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Christmas Tree Focaccia Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 100 reviews

This festive Christmas Tree Focaccia is a delightful and visually stunning bread perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with a simple dough left to rise overnight, it’s shaped and decorated with fresh rosemary sprigs, pear slices, pearl onions, and cherry tomatoes to create a charming Christmas tree design. Lightly salted and generously drizzled with olive oil, this focaccia bakes to a golden, bubbly perfection, making it both a beautiful centerpiece and a delicious treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Focaccia Dough

  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 1/4 tsp coarse salt
  • 1 2/3 cups warm water

Decorations and 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
  • Plenty of olive oil (a few tablespoons)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the bread flour, active dry yeast, and coarse salt until evenly combined. Add 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 on the counter overnight for at least 12 hours to rise and develop flavor.
  2. Shape the focaccia: The next day, drizzle a generous amount of olive oil in a casserole dish (approximately 7×12 inches). Uncover the risen dough, which should be bubbly and expanded, and tip it out into the oiled dish. Using your hands, spread and gently press the dough to fit the dish snugly. Dimple the surface with your fingers, drizzle more olive oil over it, and loosely cover. Let it rest for another 2 hours to rise further.
  3. Preheat and decorate: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the decorations on the dough to form a Christmas tree shape: fan fresh rosemary sprigs as tree branches, place a slice of pear as the tree base, and use halved cherry tomatoes and pearl onions as colorful ornaments. Add a slice of pear as the tree topper if desired. Be creative with your design!
  4. Bake the focaccia: Sprinkle the decorated dough lightly with coarse salt and place the casserole dish in the preheated oven. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the focaccia is puffed up, golden brown, and the toppings are set.
  5. Serve: Remove from the oven and let the focaccia rest a few minutes. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature for a festive holiday treat.

Notes

  • The dough benefits from a long, slow fermentation overnight, which enhances flavor and texture.
  • Feel free to customize the tree decorations with other seasonal vegetables or herbs.
  • If you don’t have pearl onions, small pieces of shallots or thinly sliced red onions work well too.
  • Using a well-oiled pan prevents sticking and promotes a crispy bottom crust.
  • Serve this focaccia as an appetizer, snack, or alongside your holiday meals.

Keywords: Christmas Tree Focaccia, festive bread, focaccia recipe, holiday bread, rosemary focaccia, decorated focaccia, Italian bread

Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/christmas-tree-focaccia-recipe/