Pizza roses for Valentine’s Day feel fancy, but they are secretly very simple. You start with canned pizza dough, a little sauce, cheese and pepperoni, then roll everything into pretty rose shaped spirals that bake up golden and cheesy.
They work for almost any plan you have. Serve them hot as Valentine party appetizers, set out a tray as cute Valentines snacks ideas for a movie night, or plate a few with salad for fun food ideas for dinner that still feel special.
Kids love the rose shape, adults love that they taste like classic pizzeria slices, and you will love that they are ready in about 30 minutes with almost no cleanup.
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Why You’ll Love These Pizza Roses for Valentine’s Day
Pizza roses for Valentine’s Day look like bakery treats but start with basic supermarket ingredients. You can prep a whole muffin tin in about 10 minutes, then let the oven do the rest.
They fit almost any kind of celebration. Set them out as warm Valentine party appetizers, add them to a platter of Valentine’s party food for a small get together, or pack them in a thermos container as Valentines party food for kids.
They are easy to customize too. Swap toppings, use different cheeses, make a few mild kid friendly versions and a few spicy ones for adults, all from the same batch of dough.
The Story Behind This Valentine’s Party Food
These pizza roses started as a way to make pizza night feel special without extra work. I tried braids and hearts first, but the rose shape held together best, baked evenly and looked the cutest on a plate.
Now they show up every year as Valentine’s party food for kids and adults. We do a big tray of them with dips, salad and something sweet, so dinner feels fun and relaxed but still looks like you planned it. They are one of our favorite fun food ideas for dinner when we want that little holiday touch.
Ingredients For Pizza Roses
You only need a few basics to make pizza roses for Valentine’s Day. Amounts below make 6 roses.
Classic Savory Pizza Roses
- 1 can refrigerated pizza dough, about 13.8 oz or 390 g
- 1⁄2 cup marinara or pizza sauce, about 120 ml
- 6 to 8 thin slices mozzarella, about 4 oz or 115 g
- 12 to 18 slices pepperoni, about 3 oz or 85 g
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for brushing the tin and tops
- Pinch of dried Italian seasoning or oregano, optional
Easy Swaps
- Use crescent roll dough or puff pastry instead of pizza dough if needed
- Try provolone, cheddar or a blend of cheeses instead of mozzarella
- Use veggie toppings like mushrooms, peppers or olives instead of pepperoni
- For lighter pizza roses, use turkey pepperoni and part skim cheese
Sweet Pizza Roses For A Fun Valentines Desserts Twist
- Pizza or crescent dough
- Softened cream cheese or hazelnut spread
- Thin sliced strawberries or raspberries
- Sprinkle of sugar or cinnamon sugar on top
Equipment You Will Need
- 12 cup muffin tin
- Rolling pin or clean bottle
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Small spoon or pastry brush for sauce
- Cutting board or clean work surface
- Cooking spray or a little oil for greasing
Optional
- Silicone muffin liners for easy release
- Small offset spatula to lift roses from the pan
How To Make Pizza Roses For Valentine’s Day
- Heat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
- Unroll the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface. Pat it into a rectangle and trim the edges if needed.
- Cut the dough into 6 long strips, about 1.5 inches or 4 cm wide.
- Spread a thin line of sauce on each strip, leaving a small border along the long bottom edge so it seals.
- Lay cheese along the sauced part of each strip. Let the top edge of the cheese peek slightly over the top of the dough.
- Add pepperoni so half of each slice hangs over the top long edge. This overhang becomes the rose petals.
- Starting at one short end, roll each strip up into a spiral. Pinch the bottom edge to seal, then set each roll into a muffin cup, cut side up.
- Brush the tops lightly with oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning if using. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until the dough is deep golden and the cheese is bubbling.
- Let the pizza roses cool in the pan for 3 to 5 minutes, then gently lift out and serve warm.
Pro Tips And Easy Variations
- Keep the dough slightly thick so it does not tear while you roll.
- Do not overload with sauce or cheese or the roses will leak and burn.
- If the tops brown too fast, move the pan to a lower rack.
