Description
This beautifully decorated focaccia bread recipe yields soft, flavorful bread adorned with festive herbs and vegetables arranged in creative designs, perfect for holiday gatherings. Featuring two decorative options— a Christmas tree made with fresh sage, rosemary, thyme, and cranberries, and a floral design with green onions, shallots, chives, and olives—this recipe is ideal for impressing guests with both taste and presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Basic 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 4 tablespoons divided
For the Christmas Tree Bread
- 1 bunch fresh sage
- 1 bunch fresh rosemary
- A few sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries, halved
- Pinch of salt and pepper
For the Flowers Bread
- 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 to combine, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is activated.
- Mix Initial Ingredients: Add 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until the flour is moistened and incorporated. Allow this to rest for another 5 minutes to begin the dough development.
- Add Remaining Dry Ingredients: Stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. When the dough starts to come together, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and knead it 10 to 15 times until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough into a large bowl greased with olive oil, cover it with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: About 10 minutes before the dough is done rising, preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius).
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Use 2 tablespoons of the reserved olive oil to grease a 9×13-inch (or larger) rimmed baking sheet to prevent sticking and to add flavor and texture to the crust.
- Shape Dough and Second Rise: Transfer the risen dough onto the prepared baking sheet and press it down with your fingers to shape it evenly within the pan, no larger than 9×13 inches. Use your fingers to create dimples in the dough’s surface. Drizzle the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Let the dough rise again for 20 minutes until it puffs slightly.
- Decorate for Christmas Tree Bread: Arrange fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme sprigs on the dough to form the shape of a Christmas tree. Add halved fresh cranberries to resemble ornaments. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper evenly over the top.
- Decorate for Flowers Bread: Use green onions to create stems, place thinly sliced shallots along these to resemble flowers, scatter chive sprigs to mimic small stems, and fill empty spaces with sliced black olives for a striking floral display.
- Bake Bread: Place the decorated focaccia in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bread turns golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the focaccia from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool before slicing. This helps preserve the texture and makes cutting easier.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the water for yeast activation is warm, around 100-110°F (38-43°C), to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- The decorative herbs and veggies can be substituted according to seasonal availability or personal preference.
- This focaccia is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Dimpling the dough before baking helps create the classic focaccia texture and pockets for the olive oil to settle.
- Allowing the dough to rise twice enhances the bread’s lightness and flavor.
