Homemade Focaccia Bread
This Homemade Focaccia Bread is soft and airy on the inside, golden and crisp on the outside, and full of rich olive oil and rosemary flavor. It's perfect as a side dish, sandwich base, or even a snack all on its own!
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Easy Focaccia Recipe
If you've never made bread from scratch before, this focaccia bread recipe is a great place to start. It's beginner-friendly, no kneading by hand required, and flexible enough to make ahead and bake when you're ready!
The dough rises until soft and pillowy and bakes up with a crispy crust from the generous layer of olive oil. Topped with rosemary and flaky sea salt, it's a delicious, bakery-style bread you can make at home.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
This easy focaccia bread recipe is one of our favorite recipes! Here's why:
- It's make-ahead friendly. The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for later, allowing you to split the work if you can't do it all in one sitting.
- It has the best texture. The inside is soft and chewy, while the top gets perfectly golden and lightly crispy.
- It's so versatile. Serve it with soup, use it for sandwiches, or enjoy on its own with olive oil and balsamic vinegar!
Ingredients
- Warm Water: Use 1¾ cups of warm (not hot) water to activate the yeast and hydrate the dough.
- Instant Yeast: One packet (2¼ teaspoons) helps the dough rise quickly and evenly. Be sure to use instant rather than active dry yeast.
- Fresh Rosemary: Use 5 sprigs, leaves chopped and divided-some for the dough, some for topping.
- Granulated Sugar: Just 1 tablespoon to help activate the yeast and lightly flavor the dough.
- All-Purpose Flour: Use 5¼ cups, plus more for kneading if needed. This provides the structure and texture to the focaccia dough. While you might be tempted to use bread flour here, all-purpose flour creates the soft, airy texture that's perfect for focaccia.
- Kosher Salt: Adds flavor to the dough. Coarse sea salt is used for topping before baking.
- Coarse Sea Salt: For sprinkling. Flaky sea salt is the perfect topping for this no-knead focaccia bread.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: You'll need 1 cup, divided. It keeps the bread moist and helps create a golden crust.
Substitutions and Variations
Dried rosemary: If fresh isn't available, use about 1½ teaspoons of dried rosemary instead.
Different herbs: Try herbs like thyme, oregano, or a blend of Italian herbs for a different flavor profile.
Top with extras: Use halved cherry tomatoes, sliced olives, caramelized onions, or roasted garlic. You can also drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil over the top!
Make it cheesy: Add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan or mozzarella before baking.
How to Make Focaccia Bread
You will love how easy this Focaccia Bread is!
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, yeast, 2 teaspoons of the chopped rosemary, sugar, and half the flour. Stir to combine.
- Fit the mixer with a dough hook and, on low speed, add the remaining flour, kosher salt, and ½ cup olive oil. Once the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium and knead for 5-6 minutes, or until smooth and soft. If the dough is very sticky, add another tablespoon or two of flour.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, at least 1 hour.
- At this point, you can make the dough ahead: Place it in a large plastic bag, or divide in half and place in two plastic bags, and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge or for a few hours at room temperature. Then proceed with the recipe.
- Coat a jelly roll pan with the remaining ½ cup olive oil. Put the dough onto the pan (you can divide it and use two smaller 9x13-inch pans) and press it out with your fingertips to fit the size of the pan. Coax and stretch the dough to cover most of the surface. Spread your fingers to create little holes all the way through the dough.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F. Brush the focaccia with the olive oil on the pan and sprinkle liberally with coarse sea salt and the remaining rosemary leaves.
7. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before cutting and serving.
Madison's Pro Focaccia Tips:
For the best results, follow these pro tips when you make this focaccia:
- Use plenty of olive oil. It keeps the focaccia moist and gives it a crisp, golden crust.
- Dimple the dough deeply. Use your fingers to dimple the dough. This creates the signature focaccia texture and helps hold toppings in place.
- Let it rise. The dough should double in size each time. Give it time for the best texture!
FAQ
Yes. Let it cool completely, then freeze in slices or whole. Wrap tightly and reheat in the oven or toaster oven.
A jelly roll pan or a 9x13-inch metal baking pan works well. You can divide the dough and bake in two smaller pans if needed.
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven to re-crisp the exterior.
Yes! Mix the dough in a large bowl with a spoon, then knead by hand on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth.
