No Knead Italian Focaccia Bread- Can you believe I am calling a Focaccia Recipe Easy? If you've never made focaccia this is the recipe to get you started!
Here are other variations you will love as well: Tomato Herb Focaccia (Best, Easiest Recipe), Apple, Brie, and Herb Focaccia Bread, Sweet Focaccia with Raspberries and Balsamic.
Why I love this Recipe
It is an Italian NO KNEAD focaccia recipe that will get you the perfect crisp and bubbly, soft, and fragrant olive oil bread! It is one of the most fun and easiest breads to make.
This NO FAIL RECIPE you don't want to miss. Be the person that makes focaccia on the regular- your friends and family will thank you for it! This easy No Knead Focaccia bread recipe is going to blow your mind!
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Great for Beginning Bread Bakers
- The no-knead, 4-ingredient dough takes 5 minutes to mix together. The hardest part is waiting for the long rise!
- It requires no special equipment, no tricky technique, or scoring.
- If you have a 9×13-inch baking pan and your fingertips (for dimpling), that is all you need. Making the deep dimples is the best part.
- The taste and texture are unmatched and unique: soft and pillowy, olive oil golden crust, and it’s completely irresistible.
This is an easy focaccia recipe anyone can make!
What is Focaccia Bread?
Focaccia (Italian pronunciation: foh-kah-chuh) is a flat oven-baked Italian bread similar in style and texture to pizza; in some places, it is called "pizza bianca".
Focaccia is an olive oil-rich Italian bread that resembles a sponge or a springy mattress. The surface of the dough is coated in olive oil and salt- for the most simple version.
It’s crispy and golden on the top and bottom crusts, and inside, it has an airy crumb (meaning there are tons of air holes, big and small, that squish in the best way possible). It is ONE OF MY FAVORITE BREADS.
Ingredients
- Flour: bread flour or all-purpose flour will work equally well for focaccia.
- Yeast: instant yeast is my preference, but active dry yeast works just as well. See recipe box for instructions on how to use active-dry yeast in place of instant.
- Salt: I say this all the time, but a big part of making a good loaf of bread comes down simply to using the right amount of salt given the amount of flour you are using by weight.
- Flake Salt: this is used to top the focaccia and give it a nice salty crust. FLAKE SALT I LOVE!! MALDONS
- Water: There is a lot of water in this dough it has a very high hydration level. The water helps produce a light, airy, pillowy dough.
- Good Olive oil: Olive oil both in the bottom of the pan and on top of the dough is essential for encouraging nice browning, flavor, and that traditional oiliness we all love about focaccia. Great Basic Extra Virgin Olive Oil for this Recipe COLAVITA
How to Serve
Focaccia bread can be eaten as it is. It can be cut into a variety of shapes, including squares, long skinny rectangles, triangles.
Since focaccia is pretty thick, focaccia can be sliced in half and used for making sandwiches. It's also a tasty addition to a bread basket or an accompaniment to a bowl of soup or a salad.
Thickness Tips
Focaccia is sometimes thick (as seen in all of these photos) or sometimes very thin depending on your preference and style. I prefer thicker focaccia, so I make it in a classic 13X9 glass baking dish with a hight of 2 inches.
If you like a thinner focaccia you can follow the exact same recipe and use a Cookie sheet with a hight of 0.75 inches.
Either way you like it- focaccia has the best texture!
Storing Tips
Storing: The focaccia will keep at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap, for 2 days. Reheat in a 375-degree oven for 10 minutes.
To freeze focaccia, cut it in pieces, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, place in resealable plastic freezer bag, and freeze for up to 1 month.
Can I Make Focaccia In Less Time?
Yes, you can! Start-to-finish it can be made in about three hours. The finished bread will not be as pillowy, but it will still be light, airy, and delicious.
- To skip the long rise (12 hours and up to 48 hours), simply let the mixed dough rise at room temperature until doubled, about 2 hours. Then proceed with the recipe, knowing the second rise will only take about 30 minutes.
Focaccia is a great treat to wrap and bring to a friend or neighbor!
Toppings Suggestions
I recommend starting your focaccia journey with this plain recipe that does not include toppings. The salty olive oil brine is enough to make this a tasty treat all by itself. Once you taste it you can explore options by adding different toppings.
