No-Knead Focaccia Bread Recipe
With its golden crust, airy texture, and endless topping possibilities, this No-Knead Focaccia Bread Recipe is about to take homemade bread to a new level. Whether enjoyed warm from the oven or toasted and topped with your favorite spreads, easy overnight focaccia bread is as delightful as rewarding.
This Easy Focaccia Bread recipe is simple and has lots of flavor, but it takes time and some planning. It is one of the most satisfying kinds of bread to make and eat, with its golden crust and airy texture. It tastes just as delicious as bread from a bakery, but it’s made at home.
Why This Bread Is Fabulous
Since ancient Rome, one bread has stood the test of time, captivating others with its rustic charm. Focaccia Bread has been a favorite for centuries and continues as a staple in kitchens around the world due to its appeal and versatility. Focaccia is a delightful recipe that combines simplicity with sensational flavor, promising a homemade bread experience like no other.
Simple Preparation: This recipe simplifies bread making, requiring just a few basic ingredients and very little prep work.
Delicious Flavor: The overnight refrigeration process enhances the flavor, resulting in a delicious taste.
Versatile Toppings: The topping options are endless, allowing for customization to suit your taste preferences.
Homemade Flavor: Baking homemade bread from scratch fills your home with an irresistible aroma.
What Is Focaccia Bread
Focaccia bread is an interesting bread that is different from traditional bread making. The dough can be a bit gloopy, which is normal and does not require kneading. As long as your water temperature is correct, this is a fail-proof recipe, making it great for beginner bakers.
The secret to this focaccia lies in the overnight process of allowing the dough to rest, develop its flavor, and give the yeast plenty of time to work its magic. Despite the wait, the process is one of the most satisfying experiences in breadmaking. It’s a labor of love that rewards with each delicious bite.
Whether served warm from the oven, dipped in olive oil, or made into a sandwich, this easy overnight recipe will become a staple in your kitchen.
Focaccia Bread is Economical
Easy Overnight Focaccia Bread is not only delicious and satisfying but also economical. It is a budget-friendly option for bread lovers. The ingredients are simple pantry staples, typically inexpensive and found in most grocery stores. This easy focaccia recipe makes two round pans and will feed a crowd or large family. This is great for sandwich bread, serving with soup, or as an appetizer. This bread freezes well, making it easy to use at a later time. Plus, no special equipment is needed for this recipe.
Ingredients Needed for Homemade Focaccia Bread
With these simple yet flavorful ingredients, you’ll be well on your way to creating a mouthwatering focaccia that’s sure to impress friends and family alike. These ingredients are simple and straightforward and easily found in most grocery stores. This is a recipe where simple ingredients come together to form a rustic and delicious bread. This is the best focaccia bread recipe, and it’s easy and comes together with minimal effort. See the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and amounts.
- All-Purpose Flour – The flour is the foundation of the focaccia dough, providing structure and texture to the bread.
- Salt – Enhances the flavor.
- Rapid Rise Instant Yeast – Dough rises faster and higher with rapid rise yeast. This type of yeast is important for this recipe.
- Warm Water – Water temperature is essential when using yeast. Make sure it is the correct temperature.
- Butter (for greasing pan) – I use salted butter, but unsalted butter will also work fine.
- Olive Oil—Extra Virgin Olive Oil is needed for this recipe. You will need two tablespoons of olive oil for each loaf of bread: one tablespoon on the bottom of the pan and one on top of the dough.
- Italian Seasoning—Italian seasoning adds a burst of flavor and appeal to this bread. You decide on your toppings for the focaccia bread and customize it to your liking. Italian Seasoning, with fresh Rosemary and flaky sea salt, is fabulous as a topping.
How To Make Overnight Focaccia Bread
By following these instructions, you’ll be able to create a delicious batch of easy overnight focaccia bread with ease and confidence that is mouthwatering and delicious. Please see the printable recipe card below for complete instructions on making this recipe. The first time I made this recipe, I was slightly intimidated about making homemade bread, but the second time I made it, I was confident and knew this was a very forgiving recipe perfect for even beginner bakers. Here is a brief overview of the steps.
