homemade focaccia bread
Nothing beats freshly baked bread at home! Your house will smell amazing, and is there anything better than warm bread, straight out of the oven? I don’t think so! This recipe is so easy and comes together in only 20 minutes of prep time! I’ve included a step-by-step video and pictures below to make it even easier! Most breads take hours to make but this focaccia is ready in just ONE HOUR! Every time I make this recipe everyone is so impressed! They can’t get over the fact I made my own focaccia bread at home AND in under an hour! You can do it too with just a few pantry staples, your stand mixer and 20 minutes prep!
ingredients
For the focaccia bread: all-purpose flour, rapid rise yeast, sugar, warm water (about 90 degrees), salt, and olive oil. This is an easy, basic bread recipe. Toppings: rosemary, garlic, parmesan cheese, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt. We combine all of these ingredients and brush it over the top, just before baking it in the oven.
How do I make this easy Focaccia Bread recipe
Preheat the oven and grease a cast-iron skillet with olive oil. Activate the yeast: Add the water, sugar and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Stir to combine, and allow it to sit for a few minutes until it gets nice and foamy. The water needs to be warm for the yeast to activate. I heat mine to around 90ºF. Make the dough: Add in flour, salt, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix until the dough begins to pull away from the sides and forms a sticky ball. If it is not pulling from the sides add a bit more flour (a tablespoon at a time).
Prepare the dough to rise: Lightly flour your hands and form the dough into a ball. Place it in the skillet, and spread the dough so it covers the entire skillet. Turn off the oven and place the skillet in the oven for 20 minutes to rise.
Remove the skillet from the oven, and turn the oven back on to 400ºF. Prepare the coating: Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, parmesan, garlic powder, and rosemary. Brush the mixture on top of the bread. Using your fingertips make indentations on top of the dough.
Let’s cook! Bake the bread for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, sea salt, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for topping, if desired.
Can I add other toppings to this one-hour focaccia bread?
Herbs – Sage, thyme, oregano, basil, chives, spring onion, cilantro. Either in the coating before baking, or fresh herbs sprinkled on top after baking. Minced fresh garlic Red onion Caramelized onions Cherry tomatoes Sun-dried tomatoes Olives Peppers – fresh bell peppers, hot peppers or red chili flakes Various Cheeses – cheddar, low-moisture mozzarella, feta, goat’s cheese, Romano, gouda Seasonings – Everything Bagel Seasoning, Za’atar Seasoning, sumac
Italian Recipes to serve alongside the bread:
Crockpot Chicken Alfredo Recipe Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs Instant Pot Spaghetti Chicken Shrimp Alfredo Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Garlic and Oil Tuscan Salmon
Is focaccia pizza? No, not quite. Focaccia can be used as an appetizer with a dip, a side dish, snack, or the bread itself can even be used to make a sandwich (my favorite). Different parts of Italy have different variations – both savory, where they use ingredients like rosemary, garlic, sage and cheese, and sweet where they use sugar, raisins, honey, and other sweet ingredients. Freezer: To freeze the focaccia cut into individual slices before freezing and wrap each slice in foil to help prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 1 month.
