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Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe | Crispy Outside, Soft & Airy Inside

Make this easy homemade focaccia bread recipe with olive oil, herbs, and your favorite toppings. Crispy on the outside, soft and airy inside, perfect for beginners.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 12
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Dough
  • 2 cups warm water 100–110°F
  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or preferred herbs
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil plus more for pans and topping
Optional Toppings
  • Choose one or mix and match.
Classic Rosemary
  • Fresh rosemary
  • Flaky sea salt
Tomato, Olive & Feta
  • Cherry tomatoes halved
  • Kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • Crumbled feta cheese
  • Fresh rosemary
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
Yellow Squash
  • Thinly sliced yellow squash
  • Olive oil
Strawberry & Shallot
  • Thinly sliced shallots
  • Sliced strawberries
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Fresh basil
Mediterranean
  • Artichoke hearts
  • Sliced bell pepper
  • Sliced red onion
  • Garlic
  • Fresh thyme

Method
 

Step 1: Activate the Yeast
  1. Pour the warm water into a large bowl.
  2. Add the active dry yeast and honey. Stir until combined and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes.
  3. The yeast should become foamy. If it doesn't, start again with fresh yeast.
Step 2: Mix the Dough
  1. In another bowl, whisk together:
  2. Flour
  3. Salt
  4. Thyme
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the yeast mixture.
  6. Using a spatula, stir until all the flour is incorporated and a sticky dough forms.
  7. No kneading is required.
Step 3: First Rise
  1. Pour ¼ cup olive oil into a clean large bowl.
  2. Transfer the dough into the bowl and gently turn it so every side is coated in olive oil.
  3. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
  4. For even more flavor, refrigerate the dough overnight (12–18 hours). Before baking, let it return to room temperature and finish rising.
Step 4: Build Structure
  1. Lightly oil your hands.
  2. Lift one side of the dough and fold it toward the center.
  3. Rotate the bowl and repeat until you've completed four folds.
  4. This creates structure without traditional kneading.
Step 5: Transfer to Baking Pans
  1. Generously oil your baking pan.
  2. You can use:
  3. One 9×13-inch baking pan
  4. Two 9-inch round pans
  5. Two 8-inch square pans
  6. Transfer the dough into the prepared pan(s).
  7. Gently stretch it toward the edges.
  8. If the dough springs back, let it rest and stretch again every 30 minutes during the second rise.
Step 6: Second Rise
  1. Allow the dough to rise uncovered for another 1–2 hours.
  2. After the first hour, preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
Step 7: Add Toppings
  1. Drizzle the surface generously with olive oil.
  2. Oil your fingertips and press deep dimples all across the dough.
  3. Toss your chosen toppings with a little olive oil before adding them. This helps prevent burning during baking.
  4. Finish with herbs, cheese, flaky salt, or pepper flakes if desired.
Step 8: Bake
  1. Bake at 450°F for 20–25 minutes, or until the focaccia is deeply golden brown with crisp edges.
Step 9: Cool Properly
  1. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 5 minutes.
  2. Transfer it to a wire rack immediately to keep the bottom crisp.
  3. Slice and serve warm.

Notes

Homemade focaccia is one of the most rewarding breads you can bake. With its crisp olive oil crust, soft and airy crumb, and endless topping possibilities, it's perfect for family dinners, entertaining guests, or enjoying fresh from the oven. Once you've mastered the basic dough, you can experiment with countless flavor combinations to make it your own.