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Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe

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This Focaccia Bread recipe makes a soft and tender Italian bread that is great as an appetizer or with your favorite meal. You won’t believe how easy it is to make.

Side view of Italian Focaccia topped with a sprig of rosemary. Hostess At Heart
Easy Focaccia Bread

Focaccia recipes use simple ingredients and are easy enough for the beginner or the avid bread baker.

Traditional Italian recipes such as our Sourdough Focaccia Bread, Flat Bread Recipe, and our Flatbread Margherita Pizza are guaranteed to impress. However, this Rosemary Foccacia is one of our favorites. It’s soft and tender and perfect for the fanciest charcuterie tray or simple pasta dinner. It’s got a soft crumb that sops up a great marinara or a balsamic vinegar dipping sauce.

What is Focaccia Bread?

Focaccia pronounced (foh-kah-chuh) is a soft and chewy type of Italian bread that is made with yeast. It’s not a pizza or flatbread but isn’t a tall loaf either.

This rosemary focaccia is a traditional recipe but it can be varied to suit your tastes and I’ll be sharing a few variations with you.

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Kitchen tools used for this recipe

Baking sheet – These are my favorites! I have 4 of them so I can get large batches of cookies baked in no time.

Mixing Bowls – I’d be lost without mixing bowls in my kitchen. These bowls are perfect for mixing and serving.

Homemade Focaccia Bread Ingredients

Ingredients used to make rosemary focaccia bread include sugar, yeast, milk, salt, flour, cheese, olive oil, and herbs. - Hostess At Heart

Like many Italian bread varieties, this Focaccia recipe uses simple and minimal ingredients.

  • All-Purpose Flour – You can use bleached or unbleached.
  • Salt – We used kosher salt but any salt is acceptable. We also finish the bread with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
  • Yeast – Dry yeast also called Dry Active, Instant yeast, or Rapid Rise will work in this recipe.
  • Sugar – White granulated sugar
  • Herbs – Rosemary, thyme, and oregano are used in this recipe. See the variations below for a few more ideas.
  • Olive Oil – Since olive oil is such an important ingredient in this bread, you will want to use a good extra-virgin variety.
  • Parmesan Cheese – We prefer Parmesan Reggiano

How do you make Rosemary Focaccia Bread Recipe?

Step 1: Proof the yeast.

Combine the milk, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl and let it sit until it’s bubbly about 5 minutes.

Milk, yeast, and sugar added to a bowl so the yeast will activate - Hostess At Heart

2. Prepare the focaccia dough.

  1. Using a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients; flour, herbs, and cheese.
Top down view of dry bread ingredients used in an easy focaccia bread recipe including flour, cheese, and herbs. Hostess At Heart
  1. Add one tablespoon of olive oil to the dry mixture.
Dough ingredients mixed together with a wooden spoon. Hostess At Heart
  1. Add the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough pulls together.
  2. Knead the dough on a floured surface by hand for 10 minutes or until the dough is soft and elastic. The dough can also be kneaded using the dough attachment on your electric mixer.

3. Proof

  1. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl turning it over so the dough is coated on both sides. Let it rest in a warm spot until doubled, 60 to 90 minutes.
  2. Punch the dough down and place it on a prepared sheet pan. Shape it into a rectangle approximately 1/2 inch thick. Dimple the dough with your fingers or the back of a wooden spoon.
Top down view of focaccia dough shaped on a baking sheet. - Hostess At Heart

4. Bake

  1. Brush the dough with olive oil and apply your toppings. Let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes.

Easy Focaccia Bread FAQs

Why do you dimple focaccia bread dough?

You would think it’s just for appearance but it also serves an important purpose. Dimpling the bread allows the dough to puff up and become fluffy as air bubbles are created and trapped in the dough during baking.

If you forget to dimple the bread, the air bubbles will burst and the bread will be less fluffy and flat.

What if you under knead rosemary focaccia bread?

Under kneading focaccia dough will result in a flat, dense, and less springy crumb.

Why is focaccia bread dough punched down?

When the dough is punched down, it removes large air bubbles, trapping smaller air bubbles.

Do you have to use olive oil?

