Noble Pie is leaning into the Valentine’s Day spirit with one of Reno’s most charming culinary traditions: heart-shaped pizzas. Now in their 12th year, these pies have become a fan-favorite, crafted from the shop’s 9th-generation Sicilian dough and 4th-generation Brooklyn red sauce recipes. Guests can order a full-size heart-shaped pie or choose from mini versions, including the playful “broken-heart” pizza for those celebrating solo.
This February also brings something new. Noble Pie will host “A Pizza My Heart,” a Valentine’s Day edition of its pizza-making workshop and the inaugural benefit honoring Emma Marie Jordan. Proceeds support seatbelt safety education and advocacy. Attendees will learn to stretch and shape their own mini heart-shaped pies during an afternoon of creativity, connection, and remembrance.
To bring some of Noble Pie’s magic home, owner Ryan Goldhammer shared a simplified version of their signature dough recipe. While the restaurant’s typical method includes a 72-hour, triple-proofed dough, this home recipe delivers a delicious crust Noble Pie is proud of with a bit less time commitment.
Ingredients (Makes ~4 Small Pizzas):
- 20 ounces high-gluten flour
- 13 ounces warm water (110°F)
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2.5 teaspoon dry active yeast
Directions:
1. Warm the water to 110°F, stir in the sugar and yeast, and let bloom for 10 minutes. Add the flour and mix for five minutes, then let the dough rest for 20 minutes.
2. Turn the mixer back on, add the salt, and mix for four to five minutes. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and continue mixing until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Adjust with flour or water if needed.
3. Transfer the dough to a floured surface, shape it into a ball, and place in an oiled bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Remove a couple of hours before shaping, divide into four portions, ball again, lightly oil, cover, and refrigerate another 24 hours. Unused dough may be frozen.
4. When ready to bake, let the dough warm slightly below room temperature. Preheat your oven and a pizza stone or steel sheet to its highest temperature (580°F ideal; 550°F acceptable). Shape your dough and bake.
Notes:
For a heart shape, start with a ball of dough, cut a 4–5 inch slit at the top, and gently pull and curve it outward. Salt should be added after the initial mix, and oil last. High-gluten flour and a fully heated stone or steel help replicate Noble Pie’s signature East Coast texture at home.