Hot Honey Focaccia with Garlic Parmesan Recipe
This Hot Honey Focaccia with Garlic Parmesan is a delightful blend of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors baked into a soft, airy artisan bread. Featuring a tender focaccia dough topped with a luscious garlic butter and parmesan cheese layer, then finished with a drizzle of spicy hot honey and fresh herbs, it’s perfect as a snack, appetizer, or side dish that combines Italian tradition with a modern twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
For the dough:
- 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 105–110°F / 40–43°C)
- 3 tbsp olive oil (plus more for greasing and drizzling)
For the garlic parmesan topping:
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
For finishing:
- 3 tbsp hot honey (store-bought or homemade: honey + chili flakes)
- Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, or parsley) for garnish
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, instant yeast, and salt. Stir in the warm water and olive oil until a sticky dough forms. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare the pan: Grease a 9×13 baking pan or cast-iron skillet generously with olive oil. Transfer the risen dough to the pan and gently stretch it to fit the shape. Cover the dough and let it proof for an additional 30 minutes.
- Dimple the focaccia: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Drizzle the dough surface with olive oil. Using oiled fingers, press deep dimples all over the dough to create characteristic indentations.
- Add garlic & parmesan: Brush the melted garlic butter evenly over the dimpled dough. Evenly sprinkle the freshly grated parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning over the top to add flavor.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the focaccia is golden brown and crisp around the edges.
- Finish with hot honey: Remove the baked focaccia from the oven and immediately drizzle the hot honey generously over the surface. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley. Slice into squares or strips and serve warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Make-ahead: The dough can be refrigerated overnight for deeper flavor development and convenience.
- Hot honey substitute: Mix honey with chili flakes or your preferred hot sauce if hot honey is not available.
- Cheese swap: Substitute parmesan with mozzarella, asiago, or pecorino romano for flavor variation.
- Vegan version: Use dairy-free parmesan and an agave syrup combined with chili flakes as a hot honey alternative.
- Storage: Store focaccia at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven to revive the texture.
Keywords: artisan bread, easy focaccia recipe, focaccia bread, homemade focaccia, hot honey focaccia, Italian focaccia bread, parmesan garlic bread, sweet and savory focaccia
