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Easy Garlic Butter Focaccia Recipe

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5 from 137 reviews

This Easy Garlic Butter Focaccia recipe yields a fluffy, golden-brown Italian flatbread infused with fragrant garlic butter, topped with Parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil. Perfect as a side or appetizer, it combines simple pantry staples with a few rising steps to create a richly flavored, irresistibly tender bread with a crisp crust.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 2 tbsp honey or granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (plus more for greasing pan)

For the Garlic-Herb Butter:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced or grated
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley

For the Topping:

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling and pan)

Instructions

  1. Make the Yeast Mixture: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups warm water with 2 tablespoons honey or sugar and stir until dissolved. Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons active dry yeast, stir gently, and set aside for about 10 minutes until foamy and doubled in size.
  2. Prepare and Rise the Dough: In a separate large bowl, mix 4 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Pour in the foamy yeast mixture and 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Mix until a sticky dough forms. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 3 hours until doubled in size.
  3. Make the Garlic Butter: Near the end of the first rise, melt 1/2 cup salted butter in a pan over low heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/2 cup chopped parsley, simmer gently until fragrant without burning garlic.
  4. Incorporate Garlic Butter and Do Second Rise: Once dough has doubled, gently scrape down the sides with oiled hands. Pour the slightly cooled garlic butter over the dough. Using the ‘pick-up, fold-in’ method, stretch and fold the dough 8 times to build structure. Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
  5. Prepare the Pan and Final Proof: Generously grease a 9×13 inch pan with extra virgin olive oil. Pour 4 to 6 tablespoons olive oil to coat the bottom. Transfer dough carefully to pan, gently stretch it to fit without tearing. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes for the final proof.
  6. Top, Dimple, and Bake the Focaccia: After final rise, sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese over dough and drizzle with 4 to 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. With clean oiled fingers, dimple the dough all over to create indentations. Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C) and bake 18 to 22 minutes until golden brown and crisp on top. Optionally, drizzle a bit more olive oil just after baking.
  7. Cool, Slice, and Serve: Remove focaccia from oven and cool 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature for best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Ensure the water for the yeast mixture is warm (about 110°F/43°C) to activate yeast effectively.
  • Use oiled hands when handling dough to prevent sticking.
  • Do not skip the dimpling step; it retains olive oil and creates the characteristic focaccia texture.
  • Letting the dough rise properly at each stage is key to achieving a fluffy bread with good structure.
  • Feel free to add your favorite herbs or sea salt as additional toppings before baking.
  • For a stronger garlic flavor, add extra garlic to the butter or directly to the dough as desired.

Keywords: Garlic Butter Focaccia, Easy Focaccia Bread, Italian Flatbread, Homemade Focaccia, Garlic Herb Bread

Find it online: https://platedbyemma.com/easy-garlic-butter-focaccia-recipe/