Description
Delightful heart-shaped buns filled with savory cheese, pepperoni, and herbs, perfect for sharing during cozy nights or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) yeast
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup pepperoni, sliced
- 1/2 cup bell peppers, diced
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- Olive oil for brushing
- Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast, letting it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy. In another bowl, mix flour and salt. Gradually add the yeast mixture to the flour, kneading until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Cover and let rise for about 60 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Roll out the dough: Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll it out to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Cut the hearts: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many heart shapes as you can. Gather the scraps, reroll them, and cut out more shapes.
- Fill and shape: Take a heart cutout and place a spoonful of marinara sauce, cheese, and desired fillings in the center. Fold the heart over and pinch the edges to seal.
- Let them rise again: Place the filled hearts on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let them rise for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven: While the buns are rising, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake: Brush the tops of the buns with olive oil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve and enjoy: Let them cool slightly and serve with extra marinara for dipping.
Notes
For make-ahead options, freeze unbaked buns and bake directly from the freezer. Adjust baking time as necessary. Customize fillings as per preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 15mg