Festive Christmas Focaccia is warm, golden, and beautifully decorated with rosemary sprigs, tomatoes, peppers, and olives to look just like a holiday garden. Imagine a soft, airy focaccia with crisp edges, fragrant olive oil, and vibrant edible decorations that bring the Christmas spirit to life on your table. It is part bread, part art, and completely irresistible.
The first time I made Christmas focaccia, it came straight out of the oven glowing like a winter wreath. Friends loved tearing off pieces while admiring the “tree branches” of rosemary and the little “ornament” tomatoes. It is such a fun, creative recipe to make and so impressive when you serve it warm from the oven.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Stunning edible centerpiece
- Simple to make with pantry ingredients
- Soft interior and crispy olive-oil crust
- Festive veggie “decorations” for a holiday look
- Great for brunch, dinner, boards, and gifting
Ingredients You’ll Need
Focaccia Dough
- 3 cups (380 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) warm water
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil, plus extra for pan and topping
Decoration Toppings
Choose your favorite festive colors and shapes:
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (Christmas tree branches)
- Cherry tomatoes, halved (ornaments)
- Bell peppers (red, green, yellow) sliced into stars, bows, garlands
- Red onion slices (snowflakes or ribbons)
- Olives (buttons or berries)
- Fresh basil or parsley
Optional topping: flaky sea salt
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the Dough
In a bowl, combine warm water, yeast, sugar, and olive oil. Add flour and salt. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Cover and let rise 1 hour or until doubled.
Step 2: Prep the Pan
Grease a baking sheet or 9×13 pan generously with olive oil. Punch dough down and stretch gently to fit the pan. Let rest 20 minutes.
Step 3: Create the Christmas Design
Drizzle dough with olive oil. Using fingertips, dimple the dough.
Arrange rosemary as tree branches or wreath greenery.
Press cherry tomatoes, peppers, onions, and olives into dough to create a festive design.
Think:
- Rosemary = Christmas trees
- Tomatoes = ornaments or berries
- Bell pepper strips = ribbon or garland
- Pepper cut with mini star cutter = star on top
Step 4: Bake
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
Sprinkle flaky salt on top and bake 20–25 minutes until golden and crisp at edges.
Step 5: Serve
Brush with a little extra olive oil and cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm.
Chef’s Tips
- Coat hands in olive oil to handle dough easily
- Press toppings gently so they stay put while baking
- Let dough rest so it rises fluffy instead of dense
- Add basil only after baking so it stays bright green
Variations
- Add minced garlic to dough for garlic focaccia
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella on branches for “snow”
- Brush top with pesto before decorating for extra flavor
- Make tiny personal focaccia ornaments or wreath shapes
Serving Suggestions
Serve your Christmas focaccia with:
- Whipped ricotta or burrata
- Olive tapenade
- Balsamic dipping oil
- Holiday charcuterie spreads
- Roasted tomato soup
- Christmas cocktails, Prosecco, or spiced cider
Perfect for:
- Christmas Eve dinners
- Holiday brunch tables
- Appetizer boards
- Edible gifting
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using cold water — yeast needs warmth to activate
- Rushing the rise — dough must double to get fluffy
- Skipping oil — focaccia needs it for flavor and texture
- Overcrowding with veggies — keep balance for even baking
- Baking too long — remove once golden
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Store leftovers at room temp 1–2 days in airtight bag
- Reheat in oven at 325°F (165°C) until warm
- Freeze baked focaccia up to 2 months; thaw and warm before serving
- Prep dough night before and refrigerate, then rise 30 minutes before shaping
Nutrition (approx. per serving)
- Calories: 210
- Fat: 9 g
- Carbs: 28 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Fiber: 2 g
Beautiful, Warm, and Holiday-Ready
Festive Christmas Focaccia is the perfect way to bring edible joy to your holiday gatherings. Warm, aromatic olive-oil bread paired with vibrant vegetables feels cozy, whimsical, and just a little magical.
Bake it once, and you’ll find yourself returning to this tradition each December — shaping bread into art, filling your home with rosemary fragrance, and sharing something delicious and beautiful with the people you love.
Festive Christmas Focaccia
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- 9×13 baking pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spoon or spatula
- Cutting board for vegetables
- Parchment paper (optional)
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for pan and topping
- fresh rosemary sprigs (tree branches)
- cherry tomatoes, halved (ornaments)
- bell peppers, sliced into shapes (bows, garlands, stars)
- red onion slices (ribbons or snowflakes)
- olives (berries/buttons)
- fresh basil or parsley (added after baking)
- flaky sea salt (optional topping)
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine warm water, yeast, sugar, and olive oil. Add flour and salt. Mix into shaggy dough. Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- Grease a 9×13 pan with olive oil. Punch down dough and stretch gently into pan. Let rest 20 minutes.
- Drizzle dough with olive oil and dimple with fingertips. Decorate with rosemary, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and olives as desired.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Bake 20–25 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Brush with extra olive oil, garnish with basil or parsley, and serve warm.