- Use parchment strips under each rose if your muffin tin tends to stick.
Turning Pizza Roses Into Valentine Party Appetizers
For Valentine party appetizers or Valentines appetizer recipes
- Plan 2 to 3 roses per adult and 1 to 2 per child
- Serve on a platter with small bowls of marinara, ranch and garlic butter
- Add a few basil leaves between roses so the tray looks like a rose bouquet
Kid Friendly Valentines Party Food For Kids
- Use mild mozzarella and mini pepperoni
- Skip spicy toppings and strong herbs
- Let kids add their own toppings before you roll, they love building their own rose
Sweet Pizza Roses As Fun Valentines Desserts
- Spread dough strips with cream cheese or hazelnut spread
- Add thin sliced berries, then roll and bake
- Dust with powdered sugar after baking for a simple fun Valentines desserts idea
Make Ahead, Storage And Valentines Day Potluck Ideas
- Fridge: Store cooled pizza roses in an airtight container up to 2 days
- Reheat: Bake at 350°F or 175°C for 5 to 8 minutes, or air fry a few minutes until hot
- Freezer: Wrap baked roses tightly and freeze up to 1 month, reheat from frozen at 350°F until hot in the center
For Valentines Day potluck ideas
- Bake just before leaving so they stay warm for the first part of the party
- Or bake ahead, chill, then reheat on a sheet pan at the host kitchen
- Transport upright in a muffin tin or snug container so the roses keep their shape
Nutrition Snapshot
Nutrition will vary with dough and toppings, but for a classic pepperoni version you can estimate per pizza rose
- Calories: about 180 to 220
- Protein: 7 to 10 g
- Carbs: 18 to 22 g
- Fat: 8 to 12 g
For lighter pizza roses for Valentine’s Day, use part skim cheese, turkey pepperoni or extra vegetables instead of some of the meat.
How To Serve Pizza Roses For Every Valentine Event
Valentine’s Party Food Board
- Arrange warm pizza roses on a wooden board
- Tuck basil or baby spinach between them so they look like a bouquet
- Add small bowls of dips and a few fresh veggies or olives
This works well for mixed Valentine’s party food where guests can grab a bite and move around.
Rose Bowl Party Ideas With Pizza Roses
If your Valentine plans overlap with game day, these are perfect
- Serve pizza roses on a tray with team colored napkins
- Add wings, chips and a big salad for a Rose Bowl party ideas spread that still feels on theme because of the roses
- Keep a second pan warm in the oven and switch trays at halftime
Fun Food Ideas For Dinner
For easy fun food ideas for dinner on Valentine’s Day
- Serve 2 to 3 pizza roses per person with a green salad
- Add sparkling water or wine and a simple dessert
- Use a small plate and cloth napkin to make it feel like a little bistro meal at home
FAQ: Pizza Roses For Valentine’s Day
Can I use homemade dough for pizza roses for Valentine’s Day?
Yes. Use about the same amount of dough as a standard medium pizza. Roll it into a rectangle, cut into strips and follow the same steps. Let the shaped roses rest 10 minutes before baking so the dough relaxes.
How do I keep my pizza roses from unrolling or falling apart?
Do not overload with sauce and cheese. Leave a clean strip of dough along the bottom edge and pinch it closed after rolling. Set each roll snugly in the muffin cup so the sides support the rose while it bakes.
What are good toppings for kid friendly Valentines party food?
Stick to mild cheeses, small pieces of pepperoni, ham or plain cheese only. Avoid very spicy toppings. You can even let kids build their own strip, then you roll it up so they still get Valentines party food for kids that feels personal.
Can I freeze pizza roses and bake them later for a Valentines Day potluck?
Yes. Shape the roses, place them in the muffin tin and freeze until firm. Transfer to a container and keep frozen up to 1 month. Bake from frozen at 375°F or 190°C until golden and hot in the center, then take them to your Valentines Day potluck ideas spread.
How many pizza roses should I plan per person for Valentine party appetizers?
For Valentine party appetizers and Valentines appetizer recipes in general, plan 1 to 2 roses per person if there are several other snacks, or 3 per person if they are the main savory item. Kids usually eat 1, hungry adults often want 2 or 3.
