The Perfect Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe for Beginners

Fresh focaccia bread can make any kitchen feel like an Italian bakery, transporting you straight to rustic Mediterranean landscapes.

Warm aromas of rosemary and olive oil will drift through your home, creating an irresistible atmosphere.

Kneading dough becomes a relaxing ritual that connects you to centuries-old culinary traditions.

Salt-sprinkled dimples and golden crispy edges promise a delightful texture in every bite.

Simple ingredients combine magically to produce something extraordinary and comforting.

Baking this classic Italian bread feels like a delicious adventure waiting to unfold.

You’ll want to gather friends and share these incredible slices of pure happiness.

Why People Love Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

• Craft Delicious Bread: Create a mouthwatering focaccia that brings restaurant-quality taste right to your kitchen with minimal professional baking skills.
• Maximize Flavor Potential: Develop deep, rich flavors through long refrigeration which allows ingredients to slowly develop complexity and depth.
• Perfect for Sharing: Prepare a crowd-pleasing bread that works beautifully as an appetizer, side dish, or casual gathering centerpiece that everyone will enjoy.
• Customize with Ease: Experiment with different toppings like herbs, olives, or roasted vegetables to match your personal taste preferences and culinary creativity.

What You Need For Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

• Bread Flour: A high-protein flour that provides the strong gluten structure necessary for a chewy and airy focaccia bread.
• Kosher Salt: Adds essential flavor and helps control yeast activity in the bread dough.
• Active Dry Yeast: The key leavening agent that helps the bread rise and develop a light, airy texture.

• Lukewarm Water: Activates the yeast and helps create the right hydration for the dough.
• Olive Oil: Provides rich flavor, helps create a tender crumb, and aids in preventing the dough from sticking.

• Rosemary, Flaky Salt: Adds aromatic herb flavor and a delightful crunchy texture to the surface of the focaccia bread.

How To Bake Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

Step 1: Prepare Dry Mixture

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and combine bread flour. Carefully add yeast and kosher salt on opposite sides of the bowl to prevent direct interaction.

Step 2: Create Dough Base

Use fingertips to blend dry ingredients and form a central well in the mixture.

Step 3: Introduce Liquid

Pour lukewarm water into the well and stir with a wooden spoon until a wet, shaggy dough emerges.

Step 4: Oil the Dough

Drizzle olive oil across the dough’s surface.

Step 5: Massage Olive Oil

Gently rub the oil over the entire dough surface using fingertips.

Step 6: Coat the Bowl

Wiggle the dough around the bowl’s edges to ensure complete oil coverage.

Step 7: Refrigerate Overnight

Wrap the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 18-72 hours.

Step 8: Prepare Baking Pan

Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray and drizzle olive oil in the center.

Step 9: Shape the Dough

Remove dough from refrigerator and use fingers to pull edges toward the center, forming a smooth ball.

Step 10: Transfer to Pan

Move the dough to the prepared pan, turning to coat completely in olive oil.

Step 11: Let the Dough Rise

Allow dough to rise uncovered in a warm spot for 3-4 hours until it nearly fills the pan.

Step 12: Preheat Oven

Warm the oven to 425°F (218°C) near the end of rising time.

Step 13: Add Final Oil Layer

Drizzle remaining olive oil over the dough and spread evenly.

Step 14: Add Herbs and Texture

• Sprinkle chopped rosemary across the surface
• Press fingertips deeply into the dough to create signature dimples

Step 15: Stretch and Prepare

Gently stretch dough to fill pan corners if needed.

Step 16: Season the Top

Scatter flaky salt generously over the surface.

Step 17: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and edges pull away from pan sides.

Step 18: Cool and Serve

• Rest focaccia in pan for 5 minutes
• Transfer to wire rack using a large metal spatula
• Allow 10 minutes of cooling before slicing
• Serve and enjoy your homemade focaccia!

Tips For Great Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

• Preserve Dough Hydration: Refrigerate the dough for at least 18 hours to develop complex flavors and improve bread texture.
• Master Olive Oil Technique: Thoroughly coat the dough and pan with olive oil to create a crispy, golden exterior and prevent sticking.
• Create Perfect Dimples: Press fingers firmly and evenly into the dough to form signature focaccia dimples that trap olive oil and herbs.
• Control Rising Environment: Place dough in a warm, draft-free spot to ensure consistent and proper rising without temperature fluctuations.
• Handle with Gentle Care: Transfer focaccia carefully to a wire rack after baking to maintain crisp bottom and prevent soggy texture.

