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Sourdough Focaccia Recipe

Easy Sourdough Focaccia

This sourdough focaccia recipe creates bakery-quality bread with crispy edges, a tender center, and a deeply flavorful tang—all without kneading. Perfect for beginners and busy bakers, this no-fuss method delivers consistent results every time using just your bubbly starter and simple pantry ingredients.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Overnight Rise 1 day
Total Time 1 day 50 minutes
Servings: 10 pieces
Course: Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired, Sourdough Baking
Calories: 180

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 50-75 g active sourdough starter
  • 375 g lukewarm water
  • 20 g honey optional but recommended
  • 500 g bread flour or all-purpose flour
  • 9 g fine sea salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil for pan
Optional Toppings
  • fresh rosemary
  • garlic thinly sliced or minced
  • flaky salt
  • cherry tomatoes
  • fresh basil
  • caramelized onions
  • fresh thyme
  • black olives
  • sun-dried tomatoes

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Sheet Pan (rimmed)
  • Fork
  • Plastic Wrap or Lid
  • Wire Rack

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together active sourdough starter, lukewarm water, and honey until fully combined.
  2. Add flour and salt. Mix with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. It will be sticky—this is normal.
  3. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  4. With oiled hands, gently shape the dough into a loose ball inside the bowl.
  5. Transfer the dough to an oiled container and cover. Let rise overnight at room temperature until bubbly and doubled in size.
  6. Generously oil a rimmed sheet pan. Transfer the dough to the pan and flip to coat both sides with oil.
  7. Cover the pan with an inverted sheet pan or plastic wrap. Let dough rest for 1.5–2 hours until puffy.
  8. Preheat oven to 425°F during the last 30 minutes of rising.
  9. Gently dimple the dough with oiled fingers, stretching it into a rustic 14×9 inch rectangle. Press toppings into the dough.
  10. Bake for 25–30 minutes on the center rack until golden brown and crispy on the edges.
  11. Remove from the pan immediately and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Tips: Cool completely before slicing to avoid a gummy texture. Store wrapped at room temp for 2 days, in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze up to 3 months. For par-baking: bake 15–18 minutes, cool, then finish 12–15 minutes before serving.