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Easiest Ever Cheesy Gluten-Free Garlic Herb Focaccia

Close-up of golden-brown gluten-free focaccia with herbs, sea salt, and olive oil.

Cheesy Gluten-Free Garlic & Herb Focaccia

Okay, let's get cooking! I'm so excited to share one of my all-time favorite party pleasers with you today: Cheesy Gluten-Free Garlic & Herb Focaccia. It's ridiculously easy, totally impressive, and, most importantly, completely safe for all my gluten-intolerant friends. You know, the kind of bread that makes people do a double-take and ask "Wait, this is gluten-free?". I remember the first time I made this for a potluck. My friend, who's a bit of a gluten-free skeptic, practically inhaled half the pan. His jaw literally dropped when I confessed it wasn't regular bread. That, my friends, is what I call a win. Let me show you how you can pull off the same magic!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour Blend (make sure it contains xanthan gum if your blend doesn't already include it)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Instant Yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups Warm Water (about 105-115°F)
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Thyme, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/4 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Coarse Sea Salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Get the Party Started: In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast. This will make sure everything's evenly distributed and ready to do its thing.
  2. Water Works: Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, pour in the warm water and 1/4 cup of olive oil. Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, mix until everything starts to come together into a shaggy dough. Don't worry too much about perfection at this stage; the dough will be a bit sticky, and that's totally normal.
  3. Rise & Shine (Part 1): Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. You'll notice that the dough starts to puff up a bit. If it doesn't rise much the first time, don't panic, Gluten-Free loaves sometimes take longer than normal. Give it another 20 minutes in a warm area covered.
  4. Flavor Infusion: While the dough is rising, get your herbs and garlic ready. Mince those cloves of garlic and chop the fresh rosemary and thyme. The aromas alone are heavenly, right? These fresh element is what turns this from okay to AMAZING.
  5. On the Tray: Once the dough has a little puff to it, drizzle a little more olive oil (about a tablespoon) into a 9x13 inch baking pan. Carefully pour the dough into the prepared pan. It's okay if it doesn't fill the pan perfectly; we'll spread it out in the next step.
  6. Spread the Love: Gently press the dough out to fill the baking dish. Don't be too aggressive, just stretch it to the edges. I find using oiled fingers helps! This is your canvas for the magic to come.
  7. Flavor Explosion Time: Now comes the fun part! Evenly sprinkle the minced garlic, chopped herbs, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella over the surface of the dough. Don't be shy, this is where all the flavor comes from. Now lightly press the toppings so that they're a little into the dough.
  8. Dimple it!: Using your fingertips, make small, shallow dimples all over the surface of the dough. This helps the olive oil and flavor sink into every little bit of the focaccia and make it extra delicious. It might seem a little odd, but it's the key to getting that beautiful texture.
  9. Rise & Shine (Part 2): Cover it loosely again and allow it to puff up for another 20-30 minutes. You want the dough to get a good head start before hitting the oven.
  10. Baking Bliss: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Drizzle a tiny bit more olive oil over the surface, and then sprinkle with coarse sea salt. This final sprinkle of salt is crucial. It's not just decoration, it adds a burst of flavor with every bite, plus adds crunch.
  11. Bake it!: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the focaccia is beautifully golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Your kitchen should smell amazing at this point!
  12. Cooling time(The Hardest part): Once it's baked to perfection, remove the pan from the oven and let the focaccia cool in the pan for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Trust me, the wait is worth it! And if you are an impatient soul like myself, it is fine to cut into it warm, it will still be amazing.

Recipe Card

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Rise Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour Blend
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Instant Yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups Warm Water
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Thyme, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/4 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Coarse Sea Salt

Instructions:

  • Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Add warm water and 1/4 cup olive oil. Mix until dough forms.
  • Cover and rise for 30 minutes.
  • Prepare minced garlic and chopped herbs.
  • Pour dough into an oiled 9x13 pan.
  • Spread dough out evenly in pan using oiled fingers.
  • Add garlic, herbs and cheese.
  • Dimple the dough.
  • Cover and rise 20-30 minutes.
  • Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes.
  • Cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
  • Enjoy!
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Tips & Tricks

  • Herbal Variations: Feel free to swap out the rosemary and thyme for your favorite herbs. Oregano, basil, or even a bit of red pepper flakes would be delicious.
  • Cheesy Heaven: Want it even more cheesy? Add some provolone or fontina along with the mozzarella. Experiment with different cheeses to find your perfect blend.
  • Add Veggies: Don't hesitate to top the focaccia with other goodies. Thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or olives would be fantastic additions.
  • Make it Ahead: You can prepare the dough up to the baking step and leave it in the fridge for a few hours. This makes it ideal for party prep! Just let it come close to room temperature before baking.
  • Freezing: This focaccia freezes incredibly well. After baking and cooling completely, slice it into individual pieces, wrap them up tightly and store them in a freezer bag. When the craving calls, simply defrost and pop it in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Toaster ovens work well for frozen individual pieces.

Product Recommendations

Sometimes, the right tools can make all the difference in the kitchen. For consistent results, I love using my glass mixing bowl. The clear glass is great for checking for lumps in the dough. For those of you who love using a stand mixer, I recommend a KitchenAid stand mixer. It allows you to really relax and enjoy the process - It may be an upfront cost, but using it will not disappoint in all your recipes going forward, especially the more dough based ones. And, I always bake this focaccia in a high-quality baking pan.

Close-up of golden-brown gluten-free focaccia with herbs, sea salt, and olive oil.

So there you have it! My secret weapon for effortless entertaining and a recipe that's sure to impress all, gluten-free or not. Go on, give it a try – I promise, you'll fall in love with the process and the results. Happy baking, my friends, and don't forget to come back and tell me how you enjoy it!

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