Valentine's Day Pizza Roses
These adorable pizza roses combine flaky dough with gooey mozzarella and pepperoni, making them perfect for parties or a festive snack.
Ingredients
Dough and Assembly
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade) Use cold dough for a chewier texture.
- 1 cup pizza sauce (your favorite jarred sauce or marinara)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Freshly shredded melts best.
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni Thin slices work best; mini pepperoni can also be used.
- to taste salt and pepper Season to your preference.
- as needed olive oil For brushing.
Garnish
- as needed fresh basil leaves For garnish.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll the pizza dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut the rolled dough into strips approximately 2 inches wide and 8–10 inches long.
- Spread a thin, even layer of pizza sauce on each strip, leaving a small margin at the top edge.
- Sprinkle an even layer of shredded mozzarella over the sauced strips.
- Place pepperoni slices along one long edge of each strip, slightly overlapping to create a petal effect.
- Starting from the pepperoni edge, roll each strip tightly into a rose shape, pinching the base to hold it together.
Baking
- Arrange the rolled roses on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1/2 inch apart.
- Brush the tops lightly with olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and cracked black pepper.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Let the roses cool for 3–5 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil leaves.
Notes
For storage, keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months before baking. For reheating, do so in a 350°F oven for 8–12 minutes, or in an air fryer at 320°F for 4–6 minutes.