If you are looking for a special bread recipe to serve for Christmas, consider trying this Christmas focaccia recipe, which has a Christmas tree image on top. A mixture of parsley, tomatoes, and onions are assembled on the dough to create a Christmas tree before the bread is baked in the oven.
Making the Christmas focaccia is quite easy; first, you make a dough with water, sugar, yeast, flour, salt, and olive oil. Then, it goes through a few periods of rising and folding before it is pressed into a rectangle in a baking dish, topped with the garnishes, and baked in the oven. This bread is light and fluffy with a wonderful texture and a lovely roasted flavor in the vegetables and herbs.
What is Christmas Focaccia?
Christmas focaccia is a type of Italian bread that has garnishes arranged on top in the form of a Christmas tree. Focaccia is a type of Italian bread that is flat and leavened with yeast. Commonly, it has garnishes like rosemary, coarse salt, nuts, and/or raisins, but this version has parsley, onions, and tomatoes on top.
Pro Tips
- Place the dough in a warm place in your kitchen to ensure it rises easily.
- Resting and folding the dough in a few stages helps improve the texture of the bread.
- You will know the focaccia is baked through when it has puffed up and become golden on the top.
- If you would like to make this focaccia at other times of year, you can feel free to arrange the garnishes in different images.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Serve Christmas Focaccia?
This Christmas focaccia would be amazing served as part of a Christmas feast complete with roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. However, you could also have it as part of a lunch with soup or serve it as part of a charcuterie board with different cheeses and salumi.
How Will I Know When My Focaccia Dough Has Risen Enough?
You will know that your focaccia has risen sufficiently when it has doubled in size. When you press into it with your finger, it should spring back easily as well.
Why Does Focaccia Have Dimples on the Surface?
The dimples on focaccia add a pleasing texture to the bread while also helping hold onto the olive oil and seasonings. They also help prevent the bread from rising too quickly.
How to Store Christmas Focaccia
This Christmas focaccia is best enjoyed within 1 to 2 days of it being made. Simply place it in a sealed container and store it at room temperature. Alternatively, for longer storage, you could also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
How to Make Christmas Focaccia
In a bowl mix the water with the sugar and yeast until dissolved. Mix in the flour and salt until combined. Stir in the olive oil and mix until combined. Cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to rest for 20 minutes.
In a bowl mix the water with the sugar and yeast until dissolved. Mix in the flour and salt until combined. Stir in the olive oil and mix until combined. Cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to rest for 20 minutes.
Pour olive oil over the dough and make four folds. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Pour olive oil over the dough and make four folds. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Repeat the process of folding the dough, cover it, and allow it to rest for another 40 minutes.
Repeat the process of folding the dough, cover it, and allow it to rest for another 40 minutes.
Pour olive oil in a parchment-lined baking dish. Add the dough and stretch it out. Cover it and allow it to rest for 40 minutes.
Pour olive oil in a parchment-lined baking dish. Add the dough and stretch it out. Cover it and allow it to rest for 40 minutes.
Pour olive oil on top of the dough and press your fingertips into the top to dimple the dough.
Pour olive oil on top of the dough and press your fingertips into the top to dimple the dough.
Cut the bread into slices and serve.
Arrange the garnishes on top to form a Christmas tree. Drizzle it with olive oil. Bake it in a 375 F (190 C) oven for 40 minutes.
Cut the bread into slices and serve.
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