Sweet Valentine’s Day Calzone Hearts Recipe: Love You Can Taste

Crafting a romantic valentines day calzone hearts recipe brings an adorable twist to traditional dinner surprises.

Passion and creativity merge when heart-shaped pastry becomes your culinary canvas.

Unexpected ingredients spark delightful conversations around the dinner table.

Couples seeking something beyond standard restaurant fare will adore this playful approach.

Soft dough embraces rich, savory fillings that promise to delight your special someone.

Surprising and intimate, these calzone hearts transform an ordinary meal into a memorable celebration of love.

You’ll fall head over heels for this delectable, love-inspired creation that speaks volumes without saying a word.

Reasons to Love Valentines Day Calzone Hearts

• Craft Romantic Culinary Treat: Create adorable heart-shaped calzones that transform a classic dish into a stunning Valentine's Day surprise, perfect for showing love through homemade cooking.
• Customize with Personal Flair: Easily switch up fillings to match preferences, allowing creativity and personalization with different cheeses, meats, or vegetarian options that suit individual tastes.
• Quick Crowd-Pleaser Potential: Simple enough for home cooks of moderate skill levels, these calzones offer a delightful meal that impresses without demanding complex techniques or extensive preparation time.
• Interactive Cooking Experience: Great for couples or families to prepare together, turning meal preparation into a fun, collaborative activity that builds connection and shared memories.

What’s Needed for Valentines Day Calzone Hearts

• Warm Water: The base liquid that activates the yeast and helps develop the dough's structure.
• Sugar: Provides food for the yeast to help it rise and create a soft texture.
• Yeast: A crucial ingredient that helps the dough rise and creates a light, airy texture.
• Flour: The primary ingredient that forms the structure of the calzone dough.
• Salt: Enhances the flavor and helps control yeast growth.
• Olive Oil: Adds moisture and helps create a tender dough.

• Ricotta Cheese: A creamy cheese that provides a smooth and rich base for the filling.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Adds a classic stretchy and mild cheese flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Brings a sharp and salty note to the cheese mixture.
• Pepperoni: Adds a spicy and savory element to the calzone filling.
• Garlic Powder: Provides a subtle, aromatic garlic flavor throughout the filling.
• Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs that gives a traditional Italian taste.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall flavor of the filling.

• Egg Wash, Olive Oil: Help create a golden, shiny crust on the calzone.
• Marinara Sauce: A classic dipping sauce that complements the calzone flavors.

How to Make Valentines Day Calzone Hearts

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Allow the mixture to become frothy and bubbly, which takes about 5-10 minutes.

This process helps wake up the yeast and prepare it for creating delicious dough.

Step 2: Create Dough Base

• Flour
• Salt

Introduce the frothy yeast mixture and olive oil.

Stir until ingredients form a cohesive dough. Knead thoroughly for 5 minutes until the texture becomes smooth and stretchy.

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise for one hour until it doubles in size.

Step 3: Prepare Delicious Filling

• Ricotta cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Diced pepperoni
• Garlic powder
• Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper

Mix ingredients until well incorporated.

Step 4: Shape Loving Calzone Hearts

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface. Create heart-shaped cutouts using a cookie cutter or knife.

Spoon filling onto half of the heart shapes, leaving a small border around the edges. Cover with remaining heart-shaped dough pieces.

Seal edges by pressing and crimping with a fork.

Step 5: Add Finishing Romantic Touches

Brush the calzone hearts with egg wash and a light coating of olive oil.

Create two small slits on top of each calzone to allow steam to escape.

Step 6: Bake and Serve with Love

Bake for 12-15 minutes until the calzones turn golden brown.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping, creating a perfect Valentine’s Day treat.

Handy Tips for Perfect Calzone Hearts

• Develop a smooth, elastic dough by kneading consistently for the full 5 minutes, which helps develop gluten and creates a better texture.
• Ensure calzone edges are tightly sealed by pressing firmly with a fork, preventing filling from leaking during baking.
• Pat ricotta cheese with paper towels to remove excess moisture, preventing soggy calzone bottoms.
• Create small steam vents on top of calzones to prevent them from becoming puffy or bursting during baking.
• Let calzones rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow filling to set and prevent burning your mouth when eating.

