Thick Focaccia Bread with Garlic and Cheese Dipping Oil

Thick Focaccia Bread with Garlic and Cheese Dipping Oil Recipe - bakedbyrachel.com

So April 1st has come and gone. I realize it was two days ago but we haven’t had a chance to discuss it. Did you participate in any April Fool’s Day pranks… receiving or giving end of things? I totally pranked the Mr twice. First, he walked into a sheet of plastic wrap attached to the bathroom doorway. It wasn’t nearly as funny as I’d hoped but I was still amused. The second however was perfect. I pulled the old rubber band on the sink sprayer bit. Yup, got him good. He even asked if I needed to take a picture to document it. He knows me so well. I get quite possibly the biggest kick out of scaring him or pranking him. It’s the simple things seriously. I’ll hide around a corner and jump out at him. One of these days I’m sure to get it. Until then… it’s so on!

Even bigger and maybe better than scaring the Mr… Baseball season is here!! And better yet, the Red Sox already kicked some Yankee butt. I know we’re only a game into the season but that’s still awesome. You should see the Red Sox/Yankee rivaly photos already being posted to Facebook this week. Entertaining for sure.

Thick Focaccia Bread with Garlic and Cheese Dipping Oil Recipe - bakedbyrachel.com

So you know I am totally and completely head over heels obsessed with bread. Love it. I won’t give it up for the world. Seriously, there was a conversation going on recently about giving up bread while dieting and trying to get in shape and I thought that just sounded like absolute torture. I cannot and will not live without my precious carbs. Not happening.

I’ve made focaccia once and it was amazing. But I really wanted a super thick version. I actually wrote up this recipe last year sometime. I’m shocked it took me this long to make it after writing it up. Just sitting there waiting to be made. The best parts about this bread, not only is it delicious and soft but it’s so easy to make! This requires absolutely no kneading and truly doesn’t require much hands on time.

Thick Focaccia Bread with Garlic and Cheese Dipping Oil Recipe - bakedbyrachel.com

The star of this dish is 100% the dipping oil. It’s a very simple combination of oil, cheese, garlic and spice. It’s out of this world delicious and you absolutely must make it. Dip, scoop and slather it on the bread before each bite. Double dipping is completely necessary here.

Thick Focaccia Bread with Garlic and Cheese Dipping Oil

Thick seasoned focaccia bread served with garlic and Parmesan dipping oil.
Prep Time50 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16

Ingredients

Bread ingredients:

  • 2 C warm water 115-120°F
  • 1 Tbsp active dry yeast
  • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 5 1/2 C all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 - 1/2 C olive oil divided
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried minced onion
  • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 C Parmesan cheese finely grated

Dipping oil ingredients:

  • 1/4 C olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese finely grated

Instructions

  • Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Set aside to proof for 5-10 minutes. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add flour and salt. When yeast has activated, turn mixer on low and begin slowly adding liquid to the bowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, mix until dough pulls away from the sides of your bowl.
  • Transfer dough to prepared baking pan. Stretch and shape dough to fit pan. Cover and allow to rise in a warm location for 30 minutes.
  • Lightly grease the handle end of a wooden spoon. Poke holes throughout dough. Drizzle with 2-3 Tbsp olive oil. Sprinkle with oregano, onion and garlic powder. Allow to rise for 15 additional minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until center of bread reaches 190-200°F and crust is golden.
  • Cool before slicing.
  • Prepare dipping oil by whisking together ingredients in a small bowl. Serve with thick slices of focaccia bread.

Notes

An original recipe from Baked by Rachel
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42 Responses to “Thick Focaccia Bread with Garlic and Cheese Dipping Oil”

  1. #
    1
    ashley - baker by nature — April 3, 2013 at 7:23 am

    The focaccia looks a-m-a-z-i-n-g! But what’s really making me swoon is that garlic and cheese dipping oil! I’m all over this.

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    Tieghan — April 3, 2013 at 8:54 am

    Oh this this looks amazing!! And geez that garlic and cheese dipping oil sounds insane!

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    Megan @ megbakes — April 3, 2013 at 8:58 am

    Yum! This looks amazing. Loved reading about your April Fools pranks. Maybe I can fool somebody next year.

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      3.1
      Rachel — April 3, 2013 at 10:23 am

      It’s really a year round thing for me because it’s so much fun but the special pranks come out on April fool’s day :)

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    Paula — April 3, 2013 at 9:07 am

    Love the dip. Love the bread! Love that you enjoy pulling pranks on your husband whenever you can. Plastic wrap over the bathroom doorway!!!

  5. #
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    Erin|The Law Student's Wife — April 3, 2013 at 9:13 am

    Rachel, we are carb-a-licious kindred spirits. Living without bread just isn’t…living ;-)
    Loved your pranks! I’m totally going to try that on my Mr. And give yourself some credit–that saran on the door sounds hysterical!

    • #
      5.1
      Rachel — April 3, 2013 at 10:24 am

      Isn’t that the truth! Bread is essential to happiness ;)

  6. #
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    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust — April 3, 2013 at 9:34 am

    This bread is amazing! Pinned!

  7. #
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    amanda @ fake ginger — April 3, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Yay baseball season!

    Focaccia is my favorite favorite favorite bread ever! This looks yummy!

  8. #
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    The Farm Girl — April 3, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Wow! We love focaccia bread. Pinned and totally making this week :)

  9. #
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    Marie @ Little Kitchie — April 3, 2013 at 10:59 am

    Oh WOW. This is totally the way to my heart! The bread sounds perfect, and the dipping oil just sends it over the top. I’m on a juice cleanse right now and this is kinda killing me! In a good way though :)

  10. #
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    Meghan @ Cake 'n' Knife — April 3, 2013 at 11:05 am

    Beautiful pictures! I can’t wait to try this recipe!

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    Mr. & Mrs. P — April 3, 2013 at 11:33 am

    This focaccia looks amazing.. Would be a perfect vessel to soak up a good quality olive oil or a nicely aged balsamic!

  12. #
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    Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking — April 3, 2013 at 11:36 am

    Your focaccia looks so good, Rachel! I love that you included a dipping oil recipe with it, too!

  13. #
    13
    Meagan @ A Zesty Bite — April 3, 2013 at 11:38 am

    Oh Rachel this looks great with the dipping sauce! I need this today!

  14. #
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    Annie @ Annie's Noms — April 3, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    Oooh right there with you about the carbs!! I couldn’t live without bread, I’m sure it would kill me! When I have soup, I have about a quarter of a loaf of bread with it haha!! No slice of bread I cut ever fits in the toaster :) Love how thick this is, definitely going to be making it real soon with the dipping sauce!

  15. #
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    Carla @ Carlas Confections — April 3, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    Haha we used to do the rubber band on the sprayer all the time in our house!! We dont have one now so I cant carry the tradition on lol. But I do try to scare my hubs all the time. I rarely succeed but when I do its awesome! :D And I completely agree with you about giving up bread. Never ever will I do it, especially this bread (and pizza…) ;)

  16. #
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    Karly — April 3, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    this bread is so pretty, Rachel! I love it!

  17. #
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    Tracey — April 3, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    That dipping oil would be the death of me – I’d probably just want to pour it over my piece of focaccia! Sounds amazing :) I probably won’t really get excited about the Red Sox until the Bruins’ season is over, but the game the other day was pretty exciting!

  18. #
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    PapaLos @ The Man, The Chef, The Dad — April 3, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    Focaccia! I LOVE focaccia. Easily my favorite type of bread. When I saw this I was excited to read about it….

    Then I got to the part with the Yankee hate.

    And not just Yankee hate… Boston fan Yankee hate…. That’s the worst type..

    I really had no desire to read beyond that point, but it’s focaccia. So you’re lucky.

    Great recipe. And sounds simple. I always make a yeastless focaccia (that I posted about on my blog) because it’s easy and quick and fills the void. But I’d love to make a real one regularly. I’ll try this one out.

    Despite your allegiance…

    • #
      18.1
      Rachel — April 3, 2013 at 3:25 pm

      This made me laugh so hard. I’m glad you continued reading despite our disagreement on which team is best ;)

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    Rachel @ Bakerita — April 3, 2013 at 4:27 pm

    I’m with you – I love bread too much to give it up, and this looks amazing. So thick and fluffy, and that dipping oil?! Yum! Pinned :)

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    Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts — April 3, 2013 at 5:48 pm

    Oh man, this looks amazing! Love your pictures!