No, you don’t. Any oil, even canola oil or sunflower oil will work. The flavor will change according to what you use.

Can this recipe for focaccia bread be made ahead of time?

Yes, it can! After kneading the dough, place it in an oiled bowl in the refrigerator, covered, overnight. The next day remove the dough from the refrigerator, preheat the oven, and let the dough sit for 20 to 30 minutes to become pliable.

Shape and dimple the dough. Brush it with olive oil and top it with the desired ingredients, and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Bake.

Top down view of baked rosemary foccacia bread sitting on a cutting board with a piece sliced off. Hostess At Heart

Focaccia Bread Recipe Variations

Traditionally Focaccia is made with Parmesan Reggiano and rosemary. It’s also my go-to combination.

Focaccia can be topped with a variety of toppings ranging from rosemary and sea salt to different types of cheese, herbs, vegetables, and even fruit. Here are a few ideas.

  • Cheese – Use romano or asiago or any hard cheese that can be grated.
  • Tomatoes – Sundried tomatoes or fresh cherry tomatoes. The sugar content in sun-dried tomatoes can cause them to burn under a high oven temperature so watch them while they bake.
  • Olives – Chop green, black, or a mixed variety. Include them in the bread dough and on the top. Make sure you drain them so you don’t add a lot of liquid.
  • Herbs – We used fresh herbs but dried ones will work in this recipe. You don’t have to use all of the ones that we did, (rosemary, thyme, and oregano). Add sage, basil, or your favorite herb.
    • You can also use dried seasoning blends such as Italian Seasoning, Herbs de Provence, or a Mediterranean Spice blend.
  • Vegetables – Red onion, zucchini, or asparagus thinly sliced would add color and another flavor.
  • Sea Salt – Sprinkling the top of foccica bread is delicious.
  • Shape – You don’t have to shape this bread into a rectangle. You can shape it any way you want as long as it’s about 1/2 inch thick. Instead of a baking sheet, you can also bake it in a 9×13 pan or round cake pans.

Tips for the BEST Focaccia Bread Recipe

  • Oil the sheet pan with a generous amount of olive oil when preparing it. The dough will absorb it and create crispy edges and additional flavor.
  • Thoroughly preheat the oven and don’t open the door for any longer than you have to. The heat is what creates a fluffy crumb.
Close up view of a piece of focaccia bread cut from the loaf - Hostess At Heart.

How to serve Easy Focaccia

The first time I made this bread I took it to a gathering of friends. I put it on a nice cutting board and didn’t even take butter. It doesn’t need it.

Here are a few more of my favorite ways to serve it.

Appetizer Course

  • Add it to a charcuterie tray with Italian meats, cheeses, and anti-pasta ingredients such as olives and blistered tomatoes. Here are some ideas to make your own cheese tray.
  • Simply with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee for a quick snack.

Dinner (main course)

How to store Traditional Focaccia Bread

Store Focaccia with rosemary at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Focaccia can be frozen. Place it in an airtight freezer bag and then wrap it in foil or an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Note: Don’t slice the focaccia bread before freezing. It can dry out.

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

Top down view of baked Italian focaccia sitting on a cutting board - Hostess At Heart

Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe

Author: Hostess At Heart
Delicious Focaccia Bread is a soft and chewy bread that is easy to make. This homemade focaccia bread is perfect as an appetizer or with your favorite Meal.
4.80 from 5 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Rising and resting time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Bread
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword: Focaccia, Italian Bread, Traditional Focaccia
Servings: 18

Ingredients
 
 

  • cup milk
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • tsp dried rosemary divided
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil Plus more for garnish
  • ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano grated and divided

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl or cup, combine milk, yeast, and sugar. Allow to sit until it becomes foamy (5 to 10 minutes)
  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, 3/4 teaspoon of the rosemary, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan Reggiano.
  • Mix in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and then add the milk-yeast mixture.
  • *Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
  • Place the dough in a lightly oiled large bowl, turning once to coat both sides. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until it doubles in size (1 to 1-1/2 hours).
  • Punch down the dough and place it on a well-oiled rimmed baking sheet. Pat into a 1/2 inch thick rectangle or any shape to your liking (oval, square, or rectangle). Dimple the dough using your fingertips or a wooden spoon, pushing gently all over the surface of the dough.
  • Brush the top generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, remaining 3/4 teaspoon of rosemary, and sea salt. Allow dough to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown in a preheated 450 °F oven with the rack set to the middle position.

