Focaccia Bread

Prep Time:

3 hours

Cook Time:

25 minutes

Serves:

This bread requires a few steps, but I promise the result is worth it! No kneading or equipment necessary! I have had best results using a metal rectangular cake pan.

Ingredients

4 C all-purpose or bread flour
2 t yeast
2 T olive oil
1 ¾ C warm water

1 t honey
2 t salt
1 ½ t garlic powder
¼ fresh chopped rosemary

Preparation

In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, heat 1 3/4 C water in microwave just until warm (depending on your microwave, anywhere from 50 seconds to 1 minute). Remove and add 1 T olive oil, honey, and yeast. Whisk together until just combined.
In a large metal or glass bowl, combine flour, salt, and garlic powder and stir well. Add yeast mixture and stir until combined. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes.
Remove plastic wrap, and with wet fingertips grab the dough on one side, stretch and fold over top of dough ball. Repeat this stretch and fold for a total of 8 times. Cover tightly again with plastic wrap and let rest for another 15 minutes.
Remove plastic wrap, and repeat the stretch and fold process another 8 times as outlined in step 4 above. This time, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough proof for 1 hour at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 425°F and lightly grease bread pan with 1 T olive oil. Turn dough out into pan and gently stretch to fill the pan completely. Cover one final time with plastic wrap and let the dough proof for 1 hour at room temperature.
Remove plastic wrap and drizzle 1 T olive oil all over the top of the dough. Use your fingers to make dimples in the dough and create air bubbles. Sprinkle chopped rosemary all over the top.
Bake for 18 - 24 minutes or until bread is golden brown.