- Prepare the Dough. Mix the bread dough in a large mixing bowl and refrigerate it for the first rise.
- Second Rise. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, place it in baking pans, and allow at least 2 hours for the second rise for best results.
- Add Toppings. Add the toppings of choice.
- Bake. Bake until the bottom (and top) is golden brown.
Topping for Focaccia Bread
You decide what you add to the top of the dough for the toppings, which is quite endless. Feel free to mix and match these toppings or get creative with your own combinations to customize your bread to suit your taste preferences.
Rosemary and Sea Salt: Fresh Rosemary is fabulous on this bread, and this combination adds freshness and a slight crunch to the top.
Italian Seasonings: Italian seasoning, parsley, and rosemary are a delicious combination. You can also add your favorite Italian bread toppings.
Black Olive and Tomato: Adding cherry tomatoes and black olives (or green olives) gives this a delightful Mediterranean twist.
Cheesy Bread: Adding cheeses to the top of this bread turns it into cheesy bread sticks. I prefer to add parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and asiago cheese.
Ways to Serve Focaccia Bread
However you choose to serve it, easy overnight focaccia bread is sure to impress with its irresistible flavor, texture, and versatility. Here are some ways I enjoy serving this bread.
Dipping: Serve slices of bread alongside olive oil for dipping. This makes a fantastic appetizer.
Sandwich: Use slices as a foundation for a sandwich.
Cheesy Bread: Serve the slices as cheesy bread dunked in marinara sauce or with a big bowl of Bacon Ranch Pasta.
Soup Companion: Serve this bread alongside a steaming bowl of soup for the ultimate comfort food dish. Tortellini Soup is delish!
Pizza Dough: This dough makes the best foundation for homemade pizza. Try this recipe with Sausage and Mushroom Pizza.
How To Store Focaccia Bread
Allow the bread to cool to room temperature before storing. Leave it wrapped tightly on the kitchen counter if you plan to eat it within the next few days. Reheat on a baking pan in the oven before serving. This bread also freezes well, so you can enjoy it later. Just thaw and reheat in the oven.
More Bread Recipes
No-Knead Focaccia Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet) Rapid Rise Instant Yeast
- 2 cups Warm Water about 120°
- 1 teaspoon Butter, softened for greasing pans
- 4 tablespoons Olive Oil divided
- Italian Seasonings or toppings of choice
Instructions
Prepare The Dough:
- In a medium-large bowl, combine flour, salt, and yeast. Stir well. Add the warm water (about 120°F), which you can measure with a kitchen thermometer to be sure it's the right temp. Mix with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula until all the flour is well incorporated. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
Second Rise:
- After 8-24 hours, remove the dough from the refrigerator. Lightly butter the bottom and sides of two 9-inch cake pans. Line the pans with parchment paper. Pour one tablespoon of olive oil into each pan and spread to cover the bottom. Divide the dough in half with a large spoon or rubber spatula and place one piece in the center of each pan.
- Cover each pan tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest for 2-3 hours. The dough should cover most of the pan. If not, use your finger and guide the dough to the edges.
Bake:
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F with a rack positioned in the center.
- Drizzle another tablespoon of oil over each round of dough. With oiled fingertips, press straight down and create deep dimples that go through the dough (you'll be making deep indentions). If necessary, gently stretch the dough as you go to allow it to fill the pan.
- Sprinkle tops with Italian seasoning, fresh herbs, black pepper, and sea salt. See notes for more options.
- Transfer the pans to the oven and bake for 22 to 28 minutes, until the tops are golden and the undersides are crisp. Remove the pans from the oven. Remove bread rounds from the pans with a spatula and transfer to a cooling rack.
- Serve warm. Store leftovers in an airtight bag or container.
