Mini heart shaped pizzas turn regular pizza night into something magical without any extra effort. I discovered this trick three years ago on Valentine’s Day when my daughter Emma asked if we could make “special” pizza for her classroom party. All I needed were two heart-shaped cookie cutters I already owned and about 10 minutes of prep time. The look on her face when she saw those tiny heart pizzas come out of the oven, and then watching her classmates fight over who got which one, made it instantly worth it.
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Ingredients for Mini Heart Shaped Pizzas
I always keep Trader Joe’s frozen pizza dough in my freezer for quick pizza nights like this. Pro tip for selecting pizza dough: if using frozen, take it out 30 minutes before you plan to start cooking so it’s easy to work with and doesn’t tear when you cut the shapes. You’ll need two heart-shaped cookie cutters for this recipe, one large (4-inch) for the dough and one small (1-inch) for the pepperoni. In my experience, having all your toppings prepped before you start cutting the dough makes the assembly go much faster.
- 1 package pizza dough (store-bought or homemade, about 1 pound)
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (I recommend your favorite jarred marinara or pizza sauce)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 12-15 pepperoni slices
- Flour for dusting work surface
Equipment needed: 4-inch heart cookie cutter, 1-inch heart cookie cutter, pizza stone or baking sheet, spoon, rolling pin (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
I recommend working on a lightly floured surface to prevent the dough from sticking, but don’t use too much flour or the dough will become tough. In my experience, these mini pizzas bake much faster than regular pizza, so watch them closely after the 5-minute mark. The first time I made these, I got distracted and came back to find the cheese a bit too brown, so now I set a timer for 5 minutes and check every minute after that.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 450°F. If using frozen pizza dough, remove from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes until soft and pliable. If using refrigerated dough, let it sit for 15 minutes. This step is crucial because cold dough will tear when you try to cut it into shapes, and I learned that the hard way when my first batch had ragged edges.
Step 2: Flip your 1-inch heart cookie cutter upside down and press pepperoni slices into it. This method works much better than pressing down on the pepperoni because you get cleaner cuts and the pepperoni doesn’t stick to the cutter. Set aside the heart-shaped pepperoni pieces. You’ll need 2-3 hearts per mini pizza, so cut about 12-15 total.
Step 3: Lightly dust your countertop or cutting board with flour. Roll or stretch the room-temperature pizza dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use the 4-inch heart cookie cutter to cut out dough shapes, pressing straight down and twisting slightly to get clean edges. You should get about 5 mini pizzas from one standard pizza dough package. Gather scraps and re-roll once if needed to get 1-2 more pizzas, though the re-rolled dough may be slightly tougher.
Step 4: Place dough hearts on a lightly greased pizza stone or baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of sauce into the center of each heart and use the back of the spoon to spread it almost to the edges, leaving a small border (about 1/4 inch) for the crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and top with 2-3 heart-shaped pepperoni pieces per pizza. Don’t overload with cheese or it will bubble over the edges.
Step 5: Bake for 5-7 minutes, watching closely through the oven window. The pizzas are done when the edges turn golden brown and the cheese just starts to bubble and brown in spots. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving to prevent burns. The small size means they cool quickly, so your kids won’t have to wait long before digging in.
Perfect Pairings for Mini Heart Shaped Pizzas
These cute mini pizzas pair wonderfully with simple sides that let the fun pizza shapes remain the star of the meal.
Garlic Bread Rolls: Soft, buttery garlic rolls make an excellent addition to pizza night. The warm bread complements the cheesy pizzas perfectly, and kids love dipping them in extra marinara sauce.
Healthy Sauteed Vegetables: A colorful mix of sauteed vegetables balances the richness of the cheese and adds nutrition to the meal. The crisp-tender texture provides a nice contrast to the soft pizza dough.
Simple Garden Salad: A light salad with ranch or Italian dressing balances the richness of the cheese and adds vegetables to the meal. Kids are more likely to eat their greens when paired with something fun like heart pizzas.
Raw Veggie Sticks with Dip: Carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips with ranch dip provide crunch and nutrition without competing with the pizza. The dipping element makes vegetables more appealing to picky eaters.
Creamy Tomato Soup: While this is a tortellini soup, the creamy tomato base pairs beautifully with pizza for a comforting dinner combination that feels like an Italian feast.
Fresh Fruit Salad: Strawberries, grapes, and melon cubes add natural sweetness and brighten the plate. The red strawberries especially fit the Valentine’s theme if you’re celebrating a special occasion.
Air Fryer Pizza Rolls: If you’re going all-in on pizza night, these crispy pizza rolls make a fun appetizer before the heart pizzas come out, giving kids something to snack on while they wait.
Storing and Serving Your Mini Pizzas
These mini heart pizzas are best enjoyed fresh from the oven when the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust has that perfect crispy-chewy texture. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
For freezing, I recommend wrapping each cooled pizza individually in plastic wrap, then placing them all in a freezer-safe container or bag. This prevents freezer burn and makes it easy to grab just one or two for a quick lunch. They’ll keep frozen for up to 2 months. Pro tip: write the date on the container so you remember when you made them.
To reheat, bake frozen pizzas at 450°F for 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts and the crust crisps up again. You can also microwave them for 30-60 seconds if you’re in a hurry, though the crust won’t be as crispy. These make adorable lunch box additions when packed cold with an ice pack, and my daughter’s friends always ask for the “heart pizza” at lunch.
FAQs
Can I make these pizzas ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble the pizzas completely but don’t bake them. Place on a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 4 hours before baking. This makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day parties or when you want to prep dinner early. Just add a minute or two to the baking time if they’re cold from the fridge.
What if I don’t have heart-shaped cookie cutters?
You can use any small cookie cutter shape you have, like circles, stars, or flowers. You could also use a sharp knife to cut free-hand shapes, though they won’t be quite as uniform. The recipe works the same way regardless of the shape. Round cutters are easiest to find and work just as well.
Can I customize the toppings?
Absolutely! Try adding cooked sausage, diced bell peppers, sliced olives, mushrooms, or pineapple. Keep in mind that watery vegetables like tomatoes or fresh mushrooms should be patted dry first to prevent soggy crusts. Let your kids choose their own toppings to make it even more fun and engaging, just like a build-your-own pizza bar.
Mini Heart Shaped Pizzas
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 450°F. If using frozen pizza dough, remove from freezer and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes until soft and pliable. If using refrigerated dough, let sit for 15 minutes.
- Flip 1-inch heart cookie cutter upside down and press pepperoni slices into it. This creates cleaner cuts than pressing down on the pepperoni. Set aside heart-shaped pepperoni pieces. You’ll need 2-3 hearts per mini pizza, so cut about 12-15 total.
- Lightly dust countertop or cutting board with flour. Roll or stretch room-temperature pizza dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use 4-inch heart cookie cutter to cut out dough shapes, pressing straight down and twisting slightly for clean edges. You should get about 5 mini pizzas. Gather scraps and re-roll once if needed to get 1-2 more pizzas.
- Place dough hearts on lightly greased pizza stone or baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Spoon about 1 tablespoon sauce into center of each heart and spread almost to edges, leaving small border (about 1/4 inch) for crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and top with 2-3 heart-shaped pepperoni pieces per pizza. Don’t overload with cheese or it will bubble over edges.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes, watching closely. Pizzas are done when edges turn golden brown and cheese just starts to bubble and brown in spots. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving to prevent burns.
