When the holidays roll around, everything feels special, right? We spend so much time hanging lights and wrapping gifts, but what about the food on the table? I always look for that perfect centerpiece—something that looks gorgeous but tastes like home. That’s exactly why I fell head-over-heels for making a festive **Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread**.
This isn’t just bread; it’s an event! It’s soft, rich with olive oil, and shaped just like a little evergreen. It was born out of my childhood memories, honestly. Growing up in Texas, our holiday potlucks always revolved around a warm, inviting homemade bread. Now, when the kids are in the kitchen, we turn focaccia into an afternoon activity, using cherry tomatoes and herbs to decorate the dough. It smells like pure holiday magic coming out of the oven, and it’s the kind of comforting, shareable Holiday Treat we remember most.
Why This Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread is Your Holiday Essential
You need this bread on your table because it checks every single holiday box! It’s utterly show-stopping without demanding you be a professional pastry chef. Honestly, if you’re looking for a fantastic centerpiece that doesn’t lean sweet—unlike all those Christmas Sweets—this savory option shines.
Here’s why it’s a must-have for your seasonal spreads:
- It’s a huge visual wow factor that screams Christmas Cooking without being complicated.
- It’s easy to involve the kids; they love turning the dough into a canvas!
- It provides that comforting, soak-up-the-sauce texture you crave during slow-cooked Christmas Meals.
It’s the perfect savory start before you get to the main course. You can trust me on this one; it’s quickly become one of my absolute favorite Christmas Baking staples.
Gathering Ingredients for Your Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
Okay, let’s talk about the goods! Getting the right ingredients is the first step to that amazing, soft crumb. Don’t panic about the long ingredient list—it breaks down into two simple parts: the dough and the decorations. This helps keep things totally organized, which is key when you’re preparing for larger Christmas Dinner Recipes.
For the dough itself, you just need the basics. Make sure you use bread flour if you have it; it just gives a better chew! For the toppings, we’re using fresh produce to make our tree really pop:
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 tsp coarse salt (for the dough itself)
- 1 2/3 cup warm water
- A few tablespoons olive oil (don’t skimp here!)
And for turning that flat dough into a beautiful Christmas Tree Cooking masterpiece, grab these:
- Pear, thinly sliced (for the base and topper!)
- Pearl onions, halved
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Red onion, thinly sliced (use sparingly, it’s strong!)
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (these make the actual branches!)
- Coarse salt, for sprinkling right before baking
That’s it! When you have all these waiting on the counter, the mixing process is quick, I promise.
Expert Tips for the Perfect Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread Dough
This dough is honestly so simple, but the secret to that chewy, open crumb—the kind that soaks up olive oil beautifully—is time. We’re not rushing this! You just mix and forget it for a while. When you stir the water in, don’t worry if it looks messy; we want a very wet, shaggy mess. If you’re trying to decide between using a packet of active dry yeast or instant, stick with the active dry here; it tends to behave better with that long, slower rise we need. I’ve learned that even when the recipe says 12 hours, if my kitchen is chilly, I let it go even longer; don’t stress the clock too much!
If you want to dive deeper into overnight dough secrets, I shared a few thoughts on long fermentation in my sourdough guide, and these same rules apply here for richness.
The Overnight Rest: Developing Flavor in Your Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
That long, slow rest overnight isn’t about making the bread rise fast; it’s all about flavor development! Letting the dough chill out at room temperature for at least 12 hours lets that tiny bit of yeast work slowly. It breaks down the starches, giving you that deep, slightly tangy, comforting homemade flavor. Trust me, if you skip this and try to bake it in two hours flat, it just won’t have the same personality. This is where much of the magic happens for your Holiday Baking project.
Assembling and Decorating Your Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
Now that you have this beautifully bubbly, rested dough, it’s time for my favorite part! This is where the magic happens and where the kids need to be pulled in because this is pure fun. First off, make sure your 7×12 inch baking dish is seriously oiled up—I mean, generous! Tip that shaggy dough in and gently press it into the corners. Don’t punch it down or try to stretch it hard; we need to keep those air bubbles!
Let it rest again, covered gently, for two more hours. This second rest lets the gluten relax so you can dimple it easily without tearing the surface. Once you dimple it—and you want deep dimples here—drizzle on a bit more olive oil, sprinkle with a tiny bit of coarse salt, and then get creative with your decorations before it hits the oven at 400 degrees F.
Creative Topping Placement for the Best Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread Look
This is where you channel your inner holiday decorator! To build the tree shape, layer your fresh rosemary sprigs diagonally from the center top down toward the bottom corners. Think of them as thick, aromatic garland branches. Once the rosemary is laid, use the cherry tomatoes and halved pearl onions as colorful ornaments scattered all over the green.
I always save the thin pear slice for the very top—a little glowing star! This decorating period is the best way to get the family involved and laughing. It transforms simple baking into a shared memory, just like the holiday potlucks I grew up with!
Baking Instructions for Golden Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
Alright, your tree is decorated with all those beautiful veggie ornaments, and your olive oil is glistening—it’s time for the oven! Make sure you get that oven fully preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit before you even think about sliding this beauty in. We need serious heat right away to get that big puff we love in good focaccia.
