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cheesy garlic chive focaccia

cheesy garlic and chive focaccia
[category]
[published] August 14, 2026
[PREP] 30 minutes
[COOK] 20 minutes
[TOTAL] 4 hours 50 minutes

Ingredients

cheesy focaccia bread

  • 500 grams bread flour about 4 cups + 2 tablespoons or all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 475 grams warm water about 2 cups
  • 2 cups shredded cheese cheddar or white cheddar
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
  • flaky sea salt for topping

garlic chive butter

  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 tablespoons chives finely chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic grated (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • pinch of salt to taste

Instructions

mix the dough

  1. In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, instant yeast, and salt. Stir until evenly mixed.
  2. Add the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms and no dry flour remains.
  3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a reusable cover.

complete the first rise

  1. Let the dough rise at room temperature for 2 hours.
  2. During the first rise, complete four rounds of stretch and folds:
  3. Perform the first stretch and fold after 30 minutes.
  4. Repeat every 30 minutes until you’ve completed four total rounds.
  5. To stretch and fold, grab one edge of the dough, stretch it upward, and fold it toward the center. Rotate the bowl and repeat until you’ve folded all four sides.
  6. During the last stretch and fold, add about 1/4 of the shredded cheese on top of the dough. Perform the first stretch and fold, pulling the dough up and over the cheese. Rotate the bowl, add another 1/4 of the cheese, then stretch the dough up and over again. Repeat 4 times total, using all the cheese.

transfer dough to the pan

  1. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  2. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the center of the pan.
  3. Transfer the dough into the pan and gently turn it over to coat both sides with oil.
  4. Cover and let rise for another 2 hours.

preheat the oven

  1. About 20 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 475°F.

dimple and top the dough

  1. Lightly stretch the dough toward the corners of the pan if needed.
  2. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the dough.
  3. Using your fingertips, press deep dimples throughout the dough.
  4. Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt.
  5. Let the dough rest for the remaining 20 minutes while the oven finishes heating.

bake the focaccia

  1. Bake for 18–22 minutes, until the focaccia is deeply golden brown and the edges are crisp.
  2. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a cooling rack.
  3. Allow it to cool for another 5 minutes.

make the garlic chive butter

  1. Place the butter, chives, garlic, brown sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
  2. Generously brush the garlic chive butter onto the focaccia. Slice and enjoy!