Description
Easy Pizza Roses for Valentine’s Day are a charming and delicious appetizer that transforms simple pizza dough and ingredients into beautiful, edible flowers. Perfect for impressing your loved one, this recipe is quick, customizable, and ideal for sharing, combining savory flavors with a romantic presentation.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- Pizza dough: 1 store-bought or homemade ball of dough (approximately 12 oz)
- Flour (for dusting): 1-2 tablespoons
Sauce and Cheese
- Tomato sauce: 1/4 cup
- Mozzarella cheese: 1 cup shredded
Toppings and Flavorings
- Pepperoni slices: 20-25 slices
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon, for brushing
- Dried oregano: 1/2 teaspoon
- Dried basil: 1/2 teaspoon
Instructions
- Prepare Your Dough and Ingredients: Lightly dust your work surface with flour and roll out the pizza dough into a roughly rectangular shape about 1/8 inch thick. Gather your pepperoni slices and shred your mozzarella cheese if not pre-shredded.
- Assemble the Rose Layers: Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce across the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over the sauce, then arrange pepperoni slices in a single row overlapping slightly along one long edge of the dough.
- Roll and Slice: Carefully roll the dough starting from the pepperoni edge to form a long log, making sure the pepperoni stays visible on top. With a sharp knife, slice the log into approximately 1 to 1.5-inch thick pieces.
- Shape the Roses and Bake: Place each slice upright inside a greased muffin tin or baking dish, allowing space to expand. Brush the tops with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano and basil. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve Warm and Enjoy: Once out of the oven, allow a few minutes for the roses to settle before carefully removing them. Serve warm for the best melting cheese experience and beautiful presentation.
Notes
- Use fresh dough: Fresh or homemade dough gives the best elasticity and flavor in shaping the roses.
- Don’t overfill: Keep toppings balanced to avoid soggy dough or bursting rolls.
- Chill before baking: Refrigerate the rolled dough log for 10 minutes before slicing to maintain neat shapes.
- Customize herb blends: Mix fresh basil or rosemary for a personalized aromatic touch.
- Watch baking time: Keep an eye on the final minutes to prevent over-browning and ensure gooey cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pizza roses
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: pizza roses, valentines day recipe, appetizer, savory pastry, easy pizza, edible flowers
