Description

This charming Heart Shaped Pizza Roses recipe transforms classic pizza ingredients into delightful, bite-sized rose shapes that are perfect for parties or a fun family meal. With a crispy crust, flavorful marinara sauce, gooey mozzarella cheese, and savory salami or pepperoni, these individual pizza roses bake to a golden brown and are garnished with fresh basil for an elegant touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Pizza Dough

1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)

Sauce and Cheese

1 cup marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Meat

4 ounces salami or pepperoni, thinly sliced

Garnish

Fresh basil leaves for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking your pizza roses to a perfect golden finish.
Prepare Dough Strips: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into strips approximately 2 inches wide, which will be rolled to create the rose shapes.
Add Sauce and Cheese: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce evenly over each dough strip. Then sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese generously on top of the sauce. Layer thin slices of salami or pepperoni over the cheese for added flavor and texture.
Form Pizza Roses: Starting at one end, tightly roll each prepared dough strip into a rose shape. Place each rolled strip upright into a greased muffin tin, which will help hold their shape while baking.
Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
Garnish and Serve: Once baked, remove the pizza roses from the muffin tin and garnish them with fresh basil leaves before serving to add a burst of color and fresh flavor.

Notes

You can substitute salami or pepperoni with other sliced deli meats or keep it vegetarian by adding roasted vegetables.
Ensure the dough is rolled thinly but not too thin to avoid tearing when rolling into roses.
Use a nonstick spray or brush the muffin tin with olive oil to prevent sticking.
These pizza roses are best served warm for the best flavor and texture.
For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pizza dough.
Leftovers can be reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.