Focaccia Bread for Christmas — Rosemary Tree Design
A festive focaccia bread shaped like a Christmas tree and topped with herbs and vegetables. Soft, fluffy, and perfect for holiday tables.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours (including rise)
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 ¼ cups warm water (110°F)
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for brushing)
Toppings:
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Black or green olives, sliced
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Bell peppers, sliced into rings or stars
- Fresh parsley or basil (garnish)
- Flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let sit until foamy, about 5–10 minutes.
- Stir in flour and salt, then olive oil. Knead until smooth, 5–7 minutes.
- Let rise in an oiled bowl until doubled, about 1–1.5 hours.
- Shape dough into a tree on a lined baking sheet. Brush with olive oil.
- Decorate with herbs and vegetables. Let rise 20–30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake 20–25 minutes until golden.
- Cool slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm or room temp.
Notes
Use store-bought dough for a shortcut. Store leftovers at room temp up to 2 days or freeze for 1 month. Serve with olive oil dip or soup.