100% Whole Wheat Focaccia Bread Recipe

This 100% whole wheat focaccia bread recipe is unbeatable! Try my version for an artisan loaf that’s both delicious and nutritious.

I cannot wait for dinner tonight, because it’s going to feature this lovely creation.

A loaf of 100% whole grain focaccia bread. The good stuff – made from freshly milled flour, sprinkled with garden herbs and cooked to crispy-outside-fluffy-inside perfection!

If you’ve never tried your hand at baking a focaccia loaf, let me tell you that :

A) It will taste amazing! B) You have totally got this – it’s easy, and C) You are going to love your new focaccia-making obsession. I know I do!

What is Focaccia Bread?

Focaccia is a type of Italian flatbread. The texture of focaccia dough lands somewhere between pizza crust dough and regular bread dough. It’s a little on the wetter side, as too much flour will dry it out. Once baked, it’s light and fluffy inside with lots of air bubbles, crispy on the outside and covered in dimples that hold herbs and other tasty toppings.

My family loves the delicious crispy outsides of focaccia bread, made possible by soaking the dough in and abundance of olive oil. The olive oil adds a lovely depth of flavor and pairs well with many herbs straight from the garden.

Focaccia bread is super versatile. You can add all sorts of toppings and mix-ins.

You can also use your focaccia loaf in many different ways. As a breadstick, dipped in sauce or balsamic vinegar, as a pizza base, as a sandwich bread and many more. (Keep reading for a list of my favorite ways to use homemade focaccia bread!)

I use whole wheat flour in this focaccia bread recipe to create a beautifully rustic loaf with loads of flavor, texture and nutrition!

Supplies and Ingredients

Here is what you’ll need to get started.

Supplies

• large bowl and spoon or stand mixer with dough hook
• 10-inch cast iron pan or similar sized baking pan
• plastic wrap or a damp towel

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 4 cups (450 grams) whole wheat flour (hard red or hard white)
• 1 Tablespoon salt (I prefer himalayan pink salt)
• 1/3 cup high quality olive oil (plus extra for the bowl and to drizzle)

How to Make Focaccia Bread, Step by Step

Dough Preparation

1. In a large bowl, or stand mixer with the dough hook, stir together the warm (not hot) water and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes for the yeast to activate.
2. Add in the whole wheat flour and salt and knead/mix the dough for 7-10 minutes. If your environment is humid, you may need to add a little more flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Be careful not to add to much or your focaccia may be too dry. The dough should be a little sticky and shaggy, but elastic enough to work with.
3. Lightly oil the inside of a large bowl, and lightly oil your hands. Remove the dough from the mixer and form into a ball shape. Coat the dough with olive oil and cover your bowl with a moist towel or plastic wrap.
4. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about an hour or until it has doubled in size.
5. In a 10 inch cast iron pan, or a baking sheet/dish, pour 1/3 cup of your olive oil into the bottom of the pan. Swirl it around until it covers the entire bottom surface.
6. Add your dough to the heavily oiled pan by carefully removing it from the bowl and simply stretching it by hand to fill out as much of the pan as possible.
7. Cover your pan and let it proof/rise again until it is about another 50% in size.

Baking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Heavily drizzle the top of your dough with olive oil, sprinkle the garlic powder/salt and herbs to the top of the dough. Use your fingers to dimple the dough over the entire surface. This is the fun part!
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until your focaccia is cooked all the way through and slightly golden brown on top.

Printable Focaccia Bread Recipe Card

Serving Suggestions

Want to get creative and make some restaurant-quality food? Try some of these great ideas to customize your focaccia bread:

• Use focaccia bread dough as a crust for incredible pizza.
• Cut focaccia bread in half like a hamburger bun and make a focaccia sandwich.
• Try baking with flavor-infused oils (like lemon, lavender or basil) to add more depth of flavor.
• Dip pieces of focaccia bread in balsamic vinegar, marinara sauce, or drizzle the top with a balsamic glaze.
• Sprinkle the top of your loaf with garden herbs. Fresh or dried both work great!
• Get crazy with the mix-ins! Olives, cherry tomatoes, peppers, caramelized onions, mozzarella or parmesan cheese and anything else that sounds good to you can be gently mixed in or used as focaccia toppings for a one-of-a-kind loaf.
• Add slices of focaccia bread to a charcuterie board or party platter.
• Try it with soup or cut up and toasted into croutons.
• Top with a savory garlic butter, cream cheese or a sweet jam.

There are so many ways to enjoy a loaf of whole grain focaccia bread!

Tips for the Best Focaccia Loaf

Freshly milled flour is the secret to the best flavor and the most nutritious bread. Similarly, homemade whole grain breads are best eaten the day they are prepared since there are no added preservatives.

Hard red or hard white wheat works great for this focaccia bread recipe. I prefer to use hard red for a beautiful rustic dark brown color and for the more potent wheat flavor.

What is the Secret to a Fluffy Focaccia?

If you find yourself struggling to get that light and fluffy focaccia texture, try some of these ideas:

• Don’t add too much flour. You want your dough to be as moist as possible, yet still workable, for the best texture.
• Try a longer fermentation/rise time. Allowing your focaccia bread to rise at room temperature or overnight in the fridge can help it develop better structure.
• Don’t over-handle the dough. Lightly dimple the top before cooking to prevent over rising and collapsing.
• Adding a little sunflower lecithin can help your focaccia bread be moist and fluffy.

More Whole Grains

Next time you’re in the mood for some fabulous homemade bread, try this focaccia recipe. It’s incredibly delicious and if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself wanting to try new variations again and again. Experiment and have fun!

For more whole grain recipes and info, try:

• 100% Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
• Honey Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
• Healthy Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls
• 100% Whole Grain Einkorn Sourdough Bread Simplified
• 100% Whole Grain Sourdough Bread Made Simple
• 100% Whole Grain Spelt Sourdough Bread
• Healthy Whole Wheat Pumpkin Crepes
• The Best Bread Baking Supplies for Your Kitchen