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    Averie @ Averie Cooks — April 3, 2013 at 6:17 pm

    Focaccia is on my to-make list and love that yours turned out so thick! And no-kneading. Love it. Pinning!

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    Julie @ Table for Two — April 3, 2013 at 9:42 pm

    Oh baseball season…Jason is a die hard Phillies fan. yes, go ahead and hate me now and say you can’t room with me. cause it’s your loss ;) but yeah, i’m kind of excited baseball is back on too! i’m obsessed with this garlic cheese dip. i swear i could drink it..or sandwich it between that focaccia and eat it all up!!

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      22.1
      Rachel — April 4, 2013 at 9:15 am

      Nah… now if you said you were a Yankees or Rays fan we might have issues ;)

  23. #
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    Megan {Country Cleaver} — April 3, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    Any diet that includes nixing bread is NOT the diet for me. Not gonna happen. I have go to try focaccia bread! This looks like a carby pillow.

  24. #
    24
    Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. — April 4, 2013 at 2:04 am

    Fresh bread and olive oil will be the death of me. I love every single thing about this!

  25. #
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    katie — April 4, 2013 at 7:14 am

    lol you are too funny. I don’t do any April Fool’s Day pranks/jokes. I hate them. But what I do love is this Focaccia Bread! Mmmmm I can just imagine how it smelled while baking in your home as I type.

  26. #
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    Laurie {SimplyScratch} — April 4, 2013 at 11:01 am

    This is one delicious looking focaccia! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so thick… LOVE IT!

  27. #
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    Nutmeg Nanny — April 4, 2013 at 11:18 pm

    Oh goodness, this has my name written all over it! This looks amazing, I need it now :)

  28. #
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    Tracy @ Peanut Butter and Onion — April 5, 2013 at 7:27 am

    I love that you paired this with cheese dipping sauce

  29. #
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    sally @ sallys baking addiction — April 5, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    what I wouldn’t do to have a fat slice of this with my lunch salad. my salad is so boring! i loooooooooove focaccia. :)

  30. #
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    Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen — April 7, 2013 at 4:24 am

    Oh yum, your focaccia looks so delicious!

  31. #
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    Cassie | Bake Your Day — April 7, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    The bread looks perfect and I’m totally drooling over the dipping oil…great idea!

  32. #
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    nicole @ I am a Honey Bee — April 8, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    I would eat this whole thing and not feel bad about it. looks incredible.

    {don’t you ever dare scare me. I have mirrors up at my desk so people can’t come up behind me. I’ll have a heart attack & pee my pants.}

  33. #
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    Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts — April 8, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    This bread looks amazing!! Love the dipping sauce with it to, so good!

  34. #
    34
    Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste — April 9, 2013 at 9:23 am

    This looks so incredible! What I’d give for a thick slice right this minute!

  35. #
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    Jennifer — June 29, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    Bread and dipping oil look great. How much garlic powder? 1 1/2 tsp, I assume? Also, the olive oil added to make the dough in the mixture, I guess it is 1/4 cup? Can’t wait to try. Thanks.

    • #
      35.1
      Rachel — June 30, 2014 at 7:22 am

      Yes, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 cup olive oil. Sorry for the typos! :)

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    Amanda Newman — November 30, 2021 at 11:29 pm

    I tried my hand at homemade vegan cheese and I’m waiting til the morning to see how it turns out, I’ve been trying new things specially healthier things. Might substitute the sugar in this for swerve or something like that because I want to make it for my family get together on the 11th and two of my aunts are diabetic as well as my grandmother and my other aunt is prediabetic but has drastically changed her diet thank goodness. Do you think a sugar substitute would make it taste as good and turn out as well as this recipe? And how long does it stay soft and fresh? I want to try it to see how it’ll turn out but I don’t want to make this and the other 5-6 desserts I’m making for the get together all at the same time lol.

    • #
      36.1
      Rachel — December 2, 2021 at 7:27 am

      Bread is always best the fresher it is. So I’d recommend making it closer to when you plan on getting together, if possible. The day before shouldn’t be an issue though. As far as the sugar substitute goes, you’d have to give it a try and see how it does. It’s not a huge amount so it may be just fine. Good luck!

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