City Lifestyle

City Lifestyle

Want to start a publication?

Learn More

Featured Article

Picture Perfect Focaccia

Surprise and delight your family and friends this fall with savory, decorative focaccia bread.

Article by Stephanie Amlung & Amanda Stout

Photography by Cathy Lyons–Lyons Photography

Originally published in Mason & Deerfield Lifestyle

Decorative Focaccia Bread Recipe

Servings: 24

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces warm water (110°F), divided into 2 bowls.

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • 7 grams of active dry yeast

  • 2 ounces olive oil, for making the dough

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

  • 24 ounces bread flour

  • 4 ounces olive oil, for pan, hands and drizzling

  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

  • Vegetables, herbs, & meats for decorative design

Instructions

  1. Mix the first cup of warm water with the yeast and sugar. Set it aside for about 5 minutes or until the yeast wakes up and becomes bubbly. 

  2. Place the water/yeast mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached.

  3. Add in about 1 cup of flour and mix on low until combined.

  4. Add in the rest of the water, the olive oil, salt and half of the remaining flour. Mix on low until combined. 

  5. Continue adding in flour while mixing on low until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. The dough will be very soft.

  6. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes or until the dough bounces back when lightly pressed.

  7. Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size.

  8. Pour enough olive oil into a 12" x 17" sheet pan to make a thin layer of oil that covers the entire bottom of the pan.

  9. Put some olive oil on your hands to prevent sticking and then pull the focaccia dough out of the bowl. It will be very loose. Lay it in the pan and begin stretching it. If it shrinks back, walk away for about 15 minutes to let the gluten relax before you stretch again. 

  10. Once you're done stretching, cover it with plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerator overnight to develop the best flavor.

  11. When you're ready to bake your bread, take it out of the fridge and let it warm up for about 30 minutes. Dimple the surface with oiled fingers to create some areas where the olive oil can collect. Drizzle a good amount of olive oil onto the top of the bread until all the dimples have a little oil in them. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top. 

  12. After your focaccia has rested for 30 minutes, decorate the top any way you like with veggies, herbs and meats. Brush all of your veggies and herbs with more olive oil to prevent burning.

  13. Bake in a preheated 450ºF oven for 20-25 minutes or until the focaccia bread is nice and golden. Enjoy!

Decorating Tips: Be creative and just have fun designing your bread!

  • Good vegetable choices to make flower designs include sliced purple onions, red, yellow and orange peppers, sliced carrot rounds and grape tomatoes. 

  • Green onions sliced longways, chives and asparagus make great flower stems. 

Stephanie Amlung: A Charmingly Sweet Life 

ACharminglySweetLife.com | Instagram: @Charmingly-Sweet-Life

Stephanie creates delicious and beautifully presented baked goods to make each day charmingly sweet through her Mason home bakery business A Charmingly Sweet Life. Her decorative focaccia bread recipe is one of her favorites to share at fall holiday gatherings.