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+ servings

Savory Pumpkin Focaccia

This easy seasonal bread can be made in 2 hours! Pumpkin is infused into classic focaccia dough and topped with shallots, pumpkin seeds, rosemary, sage and sea salt. Jazz this up however you would like.
Course Appetizer, Baked Goods
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 12 servings

Equipment

  • 9 x 13 baking dish
  • Standing mixer with kneading attachment

Ingredients
  

For the focaccia:

  • 3 1/2 cups bread flour
  • 2 tsp diamond kosher salt
  • 2 1/4 tsp Fleischmanns instant yeast
  • 2 tsp pumpkin spice *optional - you can also do to taste
  • 1 1/4 cups water that's heated to 125-130 degrees F
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 3/4 cup plain pumpkin puree *if using spiced pumpkin purée, skip the pumpkin spice
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

For the toppings - use as much or as little as you want:

  • Thinly sliced shallots
  • unsalted pumpkin seeds
  • Chopped fresh sage
  • Finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • Sea salt
  • Honey

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl of a standing mixer, whisk together the flour, kosher salt, instant yeast and pumpkin spice until combined.
  • Measure your water and use an internal thermometor to ensure the temp is 125-135 degrees F (or according to yeast packaging.) Pour the 2 tbsp of honey into the water and stir until combined. Pour the honey water into the flour mixture.
  • Using the hook (kneading) attachment, knead on low speed as the water incorporates into the flour. Add the pumpkin puree 1/4 cup at a time, until combined. Adjust the speed to medium high. Knead for 3-5 minutes until the dough is combined and very sticky. It will look like a yeasty batter - that's totally fine! You don't wait it too thick or you might as well be making a loaf of bread (trust me, I tested that too.)
  • Adjust the speed to medium low. Slowly 1/4 cup of olive oil around the edges of the bowl, as the dough is kneading, and it will slowly begin to separate the dough from the bowl. Turn off the mixer. If you still have pieces of sticky dough that's stuck to the bowl and not incorporated, use oiled hands to fold it into the large ball of dough. Try your best to form this dough into a ball or a cohesive round shape (it's very wet and sticky so do your best here.)
  • Lightly oil a large mixing bowl. Transfer the ball of dough to the mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  • Add a generous splash of olive oil to the center of a 9x13 baking dish. Spread it out all over the pan to make it non-stick. Lightly punch the air out of the dough and transfer to the baking dish.
  • Push each corner of dough out to fill the baking dish. If you're feeling resistance and the dough won't stretch, let it rest for 2-3 minutes, then return to stretching it out until it's in the shape of the rectangular pan.
  • Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise again, until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Leave the baking dish on the stovetop. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Use this rising time to prep the toppings.
  • Using oiled hands, dimple the focaccia to your liking. Drizzle remaining olive oil on top. Add the toppings to your taste. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until golden brown and puffed on top.
  • Wait at least 10 minutes before slicing it up and serving. Enjoy the same day if possible! Or it will keep for 1-2 more days at room temp.
Keyword bread flour, extra virgin olive oil, honey, pumpkin purée, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin spice, rosemary, sage, shallot
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!