This focaccia bread is the perfect statement piece for your holiday spread. It’s almost too pretty to eat, but once you savor those initial bites, you’ll find yourself with an empty baking dish in no time.

This edible centerpiece has a golden, olive oil-kissed crust that’s perfectly crisp on the outside and tender within. Its simplicity lets you enjoy the subtle richness of the bread itself.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Minimal effort in exchange for the perfect holiday centerpiece.
• Can be made year-round without the Christmas tree.
• Something different besides rolls for dinner.
• Great for a Christmas Eve celebration.

Ingredients

• Olive Oil: Adds richness to the dough, contributes to the golden crust, and adds flavor when drizzled over the finished focaccia.
• Active Dry Yeast: The leavening agent, causing the dough to rise and become light and airy.
• Warm Water: Activates the yeast and helps create the right environment for the dough to rise.
• Granulated Sugar: Feeds the yeast, promoting fermentation.
• Sea Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dough, balancing the sweetness of the sugar and adding depth.
• All-Purpose Flour: Serves as the main structure of the focaccia.
• Grape Tomatoes: Add bursts of juicy sweetness to the bread and vibrant color as festive edible “ornaments”.
• Fresh Rosemary Sprigs: Serves as the decorative branches for the Christmas tree design.
• Yellow Bell Pepper: Makes the shining star atop the Christmas tree.
• Garlic Cloves and Shallot: Serves as more decorative ornaments on the tree.
• Julienne-Style Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Forms the trunk of the Christmas tree.

Substitutions

• You can use a flavored extra-virgin olive for drizzling over the top of the finished focaccia bread, garlic or rosemary infused is a great choice.
• Cherry tomatoes or any small, flavorful tomatoes can be used as alternatives. Any colors work.
• Sliced red onions are good, colorful alternative for the shallots.
• Finely chopped or sliced from whole sun-dried tomatoes can be used as an alternative for a similar visual effect as the julienne-sliced.

How to Make Focaccia Bread

1. In a large mixing bowl, blend together olive oil, yeast, warm water, flour, sugar, and salt. Use a a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
2. Generously coat a 9×13 baking dish with olive oil. Transfer the dough to the baking pan and press it to the edges.
3. Cover with saran wrap and let it rise.
4. Once the dough has risen, preheat the oven.
5. Remove the saran wrap and use your fingers to poke the dough, creating multiple little divots.
6. Craft the trunk and branches of the tree with sun-dried tomatoes, arranging them on the focaccia in a tree shape.
7. Adorn each “branch” with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
8. Cut the bell pepper into five triangles and fashion a star at the top of the tree.
9. Place grape tomatoes on the tree as “ornaments,” repeating with sliced garlic and shallots.
10. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and bake until the bread achieves a golden color.
11. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes before slicing the bread. And drizzle the top or each slice with more olive oil.

Variations

• Sprinkle grated Parmesan or mozzarella cheese over the dough before baking for an extra layer of savory and cheesy goodness.
• Mix finely chopped herbs like thyme, oregano, or basil into the dough for a more herbaceous final flavor.
• Add olives, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes to the dough for a Mediterranean-inspired flair.
• Serve with your favorite pesto for dipping.
• Sprinkle pine nuts over the tree for added texture and flavor.
• Using the same decorative elements as the tree, make a wreath design instead.

Expert Tips

• Make sure your warm water is just right—too hot can harm the yeast, and too cold will slow down the rising process. Aim for a comfortably warm temperature to activate the yeast effectively.
• Don’t be shy with the olive oil! Generously coat the baking dish, dough, and the final bread. The more, the merrier for a golden, flavorful finish.
• To create an ideal rising environment, place the covered dough in a draft-free area. The saran wrap acts as a protective shield, allowing the dough to rise undisturbed.
• When pushing the sticky dough into the corners of the baking dish, coat your fingers liberally with olive oil. This not only prevents sticking, but also adds an extra layer of flavor to the dough.
• When creating divots with your fingers, the more, the merrier. These dimples enhance the visual appeal, but also catch extra drizzled olive oil, enhancing the overall flavor.
• Don’t hesitate to get creative with your Christmas tree or wreath design. Experiment with different patterns, shapes, and arrangements to make your focaccia unique.
• When it’s time to slice and serve, use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean slices without squishing the arranged toppings.
• For the best experience, serve the focaccia warm.
• While this bread is best enjoyed fresh, it can keep well for 1-2 days in an airtight container. Simply reheat for a few minutes in the oven to revive it.

