Description
This beautifully decorated focaccia bread recipe yields flavorful and visually stunning loaves perfect for holiday or special occasions. The bread features a soft, airy texture with a crispy golden crust and is adorned with fresh herbs, cranberries, and olives fashioned into festive Christmas tree and floral designs. This homemade focaccia is a delightful centerpiece offering both taste and artistry.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/4 teaspoon honey
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus additional for oiling pan and drizzling)
Christmas Tree Bread Decorations
- 1 bunch fresh sage
- 1 bunch fresh rosemary
- A few sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries, halved
- Pinch of salt and pepper
Flower Bread Decorations
- 3 to 4 green onions
- A few chive sprigs
- 1 shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and honey. Stir gently a few times, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom and become foamy.
- Combine Initial Ingredients: Add 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until the flour is fully moistened, forming a thick batter. Let it rest for another 5 minutes to begin developing gluten.
- Add Remaining Flour and Salt: Stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon kosher salt until the dough comes together. Transfer to a floured surface, knead the dough 10 to 15 times until it is smooth and elastic, which helps develop the dough’s structure.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a large lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a towel and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the focaccia.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Use two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil to grease a 9×13-inch (or larger) rimmed baking sheet to prevent sticking and add flavor to the crust.
- Shape the Dough: Transfer the risen dough to the oiled baking sheet. Press it down evenly to fit within the dimensions of the pan (no larger than 9×13 inches). Use your fingertips to dimple the dough, creating characteristic focaccia texture. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top. Allow the dough to rise again for 20 minutes until slightly puffed.
- Decorate Christmas Tree Bread: Arrange fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme herbs on one half of the dough in the shape of a Christmas tree. Add halved fresh cranberries as festive ornaments. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper to season.
- Decorate Flower Bread: On the other half of the focaccia, arrange green onions to mimic stems. Layer the thinly sliced shallots around the green onions as flowers. Disperse chive sprigs to resemble small stems and add sliced black olives to fill empty spaces, creating a floral garden effect.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the bread for 15 to 20 minutes until the focaccia is golden brown on top and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the focaccia from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Allow it to cool before slicing to maintain the crumb structure and to ensure easier cutting.
Notes
- Ensure the water temperature for activating the yeast is warm but not hot (around 100-110°F) to avoid killing the yeast.
- Use fresh herbs for optimal flavor and visual appeal when decorating the focaccia.
- Dimpling the dough is important for creating the classic focaccia texture and helps retain olive oil in the crevices.
- You can customize the decorations with other vegetables or herbs as desired for different occasions.
- Allow the bread to cool before slicing to prevent it from becoming gummy or squished.
