
- Form Dough: Stir the ingredients together until a rough dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Let Dough Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) to prepare for baking the mini pizzas.
- Divide and Shape Dough: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 4 equal portions. Roll each portion into a small ball, then flatten and shape each into a heart using your hands or a knife.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Place the heart-shaped dough pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add Sauce: Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce evenly over each heart-shaped dough piece.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella generously over the sauce on each pizza.
- Add Toppings: Add your preferred toppings such as pepperoni slices and fresh basil leaves as desired.
- Brush with Olive Oil: Lightly brush the crust edges with olive oil to achieve a golden, crispy finish.
- Bake Pizzas: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the crust is golden and crispy.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pizzas from the oven and let them cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ensure the water used for yeast is warm but not hot (around 110°F) to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
- You can customize toppings according to preference; vegetables, different cheeses, or meats work well.
- If you don’t have parchment paper, lightly oil the baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- For a crispier crust, bake on a pizza stone or preheated baking sheet.
- Leftover dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for later use.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