Fun Styles Of Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

• Herb Garden Focaccia: Replace rosemary with a blend of fresh thyme, oregano, and basil for a vibrant, aromatic herbal version.
• Mediterranean Olive Focaccia: Fold chopped Kalamata olives into the dough and sprinkle extra olives on top before baking for a tangy, rich flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Focaccia: Substitute bread flour with a gluten-free flour blend containing xanthan gum to maintain bread structure and texture.
• Whole Wheat Hearty Focaccia: Replace half the bread flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier, more nutritious bread with added fiber and depth.

Good Pairings For Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

• Pair Perfectly with Focaccia Bread
• Enhance Wine Selection: Choose a crisp, acidic white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc that cuts through the bread's richness and complements its herbal rosemary notes.
• Match Dipping Companions: Create a Mediterranean-style olive oil and balsamic vinegar dipping blend that echoes the bread's olive oil base and amplifies its savory flavor profile.
• Craft Protein Partners: Serve alongside prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, or grilled chicken to transform the focaccia into a complete, satisfying meal with complementary textures and tastes.
• Design Spread Combinations: Top with herbed goat cheese, tapenade, or roasted red pepper spread to elevate the bread's simple ingredients and add complex flavor dimensions.

How To Store Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

• Store leftover focaccia in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 3 days. Keep at room temperature to maintain soft texture.
• Slice focaccia, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month for best quality and taste.
• Warm slices at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until heated through. Wrap in foil to prevent drying out and maintain moisture.
• Toast individual slices for 2-3 minutes until crispy edges return and bread feels warm throughout. Drizzle extra olive oil for added flavor before reheating.

FAQs About Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread

• Why do I need to refrigerate the dough for 18-72 hours?

Cold fermentation develops deeper flavor, improves texture, and allows gluten to relax, creating a more complex and tender focaccia.

• Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?

Bread flour works best due to higher protein content, which creates better gluten structure, but all-purpose flour can be substituted with slightly different results.

• What's the purpose of creating dimples in the dough?

Dimpling helps distribute olive oil, creates texture, prevents air bubbles, and gives focaccia its signature rustic appearance and crispy surface.

• How do I know if my yeast is still active?

Test yeast by mixing it with warm water and a pinch of sugar. If it becomes foamy within 5-10 minutes, the yeast is alive and ready to use.

Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe

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4.5 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 50 minutes (including rising and baking)
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Rustic Italian focaccia bread weaves Mediterranean flavors into a delightful culinary journey. Simple ingredients and classic techniques bring this golden, herbed flatbread directly to your kitchen, inviting warm comfort with each delectable slice.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 500 grams (4 cups) bread flour
• 480 grams (2 cups) lukewarm water
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Leavening and Seasoning:

• 7 grams (2 1/4 teaspoons or 1 standard packet) instant yeast
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

Toppings:

• Flaky salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary

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Instructions

1. Combine bread flour in a large bowl, strategically placing yeast and kosher salt on opposite sides to prevent direct interaction.
2. Gently blend dry ingredients using fingertips, forming a central cavity in the mixture.
3. Introduce lukewarm water, stirring with a wooden spoon until a rough, moist dough emerges.
4. Lavishly drizzle olive oil across the dough’s surface.
5. Massage oil gently into the dough using fingertips.
6. Distribute oil thoroughly around bowl’s interior, ensuring complete coverage.
7. Securely wrap bowl with plastic and refrigerate for 18-72 hours for flavor development.
8. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
9. Spread olive oil centrally in the pan, setting aside for dough preparation.
10. Extract chilled dough, carefully folding edges inward to create a compact ball.
11. Transfer dough to prepared pan, rotating to completely coat with olive oil.
12. Allow dough to rise uncovered in a warm environment for 3-4 hours until it nearly fills the pan.
13. Preheat oven to 425°F during final rising stage.
14. Distribute remaining olive oil over dough’s surface, thoroughly rubbing to ensure even coverage.
15. Sprinkle chopped rosemary evenly across the dough.
16. Create distinctive dimples by pressing fingers directly and deeply into the dough.
17. Gently manipulate dough to fill pan’s corners if necessary.
18. Generously garnish with flaky salt across the surface.
19. Bake for 25-30 minutes until achieving a golden-brown color and slightly pulling away from pan edges.
20. Rest focaccia in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to maintain crisp texture.
21. Allow 10 minutes cooling time before slicing and serving.

Notes

• Enhance yeast activation by using lukewarm water between 100-110°F to ensure perfect dough rising without killing the yeast.
• Protect dough’s moisture by covering the bowl tightly with plastic wrap during refrigeration, preventing surface from drying out.
• Master dimpling technique by using gentle, consistent finger pressure to create signature focaccia texture without deflating the delicate dough.
• Customize flavor profiles by experimenting with alternative herbs like thyme, oregano, or adding roasted garlic for personalized variations.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 215 kcal
• Sugar: 0.1 g
• Sodium: 295 mg
• Fat: 6.8 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5.4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg