Chocolate Focaccia

Chocolate Focaccia is a sweet twist on a traditionally savory bread. I bought King Arthur’s Black Cocoa Powder to make Oreos from scratch and once I was finished with the Oreos I thought what else can I do with the powder? Chocolate Focaccia. Focaccia is an Italian bread made with lots of olive oil. I thought olive oil, sea salt, and chocolate would pair well beautifully together and they DID. Focaccia is the easiest bread to make in my opinion and it can all be done in one bowl.

Why measure with your heart?

You may see in my recipes that I do not provide a measurement for vanilla and occasionally for other ingredients. I like to allow you as much creative freedom as possible without destroying the recipe. I trust your instincts. Now obviously don’t go and pour an entire bottle of vanilla in your batter, but you do not have to be super meticulous with it. If I don’t measure it why should you?

For a pinch of salt I pour the salt in my hand and use my pointer finger and thumb to pinch, then add it to my bowl.

All of my recipes are written as I do them.

From a young age, my mom used to always get on me for not following recipes to a T, but as I got older I realized that the creative freedom I gave myself fueled my love and passion for baking. In the kitchen I allow my mind to wander and test the limits of each recipe. Sometimes resulting in disaster but more often than not resulting in a delicious outcome.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet of instant yeast

  • a pro of using instant yeast is it’s ready to go right out of the pack

• 1 cup of warm water

  • you want your water to be warm but not hot because water too hot will kill your yeast

    1. most people say your water should be anywhere from 105-115 degrees Fahrenheit

• a pinch of salt

  • I pour the salt into my hand and pinch it with my thumb and pointer fingers

• 1/2 tbsp of honey (the honey works like sugar as an activator

• 1 cup flour

• 2 tbsp black cocoa powder (I used King Arthur)

• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. start by mixing your yeast, water, and honey in a medium bowl

2. add the flour, salt, and cocoa powder to the bowl and mix until you create a rough dough.

3. allow your dough to rest covered in a lightly oiled bowl

   • I like to allow my dough to rest in the oven with only the oven light on

4. generously oil a pan (I like using a cast iron skillet) with olive oil

5. Add in your dough and let it rest for another 30 minutes.

6. While your oven preheats, pour more olive oil onto your dough and massage your fingers into the dough to create dimples.

7. sprinkle with chocolate chips

8. bake at 425°F for about 25 minutes depending on your oven (I did 22 mins)

9. remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting in

10. Enjoy !!