Description
This festive Christmas Tree Focaccia recipe features a soft, fluffy bread dough decorated with fresh rosemary, pear slices, cherry tomatoes, pearl onions, and optional red onions to resemble a beautifully adorned Christmas tree. With an overnight dough rest and a two-hour proofing period, this focaccia develops maximum flavor and texture. Perfectly golden and aromatic after baking, it serves as a delightful holiday appetizer or snack that’s both visually stunning and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 tsp coarse salt
- 1 2/3 cups warm water
- Olive oil (a few tablespoons for mixing and drizzling)
Decorative Toppings
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Pear slices (for tree base and topper)
- Pearl onions, peeled and halved
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Thinly sliced red onion (optional)
- Coarse salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the bread flour, active dry yeast, and coarse salt until thoroughly combined. Pour in the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy, wet dough forms. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel, then let it rest at room temperature overnight for at least 12 hours, allowing the dough to ferment and rise fully.
- Prepare the dough the next day: Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil into a 7 x 12-inch casserole dish. Uncover the rested dough, which should be risen, bubbly, and fragrant. Transfer the dough into the oiled dish and use your hands to spread it evenly, filling the dish snugly. Press your fingers into the dough to create characteristic dimples, then drizzle more olive oil over the surface. Cover lightly and let the dough proof for an additional 2 hours to develop volume and texture.
- Preheat oven and decorate: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Carefully arrange your festive toppings on the dough to mimic a Christmas tree shape: use fresh rosemary sprigs for the branches; lay pear slices along the base and top as the trunk and tree topper; and place halved cherry tomatoes and pearl onions throughout as colorful ornaments. Optionally, add thinly sliced red onions for extra color and flavor.
- Bake the focaccia: Lightly sprinkle coarse salt over the decorated dough to enhance flavor. Place the dish into the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until the focaccia has puffed up, turns a beautiful golden brown, and the toppings are nicely set and slightly roasted.
- Cool and serve: Remove the focaccia from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes. Slice into portions and serve warm or at room temperature as a festive and delicious appetizer or snack, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Notes
- Using bread flour gives the focaccia its characteristic chewy texture and sturdy crumb.
- The overnight fermentation enhances the dough’s flavor through natural yeast development.
- Dimples in the dough help capture olive oil and keep the bread moist and flavorful.
- Feel free to customize the decorations with other herbs or vegetables themed to the season.
- Serve this focaccia fresh on the day of baking for optimal texture and taste.
- Prep Time: 12 hours 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Christmas focaccia, festive bread, holiday appetizer, rosemary focaccia, Italian bread recipe, decorative focaccia