Flavorful Twists on Valentines Day Calzone Hearts

• Pepperoni Paradise: Swap out the original filling for a meat-lover's version by adding extra pepperoni, salami, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
• Veggie Valentine: Replace pepperoni with roasted bell peppers, spinach, and caramelized onions for a vegetarian-friendly option packed with colorful, fresh ingredients.
• Breakfast Love Pockets: Transform the calzone into a morning treat by filling with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and cheddar cheese for a romantic breakfast surprise.
• Sweet Heart Dessert: Create a dessert version using nutella, sliced strawberries, and a dusting of powdered sugar for a decadent sweet version of the heart-shaped calzone.

Foods That Pair Well with Calzone Hearts

• Romantic Wine Pairing: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the rich, savory flavors of the pepperoni and cheese calzone hearts.
• Dip and Delight: Create a homemade roasted garlic marinara sauce with fresh basil to enhance the calzone's taste and add a romantic touch to the Valentine's Day meal.
• Playful Side Companion: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the hearty calzone and provide a fresh, crisp contrast to the cheesy filling.
• Sparkling Romance: Serve chilled prosecco or a sparkling rosé to add a celebratory and elegant dimension to the Valentine's Day dining experience.

How to Store Valentines Day Calzone Hearts

• Store cooled calzones in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Wrap each calzone individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.
• Place completely cooled calzones in freezer-safe bags or containers. Seal tightly, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 2 months. Label with the date to track storage time.
• Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Remove calzones from refrigerator or freezer. If frozen, thaw in refrigerator overnight. Place on a baking sheet and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through. For crispy edges, brush with a little olive oil before reheating.

FAQs

• Can I use store-bought pizza dough instead of making my own?

Yes, you can use pre-made pizza dough to save time. Just make sure it’s at room temperature and roll it out to the same thickness as the homemade recipe suggests.

• What type of pepperoni works best for this recipe?

Regular sliced pepperoni works great. For a less greasy option, choose turkey pepperoni or use pre-diced pepperoni pieces from the grocery store.

• How can I prevent the calzone from leaking during baking?

Make sure to seal the edges tightly by crimping with a fork and leaving a small border around the filling. Avoid overfilling the calzone, which can cause splitting during baking.

Valentines Day Calzone Hearts Recipe

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4.8 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Love blooms with these Valentine’s Day Calzone Hearts, a romantic Italian-inspired treat perfect for sharing. Crispy pastry pockets filled with creamy cheese and sweet fillings promise to melt hearts and spark culinary passion you’ll treasure.

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Ingredients

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Dough:

• 2 cups (480 milliliters) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) warm water
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil

Filling Cheeses:

• 1 cup (240 grams) ricotta cheese
• 1 cup (100 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese

Filling Proteins and Seasonings:

• 1/2 cup (75 grams) diced pepperoni
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

For Assembly:

• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water
• 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) marinara sauce
• Olive oil, for brushing

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Instructions

1. Activate the yeast by combining warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Allow the mixture to develop for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy and bubbling.
2. Create the dough foundation by blending flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Incorporate the activated yeast mixture and olive oil, stirring until a cohesive dough forms. Knead thoroughly for 5 minutes to achieve a smooth, elastic texture.
3. Allow the dough to rest and rise in a lightly oiled bowl, covered, for approximately 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
4. Prepare the savory filling by thoroughly mixing ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, diced pepperoni, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
5. Heat the oven to 425F (220C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Roll out the risen dough on a floured surface to an even thickness. Craft heart-shaped sections using a cookie cutter or carefully cutting with a knife.
7. Distribute the prepared filling onto half of the heart-shaped dough pieces, leaving a small border around the edges.
8. Carefully layer a second heart-shaped dough piece over the filling, pressing and crimping the edges with a fork to create a secure seal.
9. Enhance the calzones by generously brushing the tops with egg wash and a light coating of olive oil.
10. Create small steam vents by making two delicate slits on the top of each calzone.
11. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the calzones transform into a rich, golden brown color.
12. Allow the calzones to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
13. Present the heart-shaped calzones with warm marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

• Customize the dough by substituting half the flour with whole wheat for added nutrition and a nutty flavor.
• Experiment with different fillings like spinach and feta or ham and Swiss to suit various dietary preferences.
• Prevent soggy bottoms by preheating the baking sheet or using a pizza stone for extra crispiness.
• Reduce cheese content for a lighter version or use low-fat alternatives without compromising taste.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 359 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 530 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 31 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg