This Festive Christmas Focaccia is the ultimate centerpiece for your holiday table. Made with a soft, fluffy focaccia dough and decorated with rosemary sprigs and cherry tomatoes to resemble a Christmas tree, this bread is as beautiful as it is delicious.
It’s easy to prepare, even if you’re new to bread baking, and ready in under 3 hours. Whether you’re hosting a holiday brunch or a cozy family dinner, this festive focaccia will bring a cheerful, homemade touch that everyone will love.
Why You’ll Love This Festive Christmas Focaccia
If you’ve never baked bread before, focaccia is the best place to start. It’s forgiving, simple, and yields incredible results with minimal effort. The yeast and olive oil do all the magic—creating a dough that’s bubbly, golden, and crisp on the outside while staying soft and airy inside.
And if you’ve never tried “focaccia art,” this Christmas tree design is the perfect way to start! You can’t go wrong—each loaf turns out unique and charming. Plus, it makes a great holiday activity to do with kids or friends.
When guests arrive and catch the aroma of freshly baked focaccia mingled with rosemary, it instantly feels like Christmas. Serve it as a side dish, an appetizer, or even as part of your festive bread basket next to a creamy dip or cheese board.
🥖 Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make this show-stopping bread:
- Flour – Use all-purpose or bread flour for best results.
- Kosher salt – Adds depth and balances the flavors. Avoid using table salt, as it’s too fine.
- Lukewarm water – Helps activate the yeast. Make sure it’s warm, not hot.
- Active dry yeast – Gives the bread its rise and airy texture.
- Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil adds richness and helps achieve that classic crispy crust.
- Fresh rosemary – For decorating the Christmas tree pattern.
- Cherry tomatoes – These make the perfect “ornaments” on your rosemary tree.
- Mini bell pepper – Slice one to form the base or “trunk” of your Christmas tree design.
🌿 Active Yeast vs. Instant Yeast
This recipe uses active dry yeast, which needs to be “activated” before adding it to the flour. Simply sprinkle it over warm water and let it rest for 5–10 minutes until foamy. This step ensures that the yeast is alive and ready to help your dough rise.
If your yeast doesn’t bubble up, don’t use it—it may be expired. Start over with a new packet.
You can also use instant yeast if that’s what you have on hand. In that case, there’s no need to activate it first. Just mix it directly with the dry ingredients, then add your liquid.
🎄 How To Make Festive Christmas Focaccia
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
Pour 1¾ cups of warm (not hot) water into a liquid measuring cup. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Step 2: Mix the Dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, salt, three tablespoons of olive oil, and the water-yeast mixture. Mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can knead the dough by hand on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Step 3: First Rise
Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, then drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil across the bottom. Place the dough into the dish, turning it once to coat both sides with oil. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place for 60–90 minutes, until doubled in size.
The dough should look puffy, light, and full of bubbles—that’s a sign it’s ready to decorate.
Step 4: Preheat and Prepare
When your dough is almost done rising, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Once risen, press your fingertips gently into the dough to create the signature focaccia dimples. Drizzle another few tablespoons of olive oil over the surface and sprinkle with kosher salt.
🌲 Decorating the Christmas Tree
This is where the fun begins! Arrange your rosemary sprigs in the shape of a Christmas tree directly on the dough. Place cherry tomatoes around the rosemary branches to mimic ornaments, and use a small piece of sliced mini pepper at the bottom as the tree trunk.
You can get creative—use yellow tomatoes for “star” decorations or sprinkle a little flaky salt to look like snow.
When you’re happy with your design, your focaccia is ready for the oven.
⏱️ Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Bake the focaccia for 30–35 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and crisp. The edges should release easily from the pan.
Once baked, let it cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Use a pizza cutter or serrated knife to cut even squares or rectangles.
Your kitchen will smell heavenly—fresh herbs, olive oil, and warm bread all in one.
🌟 Variations and Tips
- No stand mixer? Mix and knead by hand—focaccia is very forgiving.
- No rosemary? Try thyme, sage, or oregano for a different twist.
- Want more flavor? Add caramelized onions, roasted garlic, or sun-dried tomatoes before baking.
- Serving a crowd? Double the recipe and use a baking sheet to make a larger focaccia.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze slices for up to 1 month.
Festive Christmas Focaccia Bread – The Perfect Holiday Showstopper
- Total Time: 2 hrs 45 min
Description
This Festive Christmas Focaccia is fluffy, golden, and beautifully decorated with fresh rosemary and cherry tomatoes in the shape of a Christmas tree. It’s ready in under 3 hours, simple to make, and guaranteed to impress your holiday guests!
Ingredients
1 ¾ cups lukewarm water (not hot)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
3 ½ cups all-purpose or bread flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
6–8 sprigs fresh rosemary (for decoration)
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 mini bell pepper, sliced (for the tree base)
Instructions
-
Activate the Yeast
Pour lukewarm water into a measuring cup and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy. -
Mix the Dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the flour, salt, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and the yeast-water mixture. Mix on medium speed for 2–3 minutes until the dough forms and pulls away from the sides.(No mixer? Simply knead the dough by hand on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.)
-
Let It Rise
Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil on the bottom. Place the dough in the dish and turn it once to coat with oil.
Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm spot for 60–90 minutes, until doubled in size and puffy. -
Prepare for Baking
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Once the dough has risen, gently press your fingertips into the dough to create dimples. Drizzle with more olive oil and sprinkle generously with kosher salt. -
Decorate the Focaccia
Arrange the rosemary sprigs into the shape of a Christmas tree. Add cherry tomatoes as ornaments and a slice of mini bell pepper as the tree trunk. Feel free to get creative with the decorations! -
Bake
Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp around the edges. -
Cool and Serve
Allow the focaccia to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Always check that your yeast is active. If it doesn’t foam after 5–10 minutes, it’s expired.
- For an even more festive touch, drizzle with garlic-infused olive oil before serving.
- Focaccia tastes best fresh out of the oven but can be gently reheated in the oven for a few minutes to bring back its crisp texture.
I’m a passionate home cook sharing easy, flavorful recipes inspired by my roots and travels — bringing a splash of joy and global taste to every family meal.