How to Serve
Homemade focaccia pairs well with just about everything! Try it with:
- Soup. Pair this mouthwatering bread with your favorite bowl of soup! We love this quick and easy minestrone soup or this irresistible Italian wedding soup.
- Salad. Serve with your favorite salad, like this strawberry spinach salad or tasty grilled chicken salad.
- Sandwich Toppings. This focaccia makes the perfect base for a sandwich! Try it with cold cuts or make this amazing chicken pesto caprese salad.
I'd love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Focaccia Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups warm water
- 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast (1 package)
- 5 sprigs fresh rosemary stems removed, leaves chopped and divided
- 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 5¼ cups all-purpose flour plus more for kneading
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus coarse sea salt for sprinkling
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil divided
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, yeast, 2 teaspoons of the chopped rosemary, sugar, and half the flour. Stir to combine. Fit the mixer with the dough hook and on low speed add in the remaining flour, salt, and ½ cup olive oil. Once the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium and knead for 5 to 6 minutes, or until smooth and soft. If the dough is really sticky, add in another tablespoon or two of flour.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, at least 1 hour.
- To make ahead: Place the dough in a large plastic bag, or divide in half and place in two plastic bags, and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge or for a few hours at room temperature. Proceed with the recipe.
- Coat a jelly roll pan with the remaining ½ cup olive oil. Put the dough onto the jelly roll pan (you can divide the dough in half and bake in 2 smaller 9 by 13-inch pans) and begin pressing it out with your fingertips to fit the size of the pan. Coax and stretch the dough to fit the entire pan, or just about. Spread your fingers to make little holes all the way through the dough.
- Cover the dough with plastic and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Brush the focaccia with the olive oil on the pan and sprinkle liberally with coarse sea salt and the remaining rosemary leaves. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before cutting and serving.
Notes
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
- To freeze, let cool completely, then freeze in slices or whole. Wrap tightly and reheat in the oven or toaster oven.
Nutrition
More Bread & Baking Recipes
My friends call me Mad and you can too. Here you'll find easy, wholesome recipes, and designed to share with those you love.
I tried making bread once and it did NOT work. To this day, I am envious of those with the talent for it.
You should definitely try it again! 🙂
Amy at Livin' Life All for Heavens' Sake posted a bread recipe not too long ago that seems pretty simple. Hopefully I'll be successful at some point!
Lauren
Here We Geaux
Subject: Re: Comment on Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe
Making bread is one of my favorite weekend activities, but I've never done a focaccia! If you had a spare moment, I would be delighted if you'd
drop this (and anything else you'd like to share) by at the #PureBlogLove anything
goes link party! You can find me here: http://picnicnz.blogspot.co.nz/
I feel like I should make another kind of bread this weekend! The weather is perfect for it! 🙂
Oh Heavens! This looks delicious. I would have never known it would be so easy to make, or at least little ingredients and no need for any special machines! I want to make it this weekend!
I hope you'll try to make it! You'd be great at bread making 🙂
This looks wonderful! I've been wanting to learn to make a good gluten free bread, but always think it's so hard. These photos may have inspired me to try a recipe, though!
I hope you found one that works for you!
I've had everything to make foccacia bread for weeks because I have been wanting to try it so badly, but I haven't, yet!! I think you inspired me to just do it!
I hope you did!!
I love focaccia bread! Pinning this!
Mmm this looks so yummy! I bet it would be so good dipped in olive oil for a quick snack!
Brava!!!
I am definitely one that has been a little scared to make bread! I'll take your advice and try to get over it 🙂
You got this girl! 🙂
I have always wanted to try and make my own bread but I'm always worried I will mess it up! And I would think it takes a lot of patience and I have very little. Ha! I should try it I guess because this bread looks delish!
It might take patience if you sit and stare at the dough, but I just left it while I did other things and when I came back it was ready! 🙂
Love homemade bread! Thanks so much for the recipe!
I have been wanting to make bread for a long time. I actually bought some yeast at the store yesterday! How perfect is the timing of this recipe?! 😉
I hope you were able to make it! It's so good!
I've seriously always wanted to make focaccia bread and the rosemary kind is always my favorite! Its like you were reading my mind! This is going to be a must try!!
I hope you tried it! 🙂