Recipe FAQs

• Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast? Yes. Substitute instant yeast in a 1:1 ratio, but be mindful of the faster rising time. Adjust accordingly.
• Can I make the dough ahead of time? You can. Prepare the dough, let it rise, then refrigerate it overnight. Bring it to room temperature before shaping and baking.
• Can I freeze the focaccia dough? Yes. Freeze the dough after the first rise. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and proceed with shaping and baking.
• What if I don’t have a 9×13 baking dish? Use a similarly sized baking dish or sheet. Adjust baking times as needed based on the thickness of the dough.
• Can I make it gluten-free? Yes, you can use gluten-free flour, but the texture will be very different.
• How do I reheat leftovers? For optimal freshness, reheat slices in the oven at 350°F for a few minutes or until warm. It’ll revive the crust and maintain the flavors.
• What if my dough is too sticky to handle? Coat your fingers with olive oil to prevent sticking. It adds extra flavor and makes the shaping process smoother.
• Can I add more toppings? Yes, make it as unique as you like.

More Festive Christmas Recipes

• Santa Snack Board
• Christmas Wreath Veggie Tray
• Christmas Antipasto Wreath

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread

Transform your holiday spread into an edible centerpiece with this Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread - where a savory canvas of golden dough meets a merry medley of festive "evergreen" made from rosemary sprigs, tomatoes, shallots and garlic. It's as flavorful as it is eye-catching.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine Italian

Keyword Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread

Prep Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8 slices

Calories 268kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Equipment

• measuring cups and spoons
• mixing bowls
• Stand Mixer use with dough hook attachment
• baking pan 9x13

Ingredients

• 3 tbsps. olive oil good quality, plus more for drizzling
• 1 tbsps. active dry yeast
• 1-1/2 cups warm water (95-110 degrees F)
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsps. granulated sugar
• 2 tsps. sea salt plus more for sprinkling
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil julienne-style
• lots of fresh rosemary
• 1/4 of a yellow bell pepper
• grape tomatoes, halved
• 2-3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 a shallot, thinly sliced

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, combine olive oil, yeast, warm water, flour, sugar, and salt. Mix with a stand mixer (using the dough hook attachments) until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
  3 tbsps. olive oil , 1 tbsps. active dry yeast, 1-1/2 cups warm water, 2 tsps. granulated sugar, 2 tsps. sea salt, 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• In a 9x13 baking slab or dish, generously coat with olive oil. Place dough in the baking dish and push the dough to the edges. (It's going to naturally snap back as you push it to the corners, just keep gently pressing it outwards from the middle.) Cover with saran wrap and allow to rise for an hour.
• Once dough has risen, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove saran wrap from the baking dish and poke the dough with your fingers, leaving multiple little divots all over the dough.
• Create the trunk and branches of the tree with the sun-dried tomatoes, placing them on the focaccia dough in a tree shape. Cover each “branch” with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
  1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, lots of fresh rosemary
• Cut the bell pepper into five triangles and form a star on the top of the tree.
  1/4 of a yellow bell pepper
• Place the grape tomatoes on the tree to act as “ornaments”. Repeat with the sliced garlic and shallots.
  grape tomatoes, halved, 2-3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, 1/2 a shallot, thinly sliced
• Drizzle with lots of extra olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and bake for 30 minutes. The bread will be a golden color!
• Allow to cool for 5 minutes then slice the bread and enjoy! Sprinkle with more olive oil as desired.