Common focaccia bread toppings include olives, mushrooms, green onions, red onions, or cherry tomatoes, and fruit with cheese. Fresh rosemary focaccia is also quite popular and sage is another herb that is often used instead of rosemary.
In Italy, there are a lot of regional-based focaccia variations. For example, in the Northwest of Italy, there is a popular recipe for focaccia dolce (sweet focaccia).
It's made with a focaccia base that is sprinkled with sugar and incorporated into the dough are raisins, honey, or other sweet ingredients (courtesy of All About Focaccia Bread).
I listed my favorite variations of focaccia at the top of this post.
Focaccia Story: Nonno Livio's Bribe
Every summer morning at our beach home in Italy my Nonno Livio walked to the market to get the newspaper. He went separate from my nonna and aunts who went for the other food items.
He loved when we went with him, but he often went early (before 8 a.m)... and those lazy summer mornings were meant for snoozing as the salty sea breeze gently waltzed through the window.
Nonno cherished our company so much he would bribe us to come with him.
His bribes included a sweet pastry or savory bread, like focaccia, and even gelato! (shhh! don't tell Nonna Laura).
The way he came and gave us mustache kisses and little pinches on our arm to wake us up is a memory I can feel to this day. I didn't really need the bribe to want to go with him, but I happily took the offer.
I wrote a story about Slow Walk with Nonno Livio, if you would like a little more into that experience.
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The Best Italian Bread-Dipping Oil
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Have you checked out my NEW CBE PRODUCTS? Take a look at the 2-in-1 cutting and charcuterie board, gorgeous apron, and unique pasta server that you that you absolutely need. The wood products are all handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah. They make great gifts as well!
Recipe Adapted from Basically
It’s one of the simplest focaccia bread recipes that barely takes any work to create an unbelievably tasty Italian bread! Perfectly crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle, perfect Focaccia Bread every single time!
Make sure to leave a star review below!
Make sure to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena. I hope you loved it! To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.
Print
No-Knead Italian Focaccia Bread
- Prep Time: 8-24 hours
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Total Time: 46 minute
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
EASY AND DELICIOUS ITALIAN FOCACCIA RECIPE! This recipe is shockingly easy. It is a NO KNEAD focaccia recipe that will get you the perfect crisp and bubbly top with a soft and tender interior. You will treasure this fragrant olive oil BREAD! It is a NO FAIL RECIPE YOU will make again and again.
Ingredients
• 1 ¼-oz. envelope active dry yeast (about 2 ¼ tsp.)
• 2 ½ cups (590 ml) lukewarm water (98 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit, 36.5 to 40.5 Celsius)
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 5 cups (625 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for hands such as, COLAVITA
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, for greasing pan
• Flake sea salt, such a Maldons
Instructions
1. Place 2½ cups lukewarm water in a medium/large mixing bowl. Add the yeast and sugar. Stir slightly but do not mix. Let sit 5-10 minutes (it should foam or at least get creamy; if it doesn’t your yeast is dead and you should start again—check the expiration date!).
2. Add flour and kosher salt and mix with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms and no dry streaks remain. It will seem a little wet. That is normal.
3. Pour 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil into a big bowl that will fit in your refrigerator. Transfer dough to bowl and turn to coat in oil. Turn over a few times, but do NOT mix in the oil with the dough.
4. Cover plastic wrap and chill until dough is doubled in size (it should look very bubbly and alive), at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours. If you're in a rush, you can also let it rise at room temperature until doubled in size, 3–4 hours. The longer you let it raise in the fridge the more it flavorful it will be.
5. Grease your desired baking pan or baking sheet depended on preference (classic 9X13 glass baking dish or 9X13 cookie sheet ) with butter. Add the 1 Tbs olive oil to the baking pan and coat bottom. Take out dough from the fridge, uncover, and punch down one time. Then turn the dough over a few times in the bowl. Move dough to the prepared pan.
6. Pour any oil left in bowl over and turn dough to coat it in oil. Let rise, uncovered, in a dry, warm spot (like near a radiator or on top of the fridge or a preheating oven) until doubled in size, at least 1½ hours and up to 4 hours.
7. Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 450°. To see if the dough is ready, poke it with your finger. It should spring back slowly, leaving a small visible indentation. Lightly oil your hands. If using a rimmed baking sheet, gently stretch out dough to fill (you won't need to do this if using a baking pan).
