Start by combining warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk them together and let the mixture rest for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy. This tells you the yeast is active and ready.

Add the flour, salt, garlic powder, basil, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the yeast mixture. Mix everything with a spoon until it forms a shaggy dough, then use your hands to knead it gently until you have a cohesive ball.

Drizzle a bit more olive oil over the dough ball and cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.

When you're ready to shape your pizzas, preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dust your counter lightly with flour. Divide the dough in half or thirds depending on how many pizzas you want to make. Gently roll and use your hands to shape each piece into a heart. Aim for about half an inch thickness so the crust cooks evenly.

Brush the very edges of each heart with olive oil using a pastry brush. This creates a beautiful golden crust when baked. Use a fork to poke holes across the entire surface of the dough. This prevents large air bubbles from forming during baking.

Spread a thick layer of pizza sauce over each heart, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle generously with mozzarella cheese.

If you're using pepperoni, cut them into heart shapes with a 1-inch cookie cutter and arrange them on top of the cheese for an extra-special presentation.

Bake the pizzas for 12-14 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and the cheese in the center has fully melted. Let them cool slightly before slicing and serving.