Notes

For optimal outcomes when preparing this focaccia bread, it's recommended to refer to the recipe details within the post. The recipe post commonly includes valuable notes, expert tips and frequently asked questions, that are not presented in the recipe card, often including how to make this recipe dairy-free, gluten free or vegan and ideas for healthy ingredient substitutions or variations

 

 

The provided nutrition information is merely an approximation, as variations can arise depending on the specific ingredients/brands you select.

Nutrition

Serving: 85g | Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 6.3g | Fat: 7.4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1.2g | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 3mg

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The post Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread appeared first on Noble Pig.

This Cheesy Bread Spread is not like your regular garlic bread loaf. It’s better. Like, really better. Yes we are all used to our old stand-by garlic spread, but I promise you will be stuck on this Cheesy Bread Spread instead. In fact, you might even love it more than Monterey Ranch Bread. You’ll have to let me know which one you prefer.

Let me know when you make it and how much you enjoyed it. I have a feeling it will become a family favorite at your house too.

If you love cheesy bread in all its variations, you’ll have to give my olive cheese bread or garlic and parsley bread a try. This cheesy kimchi butter-ranch bread is also amazing.

How Do You Make It

• Gather all of your ingredients and combine them together in a large bowl (except the bread).
• Slice your loaf of bread in half lengthwise
• Spread the cheese mixture on each half of the bread evenly
• Place the bread on a large baking sheet
• Place baking sheet in the top third of the oven
• Broil until golden brown and bubbly

What Kind of Bread Do I Use

It absolutely does not matter what kind of bread you use for this recipe. I love spreading this Cheesy Bread Spread on a loaf of French Sourdough, but you can use whatever you choose. In a pinch I have even spread it on sliced white bread and it’s still amazing. Use what you have. The spread will keep in the fridge all week (and then some) so feel free to make a couple slices daily to go with dinner.

Let the bread sit for a few minutes before slicing it up. The cheese will set better when you wait.

More Dinners To Serve With Cheesy Garlic Bread

• This Cheesy Bread Spread is also wonderful when served with this Quick Chicken and Pesto Pasta.
• Goes so well with unstuffed cabbage rolls!
• I love to serve this bread for casual dinners, fancy dinners, quick lunches. It doesn’t really matter what the occasion or non-occasion, because this cheesy bread goes with almost everything. I especially enjoy it with my pork chops with balsamic fig sauce or The Best Meatballs and My Three Day Marinara and alongside this Romaine Salad with Creamy Gorgonzola and Parmesan Dressing. My kids have even asked for it as a meal alone (who wouldn’t).

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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Cheesy Bread Spread

Cheesy Bread Spread will transform your regular loaf of bread into a mouthwatering sensation. Serve this bread with pasta dishes or next to a freshly made salad. 

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Cheesy Bread Spread

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 16 slices

Calories 193kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Ingredients

• 1 (14-16 oz) loaf Sourdough French Bread or any bread, sliced in half lengthwise
• 1-1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded, sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 cup diced red or yellow onion
• 1-1/2 tsps prepared horseradish
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• sliced chives for garnish (optional)

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine cheese, mayonnaise, onion, horseradish and garlic powder. 
• Spread cheese mixture evenly onto cut side of bread. 
• Place bread (cut side up) on a large baking tray and place under broiler in the upper third of your oven. (You do not need to preheat the broiler.) Watch closely and broil until golden brown; about 5-8 minutes. Cheese will be bubbly and edges of bread browned. 
• Remove from the oven and let sit a couple of minutes before slicing into pieces.

Notes

*Calorie count for this recipe does not include the bread (only the spread). 

Use any type of bread for this recipe, it is delicious with every type of bread I've tried. 

You can easily keep the spread mixture in the fridge for a week and use it on smaller amounts of bread daily.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice* | Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.1g | Protein: 2.3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3.8g | Cholesterol: 24.4mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 10.6mg | Sugar: 0.1g | Calcium: 56mg

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Cheesy Bread Spread appeared first on Noble Pig.

