This is just about as easy as it gets for some really good homemade focaccia. It doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s a great project to tackle with the kids.
You can make focaccia from scratch, with a bread mix, or with a focaccia mix. Regardless, it’s easier than you might think.
What You’ll Need
Of course, the easiest way to make focaccia is with a focaccia bread mix but any bread mix will do. You can also use your favorite recipe though a two-loaf recipe will fill two pans. Use either a 15-inch round pizza pan or an 12×18-inch baking pan. A crisper pan, one with holes in the bottom to bake the bottom as well as the top, is perfect. You’ll also need some good olive oil and some Italian spices.
Mix the bread dough according to package directions or according to the recipe. We used our bread machine for convenience but you can mix the dough by hand or with your stand-type mixer. (If you use your bread machine, be sure to set the machine to the “dough” setting.) After mixing, place the dough in a greased bowl and let it rise until doubled–for most recipes, 45 to 60 minutes. (If you use one of our focaccia mixes, you won’t have to let the bread rise in the bowl.)
While the dough is rising, mix together the following ingredients for a topping:
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Directions
- Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Gently place the rounded dough ball on your greased baking sheet. Press the dough across the bottom of the pan until it touches the edges. Cover the dough and let rise again.
- Once risen, make 1/2-inch-deep indentations in the dough with your fingers one to two inches apart.
- Pour the oil and spice mixture over the bread.
- With the back of a spoon or with a pastry brush, spread the oil mixture around until all of the dough has a shiny coating of oil.
- Immediately place the bread in the oven. Bake the bread for 15 minutes or until the top turns golden brown.
- Remove the bread to a wire rack to cool for ten minutes before serving warm.
Makes ten to twelve servings.
Baker’s Notes: You can use your focaccia as a pizza crust or vary the toppings or spices to taste. Try onions, mushrooms, or spinach.
Resources
You can purchase focaccia mixes, pizza pans, and spices and herbs at The Prepared Pantry.
