Description
This festive Christmas Tree Focaccia is a delightful and visually stunning bread perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with a soft, chewy dough and decorated with fresh rosemary, cherry tomatoes, pearl onions, red onion, and pear to create a beautiful Christmas tree design, this focaccia is both a flavorful treat and a charming centerpiece to brighten your holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 packet dry yeast (instant yeast recommended)
- 1.5 teaspoons fine sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1.5 cups warm water
- Olive oil (to taste, for greasing and drizzling)
Decorations and Garnishes
- Fresh rosemary (as needed for decoration)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
- 1 pear (cut into small pieces for tree base and star)
- 1 red onion (sliced)
- Pearl onions (halved, optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of bread flour, 1 packet of instant yeast, and 1.5 teaspoons of fine sea salt. Gradually add 1.5 cups of warm water while mixing until the dough is well blended and sticky.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth, elastic, and forms a soft ball.
- Let the Dough Rise: Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and place it in a warm spot overnight. Allow it to rise until it doubles in size and becomes fluffy and airy.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a casserole dish generously with olive oil. Transfer the risen dough into the dish, spreading it out with your fingers and creating dimples in the dough’s surface for texture.
- Apply Olive Oil and Arrange Rosemary: Drizzle olive oil generously over the dough’s surface. Arrange fresh rosemary sprigs creatively to outline a Christmas tree shape on top of the dough.
- Add Tomato and Onion Decorations: Scatter halved cherry tomatoes like colorful ornaments on the dough. Add halved pearl onions and sliced red onion to add festive colors and mild flavor contrast.
- Create Tree Base and Star: Use pieces of pear to form a sturdy tree base at the bottom. Slice thin pear pieces to place on the top as a sparkling star decoration.
- Bake the Focaccia: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the focaccia for about 25 minutes or until it turns golden brown and emits a warm, inviting aroma.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the focaccia to cool for a few minutes before slicing into 8 or 8 slices. Serve warm and enjoy your festive Christmas centerpiece bread.
Notes
- Using bread flour ensures a chewy texture, but all-purpose or whole wheat flour can be substituted if preferred.
- Instant yeast is recommended for quicker and more reliable rising.
- If you want a more rustic look, pearl onions are optional but add festive appeal.
- The dough can be left to rise overnight to develop flavor and texture, but if short on time, a 1-2 hour rise in a warm place may suffice.
- Feel free to customize the decorations with other festive herbs or vegetables such as bell peppers or olives for different colors.
- Make sure the oven is fully preheated to 400°F before baking to ensure even cooking and good crust formation.
- Serve this focaccia warm for the best texture and flavor.
