If I could recommend one recipe to a new sourdough baker, it would be this one. This sourdough discard focaccia is as simple and satisfying as it gets, a quick bake with no complicated shaping and all the delicious sourdough flavor.
Using a bit of commercial yeast speeds up proofing, so it's great practice for learning the signs of fermentation. Perfect for beginners or even experienced sourdough bakers who are short on time but still want delicious fresh bread.
This recipe was originally published in Sept. 2023. I've since updated it to include clearer instructions and streamlined steps.
Absolutely phenomenal. I just got a starter last week so this was my first discard recipe and I am OBSESSED. The bread is pure perfection and I couldn’t be any happier with it. Keeping this recipe F O R E V E R!!!! Thank you!
- Amber
If you love flatbreads. Try my recipes for Sourdough Discard Flatbread and Sourdough Pita Bread.
Ingredients and substitutions
Flour: All-purpose flour will work in place of bread flour or whole wheat in this recipe. Don't attempt to use 100% whole wheat flour for this recipe or your focaccia may turn out dry and gummy.
Sourdough discard: You can use your starter directly from the fridge. If you don't have a starter, you can still make this recipe by adding 113 grams of flour and 113 grams of water to your dough.
Olive oil: Splurge on a high-quality olive oil. Unfortunately, there is no substitute for this ingredient.
See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information.
Tip
Commercial yeast has a shelf life. Make sure your active-dry yeast or instant yeast is still viable before attempting this recipe or your dough will not rise.
Topping variations
My favorite thing about focaccia is getting creative with the toppings! I like dividing my dough in half and baking my focaccia in quarter sheet pans so I can personalize each one with different ingredients.
Here's some of my faves!
- Olive oil and sea salt
- Tomatoes, garlic and fresh rosemary
- Kalamata olives and green olives
- Lemon, pecorino romano, onions and pink peppercorn
Step-by-step instructions
STEP 1 Make the dough
Whisk the yeast, honey and water together in a large bowl. Add the flour, salt and discard to the yeast mixture. Knead the olive oil into the dough. Transfer the dough into a clean, lightly-oiled bowl and let the dough rest.
STEP 2 Stretch and fold
Using your fingertips pick up one side of the dough and stretch it as far as you can without tearing. Fold the dough over itself, turn the bowl 90 degrees, and repeat 3 more times or until all of the sides are folded.
Tip
This dough can initially feel quite wet and sticky. If it feels too difficult to handle, work with wet hands and use your fingertips to pick up and fold the dough.
STEP 3 Proof the dough
Cover the bowl and let the dough proof until bubbly and doubled in volume, about 30 to 45 minutes. Divide the dough and transfer to a baking sheet coated in olive oil, gently stretching it to reach the edges of the pan. Cover the pans until puffy and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
STEP 4 Bake
Dock the dough by using your fingertips to press on the surface multiple times until it reaches a consistently even thickness, then delicately stretch it towards the edges of the baking sheet. Sprinkle sea salt on top of the dough (add other toppings, if using) and bake at 425 for 25 to 30 minutes.
Bread Baking Tips
- Weigh your ingredients. Measuring with a scale is much more accurate than using cups and tablespoons, this will help guarantee your success.
- Coat the bottom of the pan with lots of olive oil. This fries the dough as it bakes resulting in a delicious crispy crust. It also prevents your dough from sticking to the bottom of your baking sheet!
- If the dough won't spread to the edges of your pan, cover it with a greased piece of plastic wrap and let it rest for 15 minutes before proceeding. This helps the gluten to relax, making the dough more pliable and easier to stretch.
- Don't use too many toppings or your focaccia may become soggy.
Recipe FAQs
This dough contains a lot of water about 75 percent. It’s completely normal for your dough to feel very sticky and difficult to handle right after it’s mixed. Allowing your dough to rest for 15 minutes after mixing will let the flour hydrate completely and the gluten to develop. The short rest periods between folds will make the dough less tacky and much easier to handle.
When folding, use wet or oiled hands and only use your fingertips to pick up your dough. This will prevent it from sticking to your hands.
There are a few reasons why your dough isn’t rising:
Your yeast is expired and can no longer make dough rise. If your yeast has been in your pantry for quite some time, activate it by mixing it with water and sugar first before mixing it in your dough. The mixture will look bubbly and smell yeasty if it’s still viable.
Your kitchen is too cold, cool temperatures will drastically slow down fermentation or the rate at which your dough rises. If your kitchen is too cold your dough will eventually rise, it may just take longer than the times cued in this recipe.
You used hot water and you may have killed your yeast. Water hotter than 115 F will kill yeast, if you accidentally add hot water to your yeast, start over.
