Easy Rosemary Focaccia Bread

This Rosemary Focaccia Bread is perfect for dunking into soups, sopping up pasta sauce, or using as sandwich bread. Learn how to make perfect focaccia every time with this recipe! 

What Is Focaccia? 

Focaccia (pronounced “fuh-KA-cha”) is a type of leavened Italian flat bread.

The dough is drizzled with olive oil before baking, which adds flavor and makes the crust crispy while the interior remains springy. Focaccia bread is often flavored with fresh herbs and plenty of salt. 

It’s easy to tell focaccia apart from other kinds of bread thanks to its flat, dimpled appearance. It also has a unique texture. Some people liken it to pizza dough, but it’s much thicker than any pizza crust and is both airier and chewier. 

In this post, I’ll be sharing my go-to recipe for rosemary focaccia. My recipe uses both olive oil and butter to create the perfectly chewy texture that focaccia is known for. It’s also flavored with both fresh rosemary and garlic. 

Focaccia makes a wonderful addition to any bread basket and is delicious on its own. Or, serve it alongside a warming bowl of soup.

It can even be used in place of sandwich bread when making sandwiches! 

Tools Needed for Making Focaccia 

This is an easy focaccia recipe that can be made with just a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, and your hands. Here’s what else you’ll need to make focaccia from scratch: 

• Mixing bowl: Use a bowl that’s large enough to hold the big batch of dough. 
• Measuring cups: A must for any baking recipe! 
• Jelly roll pan: Focaccia is always baked in a flat pan. I recommend using jelly roll pans, which have a short lip that will contain the dough as it bakes. 
• Chef’s knife: Makes quick work of chopping the fresh rosemary. 
• Plastic wrap: For covering the dough as it sits in the jelly roll pan for its second rise. 

Rosemary Focaccia Recipe Ingredients

Making focaccia with rosemary requires just eight basic ingredients. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need to make the focaccia bread: 

• Active Dry Yeast
• Warm Water
• Flour
• Butter
• Fresh Rosemary
• Salt and Pepper
• Olive Oil
• Fresh Garlic

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Rosemary Focaccia

Homemade focaccia is simple to prepare, but it does require some patience since the dough will need to rise two times before the bread can be baked. Here’s a look at the key steps to making focaccia: 

1. Combine yeast and water; let stand for 5 minutes. You’re looking for it to become slightly foamy. 
2. Combine 4 cups of flour with the prepared yeast mixture. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
3. Sprinkle the remaining flour onto a flat surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and knead until the flour is completely incorporated. 
4. Combine the butter, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. 
5. Gradually knead the butter and rosemary mixture into the dough. 
6. Brush two jelly roll pans with olive oil. 
7. Divide the dough in half and roll each portion into a rectangle, and place in the pans. 
8. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.
9. Using your fingertips, dimple the dough all over in both pans. Drizzle with remaining olive oil. 
10. Bake at 375ºF until golden. 

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Tips for Making the Best Focaccia

• Reduce the rise time — If you want a shorter rise time, substitute the active dry yeast with quick rise or instant yeast.
• Soften the butter — If you forgot to set the butter out in advance, you can soften it quickly using one of these tricks. 
• Let the dough rise in a warm place — Your oven or microwave (both turned off!) would make for a warm, draft-free place to let the dough rise. If the dough is left to rise in a cold place, it will take much longer to rise. 
• Check the expiration date of your yeast — If your yeast has expired, the dough won’t rise properly. Be sure to read my additional tips for baking with yeast if you don’t use it very often! 
• Use good quality olive oil — You’ll want to use a quality bottle of extra virgin olive oil to make the rosemary focaccia. You’ll definitely be able to taste the olive oil since a good amount is drizzled on top before the bread is baked, so use a brand you trust! 

Can Other Herbs Be Used in This Recipe? 

Absolutely! I love making focaccia with fresh rosemary, but you’re welcome to try other fresh herbs like thyme, oregano, or sage. Use any combination of fresh herbs you’d like! 

Can Dried Herbs Be Used Instead of Fresh? 

Yes! Just note that dried herbs are more potent than fresh. If using dried herbs, keep in mind that 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon of dried. 

What’s the Best Olive Oil for Focaccia? 

Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. Extra virgin olive oil is unrefined and is therefore more flavorful than regular olive oil. 

Focaccia Recipe Variation Ideas

Feel free to customize this recipe using one or more of the following variations: 

• Swap the fresh garlic for garlic powder 
• Add caramelized onions 
• Adding parmesan, romano, asiago, or another favorite cheese
• Adding sun-dried tomatoes
• Use a blend of fresh herbs instead of just rosemary 

Can This Recipe Be Made in Advance? 

Yes! The entire recipe can be prepared as written and then stored on your countertop in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 

Or, prepare the recipe up to the point where the dough is added to the jelly roll pans. At this stage, cover the pans tightly with plastic wrap and pop them into the fridge overnight. 

The next day, set the pans on the counter to come to room temperature and then let them rise for the second time. Bake as directed after the second rise. 

Can Focaccia Be Frozen? 

Very easily! Let the focaccia cool completely, then slice and seal inside a freezer bag or container. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. 

When ready to eat, thaw on the counter overnight. You can reheat the focaccia in a warm (325ºF) oven for roughly 10 minutes, if desired. 

What to Serve with Focaccia Bread

Rosemary focaccia bread pairs well with almost any soup or Italian entree. It’s also delicious transformed into sandwiches, such as this chicken apricot panini! 

Serve the homemade focaccia with any of the following dishes: 

• Italian Sausage Kale White Bean Soup
• Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
• Creamy Gorgonzola Pasta
• Italian Sausage Orzo Soup
• Chicken Tortellini Soup
• One-Skillet Baked Ziti
• Pasta Arrabiata
• Italian Wedding Soup
• Antipasto Platter

Try This Recipe for Rosemary Focaccia!

Next time you’re looking for an easy focaccia recipe, give this rosemary focaccia a try! Did you think it was tasty?

Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this homemade focaccia.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this focaccia bread!

More Easy Yeast Bread Recipes: 

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Learn how easy it is to make homemade brioche hamburger buns from scratch. They’re delicious and a great addition to your summer BBQ!

A simple recipe for Ham and Cheese Calzones with a whole wheat crust. Perfect for using up leftover holiday ham. Like a “hot pocket,” but better!

This Rosemary Garlic Bread is a rustic artisan-style loaf of bread that is easy to make. Read on to learn how to make this delicious homemade bread, tips for making the best rosemary bread, and how to serve it. 

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