Notes

*Mixer fit with a dough hook can be used instead of hand kneading.

Nutrition

Serving: 18gCalories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 182mgPotassium: 54mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 49IUCalcium: 57mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

More easy bread recipes from around the world!

We LOVE baking bread! You can find all of our bread recipes here!

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Angeled view of an Italian baguette sliced on a cutting board - Hostess At Heart

We love this easy Focaccia recipe and have made it several times. If you make it we hope you’ll let us know!

This post was originally posted in 2015 and has been updated to improve the reader’s experience. No changes were made to the recipe.

Side view of sliced Focaccia bread topped with cheese and herbs on a wooden cutting board. Fresh rosemary sits in the front.

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4.80 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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79 Comments

  1. I still have not made focaccia since I took a class at Zingerman’s Bakery 2 years ago. Maybe your recipe is the inspiration I need. Love it for dipping 🙂

    1. It’s probably the easiest bread to make. So forgiving and very versatile. I would love to take classes like that but there isn’t much offered around here.

  2. I can almost smell this delicious bread. You make everything looks so easy.
    Tracey

    1. Thank you Tracey! I love baking bread and want to try some more artisan recipes. That is where it gets difficult!

  3. Julie this looks divine! I used to live in Florence (hence my similarly Italian recipe at Fiesta Friday) and I loved that you could get fresh foccaccia on every corner there. I ate far too much of it! I have never once tried to make my own though, which is crazy! You have given me the push I needed. My boyfriend absolutely loves it too, so I’m going to make some for him tomorrow. And happily my rosemary is doing very well at the moment! Phew! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!

    1. Thank you Anna! It is an easy bread to make. Just planting my rosemary and encouraging it to grow! Thank you for co-hosting FF this week!

    1. Thank you Linda! It is a keeper and easy to do. Please let me know how it comes out for you.

  4. This looks delicious Julie! I will be trying this soon. I know what you mean about baking at certain times. I always make a batch of scones when my husband is feeling under par – even though he is not that keen on scones! It makes me feel better though!
    Just popped over to The Daring Kitchen – how interesting!

    1. It is an easy one that I would love to share with you! It great for dipping in a mix of olive oil and parmesan cheese!

  5. We have a great Italian family bakery here and I doubt I could beat their Focaccia even with your wonderful recipe. I just don’t have a great bake oven, but wish I did.

    1. I got a great oven about 7 years ago and wish I would have had it 20 years ago. It does make a difference.

  6. Hi Julie! the Focaccia looks lovely 🙂 so true about the preservatives, I bake breads at home, just the basic sandwich loaves and dinner rolls, trying to explore more of bread baking.

  7. Lovely focaccia Julie and it’s interesting to see all the herbs that go in the dough… must be very tasty! 🙂

  8. I love focaccia so much!! I’ve never tried making it at home, but I totally should! Thanks for this recipe!

    1. Lisa it is such an unfussy bread to make and it’s perfect for dipping into good olive oil and parmesan. Thanks for stopping by!

  9. Julie,
    This focaccia looks so delicious! I have to make it- it is a sure way to my husband’s heart:)

  10. Great texture with that crisp crust and soft center. I like the traditional version. Delicious!

    Sounds like an interesting blogging group.

    1. I enjoy it Liz. They have two categories, baking and cooking and it’s only once a month. You can read up on them. Thanks for stopping by!

  11. You really achieved a gorgeous brown crust. I love focaccia and used to frequent a charming little cafe that served it sliced open with the most delicious ripe tomatoes and basil. Lovely post.

    1. That would be delicious and why I like this bread. It’s a great snack or side to a meal.

        1. That’s wonderful! It really is simple and you can make a couple and put one in the freezer.

    1. Thank you Juliana! Your focaccia came out beautifully too. They are quick and easy to do and I think the are popular in many countries. Thank you for commenting!