This Apple Rosemary Focaccia bread recipe is surprising quick and easy to make. It's baked in a cast iron skillet for the ultimate rustic bread.
This is a sponsored post for JAZZâ„¢ Apples. All opinions are my own. Thanks to all the companies, and readers, who help support Cravings of a Lunatic.
I'm a sucker for a good focaccia recipe. What I really love about this Apple Rosemary Focaccia bread is that you get the best of both worlds. It's both sweet and savoury.
If you're a regular reader you know I'm obsessed with apples. Honestly, I'm always baking with them but I wanted people to know you can do other things with them besides dessert.
So, I took my favourite bread recipe and piled apples on top of them. This recipe looks impressive and difficult to make but it's really not.
For this recipe, I used JAZZâ„¢ apples. They are great as a snack and each bite into them delivers a crunchy, tangy-sweet flavour.
What's really cool about these apples is they can also be used in a multitude of other ways, other than snacking. You can baking with them, cook with them, toss them in salads, make drinks with them, or even used them slaws or salsa.
Check out their JAZZâ„¢ apple website to learn more.
What is Focaccia Bread:
Focaccia is a flat Italian bread that is baked in the oven. The texture is similar to pizza but focaccia is known for looking like it has dimples pressed into it. You can serve focaccia as a side dish or snack. A lot of people use focaccia as a sandwich bread.
How to Pronounce Focaccia:
You pronounce it "fuh-KA-cha".
Ingredients Needed:
- Water- Use a thermometer to ensure the water is at the right temperature. You want it to be about 110 degrees F.
- Sugar- This recipe uses granulated sugar. It's used to help make sure the yeast is good since it can go bad easily.
- Yeast- For this particular recipe, I used instant yeast instead of active dry yeast so the bread would be ready quicker than a traditional focaccia.
- Flour- I used all purpose flour for this bread. You can use bread flour if you like.
- Salt- There are two kinds used in this recipe. I used kosher salt for the dough recipe. Then, I used a flaky salt for finishing the bread. Sea salt is fabulous is on focaccia if you have it on hand.
- Oil- Extra virgin olive oil is the way to go here. You will be using the bulk of it to make the dough. Then you will use a smaller amount to drizzle over top before baking.
- Apples- I used JAZZâ„¢ apples for this recipe. I recommend leaving the skin on. It looks beautiful once baked.
- Fresh Herbs- Fresh rosemary is the best option but if you don't have fresh you can use dried.
- Honey- Drizzle the honey on the bread halfway through baking it. You can also drizzle a bit more once the bread is baked.
How to Make Apple Rosemary Focaccia Bread:
- First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Combine the warm water and sugar in a stand mixer bowl, stir. Then, sprinkle the yeast over top and stir again. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The yeast mixture should look foamy when it's done.
- Then, attach the dough hook attachment to your stand mixer. Add the flour and kosher salt to the mixer slowly. Mix on low speed until combined. Then, add the olive oil and mix on slow first, then increase to medium-low speed for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Spray a mixing bowl with non-stick spray or wipe the inside with oil. Then remove the dough from the mixer and shape into a ball. Place the dough in prepared mixing bowl. Cover with a towel and place in a warm spot. Let it rise for about 45 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
- Next, wipe the inside of a cast iron pan or rimmed baking sheet with oil. Place the dough in the pan and spread out so it reached the edges, there is no kneading required. Cover again and allow it to rise for about 15 minutes.
- Then, uncover the pan and begin poking dimples in the bread with your fingertips. Press really deeply. Make as many or as little indents as you like.
- Drizzle half of the olive oil over top of the dough. Then, place the sliced apples over top. You want the slices as thin as possible. You can use one or two apples, depending on your personal taste. Pour the remaining oil over top of the apples. Then toss the rosemary over it.
- Next, place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for about 10 minutes, then remove bread to drizzle the honey over top. Place the bread back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. The bread should be golden brown when finished.
- Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle with flaky salt.
- You can drizzle more honey or oil over top, if desired.
- Lastly, slice the focaccia and serve while it's still warm.
How to Store Leftover Focaccia:
- Always be sure to allow the focaccia to cool before storing it.
- Honestly, the best focaccia is served the day it's made. That said, you can store it if you need to.
- This focaccia does is topped with cheese it can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. Place it in an air-tight container first, or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap.