Do pizza roses work as Valentines snacks ideas for school or office?
Yes. Bake them fully, cool and pack in a sturdy container. They taste good warm or at room temperature, so they are an easy option for Valentines snacks ideas where reheating is not guaranteed.
Ready To Bake Pizza Roses For Valentine’s Day
Pizza roses for Valentine’s Day turn simple pizza ingredients into something that looks special with very little effort. You can serve them as warm Valentine party appetizers, add them to a snack board or make them the center of a relaxed dinner at home.
They are easy to customize for kids or adults, savory or a fun Valentines desserts twist, and they travel well for potlucks and parties. Save this recipe, grab a can of dough and you are ready to bake a batch of pizza roses for Valentine’s Day that everyone will remember.
Pizza Roses for Valentine’s Day
Equipment
- 12 cup muffin tin
- Rolling Pin
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Small spoon or pastry brush
- Cutting Board
- Cooking spray or oil
Ingredients
Savory Pizza Roses
- 1 can refrigerated pizza dough about 13.8 oz or 390 g
- 0.5 cup marinara or pizza sauce about 120 ml
- 6 slice mozzarella cheese thin slices, about 4 oz or 115 g total
- 12 slice pepperoni up to 18 slices, about 3 oz or 85 g
- 1 tablespoon olive oil for greasing the pan and brushing tops
- 1 pinch dried Italian seasoning or oregano optional, for sprinkling
Optional Swaps And Add Ins
- provolone, cheddar or a pizza cheese blend use in place of or along with mozzarella
- sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, olives or spinach use instead of some or all of the pepperoni
- turkey pepperoni for a lighter option
Sweet Pizza Roses Variation
- 1 can pizza dough or crescent roll dough for the sweet variation
- 4 ounce softened cream cheese or hazelnut spread for spreading on the dough
- 0.5 cup thinly sliced strawberries or raspberries pat dry so they do not leak too much juice
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar or cinnamon sugar for sprinkling on top before baking
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray or a thin film of olive oil so the pizza roses release easily after baking.
- Step 2: Unroll the refrigerated pizza dough on a lightly floured cutting board. Gently press it into an even rectangle and trim the edges if needed so the sides are straight.
- Step 3: Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the dough into 6 long strips, each about 1.5 inches or 4 cm wide. Try to keep the strips as even as you can so they bake at the same rate.
- Step 4: Spread a thin line of marinara or pizza sauce along each strip, leaving a small clean border along the long bottom edge. This clean edge helps the dough seal when you roll it up.
- Step 5: Lay slices of mozzarella along the sauced portion of each strip. Let the top edge of the cheese peek just above the top edge of the dough so it will show as the roses bake.
- Step 6: Arrange pepperoni slices on top of the cheese with about half of each slice hanging past the top edge of the dough. That overhang will become the petal edges of your pizza roses as they puff in the oven.
- Step 7: Starting from one short end, roll each strip up into a spiral, keeping it snug but not too tight. When you reach the end, pinch the loose edge of dough to the base so the rose holds together.
- Step 8: Place each rolled pizza rose into a cup of the prepared muffin tin with the cut spiral facing up. Brush the tops lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning or oregano if using.
- Step 9: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the dough is deep golden on the edges, the cheese is melted and the centers look baked through. If the tops brown too quickly, move the pan to a lower oven rack.
- Step 10: Let the pizza roses cool in the pan for about 5 minutes to set, then use a small offset spatula or butter knife to gently lift them out. Serve warm on a platter as Valentine party appetizers or with salad for a simple dinner.
- Sweet variation: To make dessert style pizza roses, fill the dough strips with softened cream cheese or hazelnut spread and thin berry slices instead of sauce, cheese and pepperoni. Roll, place in the muffin tin, sprinkle with sugar, and bake until puffed and golden. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- Calories: 200
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Potassium: 120 mg
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 3 g
- Vitamin A: 150 IU
- Vitamin C: 3 mg
- Calcium: 120 mg
- Iron: 2 mg
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