You may not have added enough olive oil to the bottom of your pan. Add more oil than you think you need to make sure your dough doesn’t stick. For extra precaution, line your sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil before adding olive oil.
Absolutely! You’ll need to bloom your yeast before making your dough. To activate your yeast, simply mix it with water and honey then wait 15 minutes until the yeast is bubbly.
Absolutely! Just use half of the recipe to make a smaller focaccia.
Sourdough discard will add a slight tang that will add to the flavor of your bread. The degree of sourness will depend largely on the acidity of your sourdough discard. This recipe was formulated so that the sourdough discard flavor will complement and not overpower the bake.
Did this recipe rise to the occasion?
★★★★★
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Sourdough Discard Focaccia Recipe
Equipment
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Ingredients
Dough
- 452 grams water
- 7 grams instant yeast 1 packet
- 42 grams honey or cane sugar
- 170 grams sourdough discard
- 540 grams bread flour
- 90 grams whole wheat flour
- 12 grams salt
- 56 grams olive oil
Toppings
- 56 grams olive oil
- 7 grams flaky sea salt
Suggested Toppings
- tomatoes sliced
- fresh rosemary
- onions sliced
- ground pistachios
- lemons sliced
- olives
- ground pepper
- garlic
- grapes
Click US Customary to view volume measurements
Instructions
- Make the dough: Mix the water, instant yeast, honey and sourdough discard in a large bowl until no traces of discard remains.452 grams water, 7 grams instant yeast, 42 grams honey, 170 grams sourdough discard
- Fold in the bread flour, whole wheat flour and salt. Mix with a wooden spoon or your hands until all of the flour is hydrated.540 grams bread flour, 90 grams whole wheat flour, 12 grams salt
- Knead the olive oil into the dough until it is absorbed. It will gradually feel less greasy as it absorbs the oil.56 grams olive oil
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest in a warm place for 15 minutes.
- Stretch and fold: After the 15 minute rest period, complete 1 set of stretch and folds.
- To complete a stretch and fold, with the dough inside your bowl, pick up the side of the dough closest to you using your fingertips. Stretch the dough out as much as you can without it tearing and fold it over itself. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat 3 more times.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Set it in a warm place and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
- Complete 1 more set of stretch and folds. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
- First rise: Let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled in volume. The dough should double in volume and appear bubbly, about 30 to 45 minutes.
- Prep: Line two 9 by 13 baking sheets aluminum foil or parchment paper. Coat the bottom of the sheet pans with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil (14 grams). Preheat the oven to 425 F. (Coat bottom of the pan with 28 grams of olive oil if you're baking 1 large focaccia)
- Second rise: Divide the dough into two portions. Transfer each portion of dough on the prepared pans. Cover the pans with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
- After the rest period, stretch the dough out to the edges of the pan. Cover the dough once more and let it rise for another 20 minutes or until it looks bubbly.
- Assemble and top: Working with one portion of dough at a time, pour about 1 tablespoon (14 grams) of olive oil over the dough. Spread the oil on the dough using the palm of your hand. Using your fingertips, dimple the dough all over until it looks completely flat.7 grams flaky sea salt
- Sprinkle sea salt and arrange toppings on the dough (if using). Repeat with the remaining portion of dough.
- Bake: Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the focaccia looks golden brown.
- Enjoy: Transfer the focaccias to a cooling rack. Let the bread cool for 10 minutes before slicing, more if you’re using it for a sandwich.
- Store: This bread tastes the best the day it is baked, but will store well for up to 3 days in an airtight container at room temperature. Refrigerate leftover slices in an airtight container if you used toppings.
Tips
These recipes were developed and tested using grams for precise measurements. To increase your chances of success, I recommend investing in a kitchen scale. I've included rough volume estimates (in tablespoons and cups), but they might not be totally accurate.
Remember all ovens are unique, these recipes were tested in my oven which runs cooler than others. You might need to lower the temperature if your bake appears to be browning too quickly. Monitor your bake closely and make adjustments if needed.
Notes
- two 9 by 13 baking pans
- one 18 by 13 inch baking sheet
- three 8-inch square baking pans
- three 9-inch cake pans
- two 12-inch skillets
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist or dietitian, any nutrition information provided is an estimate.
Deborah Bosma says
These are fantastic! They are light, delicious, and have a nice chew. Dividing the dough into 8 pcs makes a generous bun, so next time I'll make them a tad smaller.
Hannah Dela Cruz says
So glad you loved them! Making them into buns is such a great idea!
David says
Darling! Don’t get me wrong, but I LOVE YOU!!!!! Thank you for listing the ingredients in the recipe card, then again in-line in the instructions.
No idea why others don’t do this.
