Craving freshly baked bread but don’t have the patience for an overnight rise?
You’re in luck!
This easy same-day focaccia recipe is an adaptation of @_lacebakes_ viral overnight focaccia, perfect for those moments when you need bread STAT.
Follow these simple, precise instructions to make delicious focaccia in just a few hours.
Ingredients
To make this focaccia, you will need:
- 500g white bread flour (12% protein content or higher)
- 420ml warm water
- 6g (1.5 teaspoons) instant yeast
- 5g (1 teaspoon) honey, sugar, or maple syrup
- 10g (2 teaspoons) fine sea salt
- Extra virgin olive oil to line the pan and drizzle
- Flaky sea salt to finish
- Toppings of your choice (e.g., rosemary, olives, peppers, onions, jalapeños, cheese)
Equipment
For the best results, use a metal baking tray. A 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) tray is ideal as metal conducts heat better than ceramic or glass, ensuring a perfectly baked focaccia. If you use a larger tray, the bread will bake up thinner.
Instructions
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your same-day focaccia:
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and fine sea salt. Add the honey (or sugar/maple syrup) and warm water. Mix until the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Knead the Dough: The dough will be quite sticky, but that’s okay. Knead it in the bowl until it becomes smoother. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
- First Rise: Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Step 2: Shape and Second Rise
- Prepare the Baking Tray: Generously coat your metal baking tray with extra virgin olive oil.
- Shape the Dough: Transfer the dough to the prepared baking tray. Gently stretch and press it into the corners of the tray. The dough might resist a bit, but let it rest for a few minutes and then try again.
- Second Rise: Cover the dough with a damp towel or plastic wrap again and let it rise for another 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until it has puffed up.
Step 3: Add Toppings and Bake
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (430°F). Place a rack on the lowest position in the oven.
- Add Toppings: Once the dough has risen, use your fingers to create dimples all over the surface. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Add any additional toppings you like, such as rosemary, olives, peppers, onions, jalapeños, or cheese.
- Bake: Place the tray on the lowest rack in the oven and bake for 18-23 minutes. The focaccia should be a deep golden brown. If it needs more time, don’t worry – leave it in the oven until it reaches the perfect color and texture.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Dough Consistency: Your dough might be wetter or stickier than mine. This variation is due to the different absorption rates of bread flours. Don’t worry if your dough is wetter; it will be trickier to handle but will still bake up beautifully.
- Using All-Purpose Flour: If you prefer to use all-purpose flour, reduce the water by 40ml. You can always add a bit more water at the end if needed. Note that all-purpose flour has a lower protein content (9-10%), so your focaccia will be less fluffy and have fewer bubbles.
- Measurements: For accuracy, always use a digital scale instead of cups. Digital scales are inexpensive, easy to use, and ensure precise measurements, which is crucial for baking bread.
- Gluten-Free Option: Currently, a 1:1 swap with gluten-free bread flour doesn’t work well with this method. I’m working on a gluten-free adaptation and hope to share a successful recipe soon.
Conclusion
With this easy same-day focaccia recipe, you can enjoy the taste and texture of freshly baked bread without waiting overnight.
Follow these steps, and you’ll have a delicious focaccia ready to serve in just a few hours.
Happy baking!