This vegan focaccia bread recipe is easy to make, perfect for beginner bread bakers! It's crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside.
This recipe for focaccia bread is perfect for weekend baking!
Yes, it's time consuming but it's soo worth it. Don't let the prep time or yeast intimidate you. This rosemary focaccia is incredibly fluffy and naturally vegan.
It's actually one of the very first bread recipes I learned how to make! It's incredibly satisfying, you've just gotta give it a try.
Why you'll love this recipe
Homemade focaccia bread is perfect served with dinner, soups, stews. You can even slice the bread in half for sandwiches or use the dough to make focaccia bread pizza dough.
This easy vegan focaccia recipe uses simple ingredients, with no dairy or eggs!
It's comfort food at its finest. Especially as the temperatures drop and cozy, hearty meals make their way into our dinner rotation.
Focaccia bread origin
Historians believe focaccia bread history dates back to either the Etruscans of North Central Italy before the Roman Empire was formed, or Ancient Greece at the beginning of the first millennium BC.
What is focaccia bread?
Every region has its own style of bread, and focaccia is an Italian favorite. It's traditionally ½ - 1 inch thick, with a light crust and top full of indentations that hold oil.
Equipment
Focaccia is easy to make by hand, but even easier to make with the help of a stand mixer.
If you don't have a stand mixer, no problem! Simply use a large mixing bowl.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make the very best focaccia bread at home!
- Warm water: I suggest using a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of the water. It should be around 110°F.
- Sugar: This helps to activate the yeast, as well as give the bread a touch of sweetness. Organic sugar is vegan friendly!
- Yeast: For this recipe, use active dry yeast. You'll need 1 packet or 2 ¼ teaspoons. Instant yeast can be used as an alternative.
- Flour: All purpose flour produces a light and fluffy dough, that results in delicious airy crusty edges.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is what makes focaccia so incredible tasting! It adds to the texture as well as the flavor of the bread.
- Sea salt: I love topping focaccia with extra flaky sea salt before baking. If you don't have any on hand, you can sprinkle on some fine sea salt instead.
- Herbs: Rosemary is commonly kneaded into or topped on focaccia, but you can use other seasonings, if desired. Fresh is best, but if you don't have access to fresh herbs, dried herbs work too.
How to make
Full instructions are included in the recipe card below, but here are the basic steps.
- Proof the yeast: Whisk together yeast and sugar in warm water and let sit until foamy. This takes about 10 minutes.
- Knead the dough: As the stand mixer runs on low speed, gradually add the flour, olive oil, and salt to the stand mixer bowl (or mixing bowl, if kneading by hand). Increase the speed to medium and knead focaccia for 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky and isn't pulling away from the sides of the bowl, add an extra ¼ cup flour while it's mixing.
- First rise: Grease the mixing bowl with extra olive oil or cooking spray, then place the ball of dough back in the bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm location. Let the dough rise for 45-60 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
- Second rise: Coat a baking dish or baking sheet with cooking spray. Dust the dough with extra flour then roll the dough out to fit. Cover and let sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Prepare the dough: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Using your fingers, poke dents all over the top of the dough. Don't be worried about poking all the way down to the bottom! Drizzle a tablespoon or two of extra olive oil all over the surface of the dough and sprinkle evenly with fresh (or dried) herbs and sea salt.
- Bake the focaccia: Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden.
- Serve and enjoy: Remove focaccia from the oven. Let cool slightly, slice, and serve warm.
Variations
Want to customize this recipe? There are endless focaccia bread toppings! Here are a few ideas:
- Garlic Focaccia Bread: Finely mince a large garlic clove or two into the dough.
- Jalapeno Focaccia Bread: Slice half a jalapeno and top the dough with slices just before baking.
- Pesto Focaccia Bread: Drizzle vegan store bought or homemade pesto on top of the dough just before baking.
- Tomato Focaccia Bread: Slice about ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or sun dried tomatoes and press into the dough just before baking.
- Focaccia Pizza Bread: Top with your favorite pizza toppings!
- Use different fresh herbs: Instead of fresh rosemary, use fresh basil, thyme, oregano, or marjoram.
- To make gluten free focaccia bread: Use gluten free all-purpose flour with xanthan gum.
Tell me your favorite toppings for focaccia bread!
How to eat focaccia bread
My favorite way to serve focaccia bread is with a variety of dipping sauces or alongside soup.
- Dip into extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or thai sweet chili sauce.
- Enjoy as a side dish alongside potato soup, pumpkin soup, or sweet potato stew.
- Serve as a snack or appetizer during happy hour with your favorite wine. Focaccia pairs best with a sparkling wine like champagne, blanc de blanc, or prosecco. If you prefer white wine, try sauvignon blanc or chardonnay. For a red wine, barbera is a great choice.
Storage
Did you know focaccia tastes even better over time? Here are my tips for storing leftover focaccia!
How to store focaccia bread
Keep focaccia stored in an airtight bag or container for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze focaccia bread?
Yes, you can freeze focaccia! Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then wrap it in foil.
Store in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Related Recipes
If you liked this recipe, try these beginner baking recipes next:
- Homemade Bagels
- Dinner Rolls
- Vegan Biscuits
- Pita Bread
- Pull-Apart Loaf
- Easy Calzones
- Soft Pretzels
- Vegan Pizza
- Cinnamon Rolls
Vegan Focaccia
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water around 110°F
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
Topping Ideas
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoon italian seasoning
Instructions
- Pour warm water into the bowl of your stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the yeast and sugar on top, give it a quick gentle stir, and let sit until foamy. This takes about 10 minutes.
- Turn the stand mixer on low speed and gradually add the flour, along with the olive oil and salt. Increase the speed to medium and knead the dough for 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add ¼-1/2 cup extra flour while it's mixing.If kneading by hand, stir the ingredients together in the large mixing bowl until a shaggy dough forms. Then turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, until smooth, adding extra flour when needed.
- Grease the bowl with extra olive oil or cooking spray, then place the dough ball back in the bowl. Cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel and place in a warm location. Let the dough rise for 45-60 minutes, until it has doubled in size.
- Coat a baking dish or baking sheet with extra olive oil or cooking spray. I prefer a thicker focaccia so I use an 8-inch square dish, however a 9x13-inch baking pan works great too! Dust the dough with extra flour, then stretch the dough to fit the baking dish. Cover and let sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Using your fingers, poke dents all over the top of the dough. Don't be concerned about poking all the way down to the bottom! Drizzle a tablespoon or two of extra olive oil all over the surface of the dough and sprinkle evenly with fresh (or dried) herbs and a pinch of extra sea salt.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden and the inside is fully cooked through.
- Remove the focaccia from the oven. Let cool slightly to touch, slice, and serve warm.
Notes
Alexandra Evans says
Saving this. Sounds and looks yummy!
theurbenlife says
Thanks! Enjoy 🙂
cookandenjoyrecipes says
This is perfect thank you. Love it and will pin it as well to try it out.
iceandlettuce says
this looks so good!
theurbenlife says
Thank you 🙂