Focaccia bread is olive oil-based and topped with rosemary and flaky salt. It's incredibly easy to make and is perfect for beginners to the bread-making world and pros alike. Channel your inner Italian countryside chef!

I was afraid of trying to bake bread from scratch for a long time. Every time I tried getting yeast to rise it stubbornly refused. The bread would invariably be too dense and flat.

After I decided I was going to figure this yeast thing out or quit cooking all together, I started making all the bread recipes I could find.

And let me tell you, getting yeast to rise is NOT as hard as I made it out to be. Don't worry, I'll give you my foolproof method to get it to rise every time.

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So, what is focaccia bread?

Focaccia bread is one of the best breads to make if you're just starting out. It has the same ingredients as pizza dough but made into a bread. It's an Italian classic with signature holes or divots in the crust and typically made with rosemary, olive oil, and flaky salt. Because there is olive oil on the bottom and top, this bread is wonderfully crispy on both sides. There are all kinds of variations so, as always, you can alter it to your tastes.

Let's start by getting familiar with the most common ingredients for a focaccia bread recipe.

Ingredients

• Yeast: Yeast is used to leaven the bread. It consumes sugar to produce carbon dioxide and a small amount of alcohol. The carbon dioxide makes tiny air pockets (bubbles) in the dough and makes it light and airy.
• Sugar: Since yeast consumes sugar, adding a little to the bowl will encourage the yeast to grow.
• Water: In order for the yeast to thrive, the water needs to be at an optimal temperature of 110°F. I recommend using a digital thermometer to make sure it's right. After doing this a few times you'll be able to judge the temp by feel and may not need the thermometer as much.
• Flour: This is the base for bread.
• Salt: Salt provides flavor here.
• Olive oil: Focaccia gets more olive oil than most other breads. It gives the bread an amazing flavor so it's important to use fresh oil from a quality brand.
• Rosemary: This herb is the traditional flavor of focaccia. The combination with the olive oil and salt is delicious.

How to make Focaccia bread

1. Activate the yeast: Combine a packet or 2 ½ teaspoons of active yeast with sugar, and water at 110°F and stir it to combine. Let this sit for 5 - 10 minutes.
2. Stir: Stir the flour, salt, yeast, olive oil, and water together until a rough ball of dough forms. You can do this with a spoon or a stand mixer.
3. Knead: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes Or you can use the dough hook in a stand mixer. You should see the sides pull away from the bowl but the bottom will not pull away completely.
4. Rise: Spray or thinly coat a large bowl with olive oil and flip the dough around until it's oiled on all sides. Cover this with a towel and place on a counter out of the way for about 1 hour or until it's doubled in size.
5. Second rise: Punch the dough down and place it on an oiled sheet pan. Use your lightly oiled fingers to spread it out so it's even. Cover it with a towel and let it rise for another hour.
6. Bake: Use your fingers to create holes or divots all over the bread. Press all the way down to the pan. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and chopped rosemary over the top. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Let it cool and then cut.

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What's in focaccia bread?

Rosemary is the traditional flavor for focaccia bread but it's far from the only flavors you can use. Here are some examples of other kinds.

• Garlic
• Olives
• Jalapeños
• Parmesan
• Mushrooms
• Green onions
• Sage
• You can even do a sweet focaccia with raisins, honey, and nuts

How to store focaccia bread

Homemade focaccia bread is best eaten the same day it's made. You can put it in an air-tight bag and leave it on the counter for up to 3 days.

It's easily frozen, though, and is a great way to save any you know you won't eat right away.

Stale focaccia also makes great breadcrumbs! Crumble the bread and bake it in the oven to completely dry it out and then store it in an air-tight bag in your pantry or freezer.

Other recipes you may like...

• Irish Soda Bread
• Cornbread
• Homemade Artisan Bread
• Beginner Bread Recipes by The Kitchn
• Bread Pudding
• Waffle Iron Pizza

If you try it out, let me know how it goes in the comments or on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.