Focaccia bread art is a fun little way to making bread. It not only tastes good, smells good, from all the creative toppings, and it's almost too pretty to eat!
Prepare a large bowl for rising bread. Add a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and using a paper towel spread the oil around. Discard towel and set bowl aside.
Heat up water to 110 degrees and put in the stand mixer bowl.
TIP: I highly recommend using a instant read thermometer to make sure the temperate is correct. Too hot and it may affect the yeast. Too cold and the yeast may not activate like it should.
Add honey and yeast and using a fork whisk to break up yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes or until bubbly.
Attach dough hook to stand mixer and begin mixing on low speed while gradually adding flour and extra virgin olive oil to yeast mixture.
Bump up to medium speed and mix for about 5 minutes. Dough should be pulling away from side of the bowl.
Gently remove dough from bowl and shape into a ball, place in greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Sit aside in a warm draft free location for about 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size.
Using a flour duster prepare work surface and lightly sprinkle with flour.
Place dough atop flour and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness or to about the size of a 9×13 inch pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes.
Add enough extra virgin olive oil to 9×13 pan to cover inside bottom (about 2-3 Tablespoons).
Carefully transfer dough from work surface into 9×13 pan. Cover with plastic wrap and continue to let dough rise for about 15 more minutes.
Using all ten (or 8 fingers) poke deep holes into the dough making dimples all over the bread.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brush extra virgin olive oil on top of dough. Now get creative and start decorating the top with your favorite ingredients. Gently push ingredient in a bit when putting them in place.
After all ingredients are applied to dough brush ingredients with olive oil so toppings don’t burn and sprinkle with kosher salt.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until bread starts to lightly brown.
Carefully remove bread from oven. Gently remove bread from pan with a flex turner and place on cooling rack.
Serve warm and enjoy! This bread can be rewarmed by placing in a pan lined with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 3 to 5 minutes.