Easy Pizza Roses for Valentine’s Day Recipe
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these Easy Pizza Roses, a fun and delicious twist on traditional pizza. Made with store-bought pizza dough, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni, these visually appealing treats look like roses and make a perfect romantic appetizer or snack. Perfect for impressing your loved one with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Total Time: 22-25 minutes
- Yield: 6 pizza roses 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough
- 1 can of pizza dough
Sauce
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
Cheese
- 6–8 slices mozzarella cheese
Toppings
- 12–18 slices pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the pizza roses.
- Prepare the muffin tin: Lightly grease a muffin tin with cooking spray or butter to help the pizza roses release easily after baking.
- Roll out the dough: Open the can of pizza dough and unroll it onto a clean surface. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, slice the dough into six long strips about 1 to 2 inches wide each.
- Add marinara sauce: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce evenly over each strip of dough, leaving a small border along the edges to prevent spilling during rolling.
- Add cheese: Cut mozzarella slices to fit along the length of each dough strip. Layer the cheese on top of the marinara sauce.
- Layer the pepperoni: Place pepperoni slices on top of the cheese strips, letting half of each slice hang off the edge to create the rose petal effect when rolled.
- Roll into roses: Carefully roll each strip of dough tightly into a rose shape, tucking the ends underneath to secure them during baking.
- Place in muffin tin: Gently place each rolled pizza rose into a muffin cup, ensuring a snug fit to maintain shape.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the dough turns golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Optionally, garnish with fresh basil or a drizzle of olive oil for extra flavor.
Notes
- Handle the pizza dough gently to avoid stretching it too thin and tearing during rolling.
- For less runny cheese, try mixing mozzarella with firmer cheeses such as provolone or cheddar for even melting.
- Ensure pepperoni slices hang just enough off the dough edge to create petals, but not too far to detach during baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in microwave for 20-30 seconds or bake in a preheated oven for 5 minutes to crisp.
Keywords: pizza roses, Valentine's Day, easy pizza recipe, appetizer, pepperoni pizza, fun food, romantic food, pizza snacks