There is nothing easier than making a loaf of garlic bread to go with a meal. It’s the perfect side to so many delicious things. It sops of the sauce of our pasta dishes and stands up of to a bowl of chili in a way you didn’t think possible.

However, sometimes we want a little bit more out of our garlic bread or maybe just something a little different or fancier to serve at a dinner party. I can highly recommend this Garlicky, Cheesy Parsley Bread to satisfy all those requirements.

What Kind of Parsley Should I Use

I chose to use Italian flat-leaf parsley with this bread vs. curly-leaf parsley. Italian flat-leaf parsley has a more robust flavor. I tend to use curly-leaf parsley for decoration only, I also think the curly-leaf variety is slightly bitter. The textures of each parsley really didn’t matter with this particular recipe, since the parsley is pureed in the end. Overall, you’ll be much happier with the slight edge of flavor the flat-leaf parsley brings to this dish.

One of the reasons I love making this bread is that I get to use up my leftover parsley. I am always buying these huge bunches of parsley, only to use a tablespoon of two in a recipe. I ended up throwing so much of it away until I started making this bread. I’m sure most of you can relate! It never feels good to be wasteful.

Is Parsley Good For Me

Yes it is! Ten sprigs of parsley are enough to reach the recommended daily intake of vitamin K. Parsley is also an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, folate and iron. Parsley is also low in calories, making it great for a topping on calorie-dense bread.

This is the bread looks before going into the oven. Make sure to spread the parsley mixture in a thick layer. This will help it permeate the breads as it bakes.

What Kind Of Bread Should I Use

I chose a loaf of French bread for this recipe because I like the softness of the loaf when it comes to garlic bread. However, feel free to use any type of bread you have on hand. Just make sure it’s a one-pond loaf.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

What Equipment Do I Need To Make This Bread

• a food processor to puree the parsley mixture
• a half baking sheet to bake the bread
• parchment liners

Sadly, there won’t be any leftovers.

If you love cheesy bread in all its variations, you’ll have to give my cheesy French bread spread a try. This Monterey ranch bread is also packed with flavor, but if you’re looking for something totally unique, this cheesy kimchi butter-ranch bread is amazing, as well as my olive cheese bread.

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Garlicky, Cheesy Parsley Bread

Use up your  leftover parsley with this deliciously, flavorful Garlicky, Cheesy Parsley Bread. It's the perfect side dish for a bowl of pasta. 

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Garlicky, Cheesy Parsley Bread

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 12 slices

Calories 223kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed parsley leaves
• 4 tbsps butter, softened
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 oz shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1 lb French bread loaf, halved lengthwise

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Add parsley, butter, olive oil, cheese, garlic, pepper and salt to the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth.
• Spread the parsley mixture over cut sides of bread in a thick layer. Place bread, cut sides up in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
• Slice bread and serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.7g | Fat: 10.5g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Cholesterol: 13.3mg | Sodium: 381.2mg | Potassium: 34.1mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1.2g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Vitamin C: 9.2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2.1mg

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Garlicky, Cheesy Parsley Bread appeared first on Noble Pig.

Roasted Garlic Rosemary Bread

This recipe is so simple and has never failed. I have made my own adjustments that I think make the recipe work better and even make it even more foolproof.

Roasted garlic and rosemary is added to give an amazing flavor to an already awesome bread. I can’t wait for you try it!

This recipe makes two loaves. And it’s okay if they kiss each other as they head into the oven.

I cut an “X” shape or other design into each loaf so steam can escape while baking.

Each piece will have hunks of roasted garlic and flecks of rosemary…it should be against the law.

Wait until you have this with melted butter….you might melt yourself.

More Bread Recipes

I have a couple of similar bread recipes that are flavored and a bit larger. My Dutch oven bread and my bacon cheese bread are both amazing! Give those a try if you’re looking for something different. However, if sliced toast is what your after, give my honey whole wheat sandwich bread a try.

The post Roasted Garlic-Rosemary Bread appeared first on Noble Pig.