Focaccia Recipe
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Learn to make focaccia, the simple Italian flatbread with its signature dimpled surface and rich olive oil flavor—it’s easier than you think!
Perfect for feeding a crowd, focaccia is a rich and flavorful Italian flat bread baked in a sheet pan. It’s made with a yeast dough that rises twice: once after it is mixed and then again after it is shaped. To give the bread its signature dimpled appearance, you use your fingers to form little indentations all over the dough. These “dimples” hold tiny pools of olive oil that soak into the bread as it bakes. The recipe calls for about one cup of oil, which I know seems like a lot, but that’s what makes focaccia so good! Note that the oil is added in stages, so be sure to read the recipe carefully before starting so that you don’t accidentally add it all at once.
Adapted from Anne Burrell, this simple focaccia recipe is topped with coarse salt and fresh rosemary, but other toppings can be added, such as thinly sliced tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, olives, caramelized onions or Parmesan cheese, to name just a few. Enjoy the bread warm out of the oven with pasta fagioli, zuppa Toscana, bolognese or a big Italian salad. Leftovers make wonderful sandwiches.
“Thanks for another hit Jenn! I made this for Christmas Eve and it paired perfectly with your classic lasagna.”
What You’ll Need To Make Focaccia
- All-purpose flour: The base of the dough. Be sure to use the spoon and level method—spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife—for accuracy and best results.
- Sugar: Feeds the yeast, helping the dough rise.
- Yeast: Makes the bread rise. I use instant or rapid-rise yeast (sometimes labeled “bread machine yeast”) for focaccia and other yeast breads because it rises much faster than active dry yeast. You can find it in jars or packets, and once opened, it keeps in the fridge for 3 to 6 months. If you don’t bake homemade breads often, I recommend buying the individual packets to ensure freshness.
- Kosher salt: Adds flavor to both the dough and the top of the focaccia.
- Warm water: Activates the yeast and brings the dough together.
- Extra-Virgin Olive oil: Provides richness and flavor while also creating a crispy bottom.
- Fresh rosemary: Adds an earthy, fragrant flavor. Feel free to experiment with other herbs like thyme or oregano for a different twist.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the Dough
Begin by combining the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the dough hook.
Mix to combine.
Add 1-3/4 cups warm water and 1/2 cup of the olive oil.
Mix on low speed until the dough comes together into a sticky mass.
Increase the speed to medium and knead for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the dough becomes soft and slightly tacky. It should stick to the bottom of the bowl a bit. If the dough seems too wet, sprinkle with a few tablespoons of flour, and turn the mixer back on to knead it briefly to combine.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface.
Briefly knead with your hands until it comes together into a smooth ball.
Step 2: Let the Dough Rise
Place the dough in a large greased bowl, flipping it over once so that both the top and bottom of the dough are lightly slicked with oil.
Let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
Step 3: Shape the Dough and Let Rise Again
Pour about 1/4 cup olive oil onto a 13″ x 18″ rimmed baking sheet (I know it seems like a lot, but that’s what gives focaccia its characteristic crispy bottom), then place the dough on top.
Flip it over once so that both sides are coated with oil; this makes it easier to stretch. Using your hands, spread it out to the corners of the pan.
Use your fingertips to make dimples all over the dough.
Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the dough rise again a warm spot until puffed up and doubled in size, about an hour. Drizzle the dough with a bit of olive oil, so it pools in the dimples, and sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt and fresh rosemary.
Step 4: Bake
Bake for about 20 minutes, until golden.
Let cool for about 15 minutes, then transfer to cutting board and slice into squares. Drizzle with a touch more olive oil if desired.
Freezing Instructions
The homemade focaccia bread recipe freezes beautifully. To freeze, cut it into portions, wrap in plastic wrap and then foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat the focaccia, remove the plastic wrap and rewrap it in the foil. Heat it in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.
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Focaccia
Learn to make focaccia, the simple Italian flatbread with its signature dimpled surface and rich olive oil flavor—it’s easier than you think!
Ingredients
- 5 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with a knife, plus more for kneading
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) instant/rapid-rise yeast (see note)
- 1 tablespoon + ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1¾ cup warm water
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for oiling the bowl and drizzling on top
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, from several sprigs
Instructions
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the salt. Mix on low speed to combine. Add the water and ½ cup of the olive oil; mix on low speed until the dough comes together, then turn the speed up to medium-low and continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes, until the dough becomes soft and slightly tacky. It should stick to the bottom of the bowl a bit. If the dough seems too wet, sprinkle with a few tablespoons of flour, and turn the mixer back on to knead it briefly to combine.
- Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface (it helps to flour your hands, too). Knead by hand briefly until the dough comes together into a smooth ball.
- Coat the inside of a large bowl with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, flipping once so that both the top and bottom are lightly slicked with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm, draft-free spot until the dough has doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours. (The warmer the spot, the faster it will rise.)
- Coat a 13" x 18" rimmed baking sheet with ¼ cup of olive oil. (It will seem like a lot, but that's what makes the bottom crispy.) Plop the dough onto the prepared pan and begin pressing it out with your hands to fit the size of the pan. Turn the dough over once to coat both sides with olive oil. Continue to stretch the dough to fit the pan. Once the dough is stretched, spread your fingers out and make impressions almost all the way through the dough (don't poke holes, just press down to the bottom of the pan). Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the warm, draft-free spot until the dough has puffed up and doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- While the dough is rising a second time, preheat the oven to 425°F. Set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Sprinkle the top of the focaccia dough with the remaining ¾ teaspoon kosher salt and rosemary, then lightly drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top so it pools in the indentations. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 15 minutes. Transfer the focaccia to a cutting board and slice into squares. Drizzle a touch more oil on top before serving, if desired.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Focaccia is best eaten freshly baked but it can be made 1 day ahead of time, if necessary. For best results, wrap the focaccia in aluminum foil and place in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature. Reheat, wrapped in foil, in a 350°F oven until just warmed through, about 10 minutes. The focaccia can also be made ahead and frozen. To freeze, cut it into portions, wrap in plastic wrap and then foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat the focaccia, remove the plastic wrap and re-wrap it in the foil. Heat it in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.
- Note: Active dry yeast may be used instead of instant/rapid-rise yeast, however, the dough will take longer to rise. To give active dry yeast a boost, you can add it to the warm water in the recipe, let it sit until frothy, about 10 minutes, and then proceed with the recipe.
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: 2 squares
- Calories: 325
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Sugar: 1 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 g
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I made this and we loved it! It made a ton so I have frozen some to use at a later date. I also made the leek potato soup to go with the bread. Another wonderful, easy recipe! Thanks, Jenn!
This was the best I’ve ever made!
Thanks for another easy to follow and successful recipe, Jenn! Quick question re the Freezer-Friendly instructions – can I assume that the focaccia needs to defrost before baking in oven??
Hi Sue, I’ve usually taken it out of the freezer a little in advance, but you can reheat it from frozen; it will just take a few extra minutes in the oven. 🙂
This bread is the simplest and the best!! I’ve made it many times using my my fresh rosemary and it always comes out perfectly!!
Can you make this without a heavy-duty mixer?
Sure, Heather – you can knead the dough by hand.
I used to use this recipe a lot and I realised that you changed one of the first steps? It used to start with the yeast, water and sugar that was left to proof for 10 minutes. Why was that changed?
Hi K, I changed the yeast to instant/rapid rise yeast, which does not need to be proofed. Makes it easier, but there is a link to the old recipe at the end of the step-by-step photos if you’d prefer to use it. 🙂
This recipe is just great! Easy to follow and the dough is super easy to work with. My first time making a focaccia and it was a delicious success. I made half with the rosemary exactly like in the recipe, and sprinkled the other half with shredded pizza blend cheese for the kids, both turned out great! This recipe is a keeper.
I haven’t had a lot of experience making bread but this was incredibly easy and the results were simply stellar. I would have taken a picture but we ate it. I doubt there will be any to freeze since I split it the next morning and toasted it. Drizzled with honey, it was divine. The honey mixed with the rosemary and salt was indescribably delicious! This recipe is a keeper. The only thing I would ask for is instructions to knead by hand as I don’t always have access to a mixer.
Hi Linda, So glad you enjoyed this! You can definitely knead the dough by hand the old fashioned way. It will just take a little more time.
So easy to make and delicious!
Where has this been all my life? It’s absolutely delicious and so fun to make! I only had instant yeast, so I added it to the other dry ingredients just like when I make pizza dough. I combined the water and oil, and added that to half of the dry ingredients and gradually added the rest. This was such a huge hit that I know I’ll be making it often, and can’t wait for the rest of the family to try it when they visit.
Do you recommend making this only if you have a mixer? I do not have a mixer but i was thinking about trying by hand, do you think the texture would be drastically different?
Hi Francis, You can just knead by hand the old fashioned way. It will take a little more time, but shouldn’t significantly impact the texture. Hope you enjoy!
Made by hand and turned out great! Definitely going to remake