- It can also store this recipe in the fridge. Place it an air-tight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Then, store in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Storing in the freezer is also an option. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in air-tight container for extra protection. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Defrost Focaccia:
- If you're like me, you love freezing leftover bread. Focaccia can be frozen just like any other bread.
- They key to not having soggy bread is to always defrost your focaccia at room temperature.
- I do not recommend defrosting it in the microwave. It's just not the best way to handle defrosting bread.
How to Reheat Homemade Focaccia Bread:
- Once you have defrosted your bread it's time to reheat it. Focaccia reheats really well if done right.
- I do not recommend reheating it in the microwave. It gets soggy and just doesn't work very well. Take the time to do it right in the oven.
- Personally, I recommend reheating it in a cast iron pan or on a baking sheet. A pizza stone will work as well.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F first. Don't put the bread in the oven before the oven is completely preheated.
- You can drizzle extra virgin olive oil or honey on it prior to reheating, if desired.
- Once the oven is preheated, place the focaccia in it and bake for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Depending on the thickness of your bread, you may need to increase the time a bit.
- Some people like higher heat but since you've already cooked the focaccia you are just warming it up, not cooking it again. It's better to go lower temperature for reheating.
Tips:
- There is no kneading required for this bread recipe.
- You do not need parchment paper or foil for this bread.
- It can sliced inside the pan or transferred to a wire rack to cool then slice it.
More Great Apple Recipes:
- Easy Apple Sangria
- Apple Hand Pies
- One Pot Pasta with Sausage, Peppers and Apples
- Fried Apples with Apple Caramel Sauce
- Apple Pie in Jars
- Turtle Apples
- Caramel Apple Bites
- Mom's Apple Crisp
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Apple Rosemary Focaccia Bread Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 â…“ cup warm water (110 degrees F)
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 2.5 teaspoon instant yeast
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
- 2 medium JAZZâ„¢ apples sliced thinly
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary chopped if desired
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons flaky salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In the stand mixer bowl, combine warm water and sugar. Stir. Sprinkle the yeast over top, give it a really quick stir then let it rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. If you're yeast is good it should be foamy after that amount of time. If not, your yeast might be bad.
- Use the dough hook attachment to mix the dough. Add the flour and kosher salt to the mixer bowl slowly so it doesn't make a mess. Mix on slow speed until flour combines with the yeast mixture. Then, slowly add the extra virgin olive oil to the bowl and mix on medium-low speed for about 3 to 5 minutes. The dough should be forming a ball around the dough hook and not sticking to the sides of the bowl.
- Prepare a glass mixing bowl by coating the insides with non-stick spray or oil. Then remove your dough from the mixer bowl and form into a ball. Place the ball in the prepared bowl and cover with a towel. Place in a warm spot in your kitchen and allow it to rise for 45 minutes. It should double in size. If it doesn't cover back up and allow to rise a bit longer.
- Wipe the inside of a large cast iron skillet or pan with oil. Then place the dough inside and use your hands to stretch it out and press it into a round shape. You can roll it on a floured surface as well then transfer it to the pan. Personally, I like shaping it with my hands. Once it's stretched out into the pan, cover it again and allow it to rise for 15 more minutes.
- Uncover the pan and use your fingertips to press dimples into the dough. You want to press deeply into the dough, you can actually press your fingertips right to the pan. Depending on how dimpled you want your focaccia you can press a little or a lot. You do you!
- Drizzle half of the olive oil over top, then lay the thinly sliced apples over top. Pour the other half of the olive oil over the apples. Toss rosemary over top.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for for about 10 minutes. Open oven, remove pan and drizzle honey over the bread randomly. Place the pan bake in the oven and bake for 10 minutes more. The top should be golden brown.
- Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle with flaky salt. You can also add more olive oil or honey if desired.
- Slice the focaccia and serve while it's still warm.
Notes
Nutrition
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Toodles! xx
John / Kitchen Riffs
Wow, this bread is gorgeous! And I'll bet it tastes wonderful. 🙂 Haven't heard of JAZZ apples -- will have to look for them. They sound interesting. Thanks!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks John. I absolutely love their apples and they worked perfectly on this focaccia.
Hope you've been well and staying safe during these weird times.
Nikki
It looks delicious. I will try for sure.
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much. Hope you love it.
Ann G
The flavors blend together perfectly! Live this!
Kim Beaulieu
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
Toni
This turned out really good! Thanks for the recipe! My family's new favorite!
Kim Beaulieu
Thank you so much.