Saturday, December 7, 2024
* Recipe adapted from SinamonTales.

I have been on the hunt for a good focaccia bread recipe - especially one that had cranberries and orange in it. Oddly specific, I know, but I bought a bag of cranberries on a whim and had to find a recipe that incorporated it and then I was like, "oooooh, with orange, would be good" but every recipe I found used sourdough. I finally happened upon SinamonTales recipe but switched a few things around and I think I found my new fave bread.

ORANGE CRANBERRY FOCACCIA BREAD

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp dry active yeast 
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugared cranberries (soak cranberries in orange juice for a few minutes and then roll them in granulated sugar until coated - this will take a little bit of the tartness out)

RECIPE:

  1. In a small bowl, mix the warm water with the sugar until dissolved. Sprinkle the yeast into the mixture, mix and let sit for about five minutes. It should get nice and foamy. If it doesn't this could mean the yeast is dead or the water was too hot. Throw it and try again.
  2. Once the yeast is foamy, stir in the flour, oil, orange juice and sugar and mix until combined well. The dough is going to be SUPER sticky. Don't freak!
  3. Cover the bowl (plastic wrap or light cloth) and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour or until it rises. The temperature in your kitchen effects this. If it's cold (like ours), it'll take a little bit longer; if it's warmer it'll normally take a shorter amount of time.
  4. While you're waiting, grease a 9x13 pan (or you can use a glass pie dish, like I did) with oil.
  5. Once the dough has risen, fold in the sugared cranberries (leave a few out to pop on the top). With oily hands, transfer your dough to the pan or dish and level the dough out.
  6. Cover the pan/dish one last time for about an hour, or until it has risen once more.
  7. Pre-heat oven to 425F.
  8. Once the dough has risen, drizzle some oil on top (about 1-2 tbsp) and start to press your fingers into the dough to create little dimples. Sprinkle some sugared cranberries over the top.
  9. Bake for about 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on it and take out once it's nice and golden brown.
  10. Enjoy!