8. Dimple focaccia all over with your fingers. This is my favorite part! Keep poking away until there are lots of poke marks in the dough.
9.Drizzle the top of poked dough with remaining 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Bake focaccia until puffed and golden brown all over, 20–30 minutes. OPtional: brush lightly with olive oil at the right after taking it out of the oven. Enjoy warm or cold!
Notes
Makes great sandwich bread. Simply cut a slice in half lengthwise and use for a sandwich!
Storing: The focaccia will keep at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap, for 2 days. Reheat in a 375-degree oven for 10 minutes. To freeze focaccia, cut it in pieces, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, place in resealable plastic freezer bag, and freeze for up to 1 month. *I do not recommend freezing the tomatoes. Remove them before freezing.
Short Rise Option: To skip the long rise (12 hours and up to 48 hours), simply let the mixed dough rise at room temperature until doubled, about 2 hours. Then proceed with the recipe, knowing the second rise will only take about 30 minutes.
Keywords: italian bread, bread, focaccia, olive oil, sea salt, flour, Italian baking, bread recipe, focaccia recipe, easy recipe
Katrina Smith says
I just need to tell you how much I'm loving your blog, Instagram, food, heritage and you! Made this yesterday when my DIL said she wanted lasagna for her birthday. I'd already known I wanted a reason to make this bread. Everyone loved it. I'm currently eating gluten free but had to take a taste or two as well. Fantastic! Someday I'll make it to Italy (dream!). Family history in Supino, small town near Rome. My grandmother is 100% Italian American. She passed young in 1948. Anyway, been loving all you do since discovering you I think first on Studio 5 a few months back.
★★★★★
Elena says
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! It is my pleasure to share all that I have to offer with my recipes and stories. Enjoy!
Kari Otten says
This bread is so delicious and easy to make! Just 10 minutes and reat time!! The best part is you can make it a couple of hours ahead or the day before and just bake it off when you need it! Our supper guests couldn't stop eating it! 😋 This recipe will definitely become a staple at our house.
★★★★★
Elena says
Kari, so happy you love the recipe. It is a staple in our home as well. Enjoy for years to come.
Rosangela says
Amazing recipe! Everything you make is incredible! Love your blog❤🙌
★★★★★
Elena says
Grazie Rosangela :)!!
Laura says
So easy and delicious! Never will disappoint. Great recipe for beginner bread makers.
★★★★★
Elena says
It is easy and always tasty! There are so many ways you can serve it. Happy you enjoyed it!
Tess Murdock says
Oh my goodness!!! This recipe is so so so easy I have now made this for 5 different parties and every time this is the biggest hit and everyone’s favorite! All of Elena’s recipes are so attainable for any busy mama, and sooooo good ❤️
★★★★★
Elena says
Thanks Tessa! Happy you love it!
Ashlee says
Insane. So so delicious. I can’t even believe how amazing. Thank you!!
★★★★★
Elena says
It is a delicious recipe! Happy you love it!
Laura says
The is always my go to bread. So easy and delicious. You will always impress with it. Highly recommended.
★★★★★
Elena says
Thanks Laura! So happy you love it!
Emily Malan says
This is the best bread! It has become a staple in our house. We make whenever people come over or we need to take meal to someone because we know it will never disappoint!
★★★★★
Elena says
Thanks Emily! I am so happy that you can make it and then share with others. That's spreading the love!
Nicky says
My sister made this and brought it to my house for dinner. Not a crumb was left.
★★★★★
Elena says
We make it weekly! It truly is the best.
Jordan says
You know when you have a bad day, like country song bad, you lose everything and then your truck breaks down or gets smashed by an angry ex-girlfriend. This bread can fix those days and make it the best day. I highly recommend planting your own rosemary to save money because you will want to make this bread constantly. Maybe not everyday but at least 6.75 days out the week.
★★★★★
Elena says
Jordan, yes I know those kind of bad days! A good focaccia bread can fix 6.75 of bad days in a week. I think the other .25 can be solved by eating Tiramisu which literally means "pick me up".
Elena says
It is a family favorite!
★★★★★
Elena says
We make this recipe often and for a good reason! We can't get enough of this delicious and easy Italian bread.
★★★★★
Katrina+Smith says
I have made this bread/recipe countless times now and it is fantastic! Perfect every time and so easy. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Elena says
We make it often and people are always surprised when I tell them how easy it is to make!