Disclaimer: Our editors have used AI to create or enhance parts of this article and some images. All content has been fact-checked by our team to ensure accuracy.
Who says pizza has to be round? These mini heart shaped pizzas have become a go-to favorite in our house, especially when the kids want to help in the kitchen. I started making these on Valentine’s Day a few years ago, but now we whip them up whenever we need a smile at dinnertime.
The best part? Everyone gets to create their own personal pizza masterpiece. My daughter loads hers with extra cheese, while my son somehow manages to fit every topping we own onto his tiny heart. It’s the kind of meal that makes cooking feel less like a chore and more like family fun time.
If you’re looking for a way to make pizza night a little more special without any fancy techniques, these mini hearts are just the thing. Trust me, once you try making these, regular round pizzas might start feeling a bit boring!
Why You’ll Love These Mini Heart Shaped Pizzas
- Kid-friendly fun – These adorable mini pizzas turn mealtime into a fun activity – kids love helping cut out the heart shapes and adding their favorite toppings.
- Quick preparation – With just a few basic ingredients and less than 40 minutes, you can have these cute pizzas ready to serve.
- Perfect for special occasions – Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or just because, these heart-shaped pizzas add a sweet touch to any celebration.
- Customizable toppings – Start with the basic recipe and let everyone create their own pizza masterpiece with their favorite ingredients.
What Kind of Pizza Dough Should I Use?
You’ve got several good options when it comes to pizza dough for these cute mini hearts. The easiest route is grabbing pre-made dough from your grocery store’s refrigerated section – most stores stock it near the dairy or prepared foods. If you’re going homemade, both regular and whole wheat dough work great, though regular white dough tends to be more stretchy and easier to work with for shaped pizzas. Just make sure your dough comes to room temperature before shaping, as cold dough can be stubborn and snap back when you try to cut it. For the best results, roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness – this helps the hearts hold their shape while baking and gives you that perfect chewy-crispy crust.
Options for Substitutions
Making these cute mini pizzas is easy, and you’ve got several options for switching things up:
- Pizza dough: While homemade pizza dough is great, you can totally use store-bought pizza dough, crescent roll dough, or even pita bread. If using pita bread, just cut it with the cookie cutter before adding toppings.
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter: No heart-shaped cutter? You can use any shape cookie cutter you have, or even cut circles using a drinking glass. Just keep in mind the size should be good for a mini pizza.
- Tomato sauce: Switch up the base with pesto, alfredo sauce, or even olive oil with garlic. BBQ sauce works great too if you’re going for a different flavor profile.
- Pepperoni: Feel free to swap pepperoni with any toppings you like – ham, cooked sausage, vegetables, or leave it plain with just cheese for a simple version.
- Mozzarella cheese: While mozzarella is classic for pizza, you can use cheddar, provolone, or a pizza cheese blend. For dairy-free options, dairy-free cheese alternatives work well too.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when making mini heart-shaped pizzas is rolling the dough too thin or too thick – aim for about 1/4 inch thickness to ensure your pizzas cook evenly and hold their heart shape without becoming too crispy or doughy.
A common mistake is overloading these cute little pizzas with toppings, which can cause them to lose their shape and become soggy – stick to a thin layer of sauce and just a few carefully placed toppings per pizza.
Temperature control is crucial – baking at too high a temperature can burn the edges before the center is done, so start at 425°F and keep a close eye on them during the last few minutes of baking.
For the crispiest bottom crust, try preheating your baking sheet in the oven before placing the pizzas on it, and remember to lightly flour your cookie cutter between cuts to prevent the dough from sticking and losing its shape.
What to Serve With Mini Heart Pizzas?
These cute mini heart pizzas are perfect for serving alongside some simple, kid-friendly sides that won’t steal the show from your festive main dish. A light green salad with ranch dressing keeps things casual and adds some fresh crunch to balance out the cheesy pizzas. If you’re hosting a party, set up a pizza dipping station with marinara sauce, ranch, or garlic butter for extra fun. I also like to add some crispy veggie sticks or carrot coins to the plate – they’re colorful, easy to prep, and help round out the meal without any fuss.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These cute mini heart pizzas stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to place a piece of parchment paper between each pizza to prevent them from sticking together. They make great leftovers for lunch boxes!
Freeze: Want to prep these ahead? Once baked and cooled, place the heart pizzas on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 2 hours). Then transfer them to a freezer bag or container and keep frozen for up to 2 months. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners!
Warm Up: To enjoy your mini pizzas again, pop them in a 350°F oven for about 8-10 minutes if refrigerated, or 15-20 minutes if frozen. You can also use the microwave for 30-45 seconds, though the crust won’t be as crispy. Just keep an eye on them to prevent the cheese from getting too bubbly!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 15-25 minutes |
| Total Time | 25-40 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 800-900
- Protein: 40-50 g
- Fat: 35-45 g
- Carbohydrates: 90-100 g
Ingredients
- 1 batch of pizza dough
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Toppings:
- Tomato sauce
- Pepperoni slices
- Mozzarella cheese
Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare the Dough
Preheat your oven to 400°F, or follow the specific instructions provided with your pizza dough.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to prevent sticking.
Once rolled out, place the dough on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
The goal is to have the dough slightly set but not fully cooked.
Step 2: Cut and Shape the Dough
Carefully remove the dough from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out shapes from the dough.
Arrange the cut shapes on another greased baking sheet.
You can re-roll the scraps of dough to cut more shapes as needed.
The yield of heart-shaped pizzas depends on the size of your cookie cutter; in this example, the dough made 8 heart-shaped pizzas.
Step 3: Add Toppings
Once all the shapes are cut and placed on the baking sheet, top each one with your choice of toppings.
Here, we suggest using pizza sauce, pepperoni slices, and mozzarella cheese, but feel free to customize with your favorite toppings.
Step 4: Bake and Finish
Place the topped mini pizzas back in the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
Keep an eye on them to ensure the toppings are perfectly cooked.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once the pizzas are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.
Serve these delightful heart-shaped pizzas hot and enjoy with your family or friends for a fun and tasty meal!