This focaccia is everything you want from fresh bread - crispy edges, a soft inside, and the rich scent of garlic, butter, and herbs. With caramelized red onion on top, it's flavorful enough to eat just as it is.
In One Glance
- 🍞 Recipe name: Focaccia Bread with Garlic Butter and Herbs
- ⏱️ Prep time: 15 minutes
- 🍶 Rise + rest time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 🔥 Baking time: 15 minutes
- 🕒 Total time: 2 hours
- 👨👩👧👦 Servings: 1 large bread (6-8 people)
- ⚡ Calories: approx. 3627 kcal per loaf
- 🧄 Main ingredients: flour, butter, olive oil, red onion, garlic, fresh herbs
- 😋 Taste: soft, buttery, garlicky, herby, and slightly sweet
- 💚 Why make it easy, aromatic, and delicious on its own.
- 🍽️ Difficulty: easy - simple dough, big flavor
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Homemade Focaccia With Caramelized Onions
Bread always has a place at our table, especially during a BBQ. Usually it's a baguette or Turkish bread with herb butter or pesto. But every so often you want a bread that doesn't need anything extra - that's when I bake this focaccia.
It started as a little experiment for a summer BBQ. I topped the dough with caramelized red onions, garlic butter, and a handful of fresh herbs from the garden. The smell while it bakes? Heavenly. The garlic butter melts into the bread, and the herbs crisp just enough to release their aroma.
The only "problem" is that it disappears fast - everyone grabs a piece before it even cools down. So make sure to bake enough, because this focaccia goes straight from oven to fingers in minutes.
What Do You Need?
You can find the exact amounts in the recipe card below.
- Flour: All-purpose or bread flour works; use strong flour for a chewier texture.
- Yeast: Instant yeast gives the best rise. Check if it's alive by mixing it with warm water and honey. You can substitute it with 2 teaspoons of dry yeast or 4 teaspoons of fresh yeast.
- Honey: Helps the yeast activate and adds a light sweetness.
- Butter: Makes the bread rich and tender; use unsalted butter.
- Olive oil: Adds flavor and crisp edges; extra virgin gives the best taste.
- Garlic powder: Blends the flavor into the dough - optional but delicious.
- Red onion: Caramelized for sweetness and depth.
- Fresh herbs: Dill, basil, oregano, thyme, and chives - or whatever you have.
- Sea salt flakes: For a crunchy finish.
How To Prepare
You can find the full step-by-step instructions in the recipe card below.
- Step 1: Caramelize onion: Fry the red onion with a pinch of salt over low heat in butter and oil until soft and golden brown.
- Step 2: Make the dough: Mix yeast, honey, and warm water; combine with flour, butter, and olive oil. Knead until smooth. Place in a bowl, cover, and let rest 1 hour until doubled.
- Step 3: Shape and bake: Form into a rectangle, press dimples into the dough, and bake 15 minutes at 450 °F (230 °C).
- Step 4: Finish: Brush hot focaccia with garlic butter and top with herbs, caramelized onions, and sea salt flakes.
Top Tips
- Use your fingers or the handle of a wooden spoon to make even dimples in the dough.
- Want extra flavor? Add sun-dried tomatoes or chopped olives before baking to the dough.
- Let the bread rest 10 minutes before slicing - it stays fluffy inside.
- Add Parmesan or mozzarella for a cheesy topping.
- Double the recipe if serving at a party (it goes fast!).
- Serve warm - it's at its best right out of the oven.
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
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Ingredients
Focaccia
- ½ tablespoon honey
- ¾ cup lukewarm water, + 1 tablespoon
- 2 teaspoons yeast, instant
- 4¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons butter , room temperature
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, extra vierge
- 1½ teaspoon salt
Topping
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 red onion, sliced into rings
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
- 15 grams fresh herbs, dill, basil, oregano, thyme, chives, chopped
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
Caramelized red onion
- Melt butter with olive oil in a pan.1 tablespoon butter, 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Add onion and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook on low heat for 15 minutes until soft and golden. Set aside.1 red onion, ½ teaspoon sea salt
Prepare the dough
- Mix yeast, honey, and warm water. Let sit 5 minutes until bubbles form.½ tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoons yeast, instant, ¾ cup lukewarm water
- Combine with flour, garlic powder, olive oil, and butter.4¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 4 tablespoons butter, ½ tablespoon olive oil
- Knead for 5 minutes, then add salt and knead for 5-10 minutes more until soft and elastic.1½ teaspoon salt
- Then add the salt to the dough and knead for another 5 to 10 minutes until the dough feels soft and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add some extra flour.
Rise and shape
- Place dough in a greased bowl, turn once, cover, and let rise for one hour.
- Flatten, shape into a rectangle (8 × 4 inches (20 × 10 cm)), and place on a floured baking sheet.
- Make holes (about ⅔ depth) with your fingers, cover with plastic foil, and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Bake
- Preheat the oven to
450 °F or 410 °F. - Bake 15 minutes or until golden and hollow when tapped (otherwise bake for another 5 minutes extra and check again).
Finish
- Mix butter, and garlic.3 tablespoons butter, 2 cloves garlic
- Brush over hot bread and top with herbs, the caramelized onions, and sea salt flakes.15 grams fresh herbs, ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
Notes
- Cheesy: Add mozzarella or Parmesan before baking.
- Mediterranean: Add olives or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Mini focaccias: Shape into small rounds for easy servings.
- Fridge: Store up to 2 days in an airtight bag.
- Freezer: Up to 1 month; reheat in the oven for 10 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
- Reheat: Warm briefly in the oven to restore crispness.
Nutrition
Jerika says
I'm excited to try this Focaccia with caramelized red onion and garlic butter.:) I love the caramelized red onion, garlic butter and fresh herbs on it. Thanks!:)
Andréa says
This is so good, you'll going to love it!