I don’t see a “cooking mode” button though. Maybe add on of those to keep a device from going to sleep?
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Thanks for the tip! I'll have to add it to my recipe cards!
Michelle says
I made this for the first time on Sunday. I now have focaccias 4&5 in the works. I am OBSESSED! It’s a quick easy to experiment recipe even after working all day.
Toppings I’ve used:
Roasted Garlic
Kalamata Olives
Fresh Rosemary
Kona Sea Salt
And tonight will be Cinnamon Sugar with icing to take to work for my fellow nurses tomorrow!
Hannah Dela Cruz says
So happy you loved the recipe! Thank you for trying it out!
TerryB says
Hi Hannah,
I have one question can I put the formed loaf in the baking pan in the refrigerator over night?
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Absolutely! Make sure you try and put it in the coldest spot in your fridge (usually in the very back) to try and avoid over proofing.
Ivy says
This turned out so delicious! It took a bit of time, but the final product was so soft and bouncy, flavoursome and amazing. Better still, I didn't have to waste the sourdough discard. Thanks so much!
Marie-Claude Leclerc says
Absolute best recipe ever! Been gifting some and people are loving it! Thank you!,
Hannah Dela Cruz says
You're so welcome! Thanks for sharing this bake with others!
Pamela D Romines says
I absolutely LOVE this recipe and have made it countless times for family and friends with consistent and excellent results! However, I would greatly appreciate clarification on the amount of EVOO used in the different stages of the recipe-because the same 56g's are mentioned three different times: in #'s 3, 10, & 13 of the instructions. I'm guessing 56g are included in the dough; but do we use that same amount again but divided & spread onto the bottom of each 9x13" pans before adding the dough, and then another 56g divided when dimpling and topping the two focaccia's? Thank you!
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Hi Pamela! I'm so glad you loved the recipe. So the 56 grams listed in the toppings section should be divided between the two focaccias. Generally, I use about a tablespoon (14 grams) to coat the bottom of each pan and another tablespoon to top each focaccia.
Pamela D Romines says
Thank you very much for clarifying the EVOO amounts! Enjoying all the creative ways to adapt this recipe for pizza's and sandwiches! Such an excellent canvas for yummy meals and even desserts!
Hannah Dela Cruz says
So thrilled to hear that you love it! You're so welcome.
Jen says
Really wonderful recipe that yields delicious bread. Family and friends devoured it! Will use over and over again. Thank you!!
Hannah Dela Cruz says
So glad you and the family love it! I appreciate your feedback so much!
Kym says
Can the whole wheat flour be substituted for all purpose flour?
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Hi Kim!
I wouldn't use whole wheat flour as it would change the texture of the bake and make it gummy and dense.
Nees says
This sounds amazing!
Since it makes two loaves of focaccia, can I put half the dough in the fridge to bake for another day?
Hannah Dela Cruz says
You totally can save half of the dough before turning it out on your baking sheet. Don't save it for longer than 24 hours though because it might overproof.
Lauren Burns says
This recipe turned out great for me! So I accidentally added the oil in step one, with the starter and water and stuff 😬, I was nervous but I continued on! I did all the rest of the steps, added olives garlic rosemary and sea salt, and baked and was totally impressed! I can't wait to try it the correct way next time!!!
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Thanks for your feedback Lauren! So happy the focaccia turned out great.
Marie-Claude says
Can I cut this recipe in half by just using half of the ingredients? And make.just one portion?
Hannah Dela Cruz says
It should work just fine!
Marie-Claude Leclerc says
Simply amazing!
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Thank you!!!
Cristina Macia says
Amazing crumb! I wish I could include a pic here! Thank you very much.
Heather says
this is amazing! I used olive oil, bourbon salt flakes and cheese on the top! yum!
do you think this would freeze well?
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Bourbon salt flakes sounds incredible! I'm not sure since I've never tried. Although it would probably be ok!
Amber says
Absolutely phenomenal. I just got a starter last week so this was my first discard recipe and I am OBSESSED. The bread is pure perfection and I couldn’t be any happier with it. Keeping this recipe F O R E V E R!!!! Thank you!!
Rosalinda Müller says
That was really marvelous. I made one with olives and Rosmarin. The other one dried tomatoes and paprika powder👏
Debbie says
This came out so good
TM says
Best foccacia I've ever made, by far. And pretty easy. Instructions are great.
Candy says
Delicious quick recipe. I made one with Parmesan tomato basil and one rosemary roasted garlic tomato. Family loved it and said it was the best sourdough recipe yet!!
Hannah Dela Cruz says
Yay thanks for sharing your experience with the recipe. I love hearing that your family enjoyed it and that combination sounds so yummy.