One Hour Focaccia Bread

Name: One Hour Focaccia Bread
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup warm water (I heat mine to about 90 degrees); 1/2 teaspoon sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons rapid rise yeast; 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 4 tablespoons olive oil (divided); 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary; olive oil for drizzling (if desired); sea salt for topping (if desired); extra parmesan cheese for topping (if desired)

May 10, 2024
4.50 from 14 votes
40 comments

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This One Hour Focaccia Bread is one of our favorite recipes! Made with fresh herbs, tons of garlic and parmesan cheese! This no-knead focaccia bread recipe comes out soft and fluffy on the inside and golden and crisp on the outside. You will never buy store bought focaccia again!

slice of focaccia bread on white plate topped with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs

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homemade focaccia bread

Nothing beats freshly baked bread at home! Your house will smell amazing, and is there anything better than warm bread, straight out of the oven? I don’t think so! This recipe is so easy and comes together in only 20 minutes of prep time! I’ve included a step-by-step video and pictures below to make it even easier! Most breads take hours to make but this focaccia is ready in just ONE HOUR!

Every time I make this recipe everyone is so impressed! They can’t get over the fact I made my own focaccia bread at home AND in under an hour! You can do it too with just a few pantry staples, your stand mixer and 20 minutes prep!

What is focaccia bread?

Focaccia is an Italian flatbread similar to pizza.

Is focaccia pizza? No, not quite. Focaccia can be used as an appetizer with a dip, a side dish, snack, or the bread itself can even be used to make a sandwich (my favorite). Different parts of Italy have different variations – both savory, where they use ingredients like rosemary, garlic, sage and cheese, and sweet where they use sugar, raisins, honey, and other sweet ingredients.

ingredients

For the focaccia bread: all-purpose flour, rapid rise yeast, sugar, warm water (about 90 degrees), salt, and olive oil. This is an easy, basic bread recipe.
Toppings: rosemary, garlic, parmesan cheese, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt. We combine all of these ingredients and brush it over the top, just before baking it in the oven.

serving up a slice of focaccia bread with a silver spatula

How do I make this easy Focaccia Bread recipe

Preheat the oven and grease a cast-iron skillet with olive oil.
Activate the yeast: Add the water, sugar and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Stir to combine, and allow it to sit for a few minutes until it gets nice and foamy. The water needs to be warm for the yeast to activate. I heat mine to around 90ºF.
Make the dough: Add in flour, salt, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix until the dough begins to pull away from the sides and forms a sticky ball. If it is not pulling from the sides add a bit more flour (a tablespoon at a time).

bread dough in stand mixer with the bread hook

Prepare the dough to rise: Lightly flour your hands and form the dough into a ball. Place it in the skillet, and spread the dough so it covers the entire skillet.
Turn off the oven and place the skillet in the oven for 20 minutes to rise.

spreading focaccia dough into large cast iron skillet

Remove the skillet from the oven, and turn the oven back on to 400ºF.
Prepare the coating: Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, parmesan, garlic powder, and rosemary. Brush the mixture on top of the bread. Using your fingertips make indentations on top of the dough.

make indentations into dough and sprinkle with herb butter

Let’s cook! Bake the bread for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, sea salt, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for topping, if desired.

baked focaccia out of the oven in cast iron skillet

Can I add other toppings to this one-hour focaccia bread?

Sure! I made this focaccia with rosemary, garlic, and parmesan, but here are some other topping ideas that would be delicious:

Herbs – Sage, thyme, oregano, basil, chives, spring onion, cilantro. Either in the coating before baking, or fresh herbs sprinkled on top after baking.
Minced fresh garlic
Red onion
Caramelized onions
Cherry tomatoes
Sun-dried tomatoes
Olives
Peppers – fresh bell peppers, hot peppers or red chili flakes
Various Cheeses – cheddar, low-moisture mozzarella, feta, goat’s cheese, Romano, gouda
Seasonings – Everything Bagel Seasoning, Za’atar Seasoning, sumac

frequently asked questions

How do I store this homemade focaccia bread?

To eat within 2 days: This focaccia is best served fresh within a day or so. Store at room temperature, covered in plastic wrap, or in a container for 2 days. Reheat in a 375 degree over for 10 minutes.

Freezer: To freeze the focaccia cut into individual slices before freezing and wrap each slice in foil to help prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 1 month.

WHAT SIZE SKILLET SHOULD I USE?

We use a 12 inch cast iron skillet when making focaccia. Here’s the cast iron skillet we use! You could also use a cake pan or square baking pan if you prefer. Just note that the focaccia will be a lot thicker and will take longer to cook.

two white plates each topped with a slice of homemade focaccia bread

Italian Recipes to serve alongside the bread: