Focaccia Bread Recipe

Interested in making bread at home? Here's an easy recipe, totally kid friendly if they want to help or easy to make yourself! Please enjoy!


Recipe for Focaccia Bread   Yield: ½ sheet pan (This recipe yield will be perfect for a family of 4-6. It will make a good amount so if you are left with too much, gift it to your friends or you can freeze it after you bake and eat later.)

Ingredients

Granulated Sugar                                               1 TBSP.

Active Dry Yeast                                               1 TBSP.( 1 pkg) 

Water  (110°F)                                                   12 fl oz. or 1&1/4 cup                                                                

All-Purpose Flour                                               1 lb. 2 oz.

Kosher Salt                                                         2 tsp.

Onion, fine dice                                                  3 oz.

Olive Oil                                                             2 TBSP.

Fresh rosemary, rough chop                               2 TBSP.

Directions
1.) Sift the all purpose flour and set aside.
2.) Remove the bowl attachment of a standing mixer and fit the dough hook on. 
3.)  Add to the bowl the sugar, yeast and warm water and mix lightly with a spoon to fully dissolve the sugar.
4.) Wait for the yeast to bubble slightly and begin to add in the flour. Add in 4 parts, incorporating each part well on a medium-low speed. 
5.) Stir in 1 ½ tsp. of the salt and all of the fine diced onion.
6.) Speed up the mixer to medium-high until very smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. You can also knead the dough on a floured board by hand, takes about 10-15 minutes. 
7.) Oil a large bowl with 1 TBSP. of olive oil and place the dough inside. Cover with a towel and allow it to proof until doubled in size. (Temperature will vary from household to household, but an hour should be fine.)
8.) After about an hour and the dough has doubled, punch out all of the air in the dough. Place the dough on a lightly oiled half sheet tray and even out to about 1 inch in thickness. Brush the top of the dough with 1 TBSP. of olive oil, you can just use your hand if you don’t have a brush.  
9.) To give a more rustic look, you can give your dough a dimpled look by lightly pressing your fingertips into the top of the dough
10.) This dough needs to proof just once more. Proof for 15 minutes and cover with a towel again.
11.)  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F when your bread is almost done proofing. 
12.) Right before putting the dough in the oven, sprinkle over the chopped rosemary and any remaining salt onto the dough. Add any other flavorings you like such as sliced garlic, parmesan cheese or even green olives. 

10.) Bake for 10 minutes, rotate the pan 180 degrees, and bake for another 10 minutes. You want a light golden brown color and a crisp top. Let the bread cool slightly and serve while still warm or at room temperature.

                                                      

This recipe is so so simple and you can add what ever you like to it. If you feel you can't finish it all, allow the bread to go stale, dice it up in cubes and freeze it. Makes for a great savory bread pudding or home made croutons!! 

Please enjoy my recipe and thank you for reading!