Slide your richly decorated dough carefully onto the middle rack. You’re looking for a bake time right around 25 minutes. Don’t just set a timer and walk away, though! Watch it. You want the edges to be deeply golden brown and the entire loaf puffed up like a pillow. The tomatoes and onions should look slightly roasted but not charred to bits. When you carefully poke the dough near the center—avoiding the veggies if you can—it should feel firm and springy. Pull it out, let it rest just a few minutes on a cooling rack, and then get ready to slice into that golden Holiday Food!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
I get asked all the time about swapping out ingredients, especially when it comes to decorating this bread! Since the dough itself is so foundational, I really stick to the flour, water, yeast, and salt ratio. That’s the secret blend for that perfect texture, and changing those affects the long rest time we rely on.
However, when it comes to turning it into a Christmas Tree Cooking spectacle, you have total freedom! The recipe calls for cherry tomatoes, pearl onions, and pear, but don’t feel locked in. If you have little ones helping, they might love finding ways to use up colorful veggies. Feel free to swap things around. Olives work beautifully as dark green or black ornaments, and thin slices of bell pepper—maybe red or green—would look fantastic scattered across the dough.
Ultimately, the toppings just need to be able to handle a 400-degree oven for 25 minutes. If you’re looking for more quick, kid-friendly options for holiday spreads, I’ve put together a list of simple snacks that would be perfect alongside this bread.
Storing and Serving Your Festive Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
That beautiful tree comes out golden and smells amazing, but you might not eat it all in one go—totally understandable if you aren’t hosting a huge crowd! The best way to store leftover focaccia is actually right on the counter, covered loosely with a clean kitchen towel, for about two days. Seriously, avoid the fridge if you can, because bread gets hard in there!
If you need to keep it longer, pop it into an airtight container and freeze it. To reheat, just spritz it lightly with water and warm it in a 350-degree oven for about 8 minutes until it softens up again. This bread is fantastic served warm alongside your main Holiday Food course, or just dipped into a beautiful seasoned olive oil dip while everyone mingles before dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
I know you might have a few lingering questions before you dive into making this festive bread. Honestly, whenever I try a new visual recipe, I always have doubts about the toppings surviving the heat! Here are a few things readers ask me most often concerning this showstopper of a Holiday Treat.
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Oh, absolutely! Instant yeast is usually more forgiving and faster acting. If you use instant yeast, you generally don’t need to “proof” it in the warm water first. You can just mix it right in with the flour and salt. Just remember that since instant yeast is a little quicker, you might want to check your dough a little earlier than the full 12 hours, though I always aim for that long rest for maximum flavor in my Christmas Cooking.
How do I stop my vegetable ‘ornaments’ from burning?
This is such a good question! The key here is twofold: the olive oil and the placement. Make absolutely sure you coat your vegetables lightly with olive oil *before* you place them on the dough, and that you are using fresh rosemary. Also, make sure your dough is well-dimpled right up to the edge of the vegetables. If you bake it at 400 degrees F for only 25 minutes, the vegetables usually cook perfectly alongside the bread without scorching, especially the tomatoes and onions.
What are some great Christmas Dinner Ideas to serve with this bread?
This savory bread is incredibly versatile! While it’s amazing all by itself as an appetizer, it pairs beautifully with richer Christmas Meals. I love serving it alongside a big, hearty pot of soup or stew. It’s also fantastic dipped in a good quality balsamic reduction or alongside a hearty roast chicken or ham. If you are looking for inspiration for the rest of your menu, I have a whole section dedicated to Christmas Dinner Recipes that would look perfect next to this festive loaf!
Estimated Nutritional Data for Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
When we’re making this for our **Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread** spread, nobody is checking the labels, but sometimes people ask! Here’s a little peek at the estimates based on my usual ingredient brands. Remember, since we’re piling on olive oil and fresh veggies, these numbers can swing a bit based on how heavily you decorate!
- Calories: Approximately 200 per slice
- Fat: Around 8g
- Carbohydrates: About 28g
- Protein: Roughly 5g
This is just a rough guide, of course! It changes based on the brand of bread flour you use or if you use a drier pear variety. It’s mostly wholesome goodness, though—a perfect savory accompaniment to balance out all those rich Holiday Treats.
Share Your Homemade Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread Creations
Wow, I truly hope this recipe brings as much joy to your table as it brings to mine every single Christmas season! Seeing the dough transform from a plain shaggy mess into a decorated, fragrant tree is just the best part of holiday baking.
I absolutely need to see what your family comes up with! Did you use olives? Did your kids go wild with the rosemary garland? Please, if you make this centerpiece, take a photo and share it on social media. Tag us so I can see all your beautiful work!
And if you loved this **Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread** and found it easy to tackle amidst all the other Christmas Cooking chaos, please leave a rating right here on the page. Five stars really helps other busy home cooks find their way to comforting, shareable holiday food.
If you want to see more behind-the-scenes looks at my family’s holiday traditions and recipes, you can always follow along on my social channels. I love building this community of home cooks who believe that the best meals are the ones made with the most love! You can check out more of my family-focused recipes right here on my author page at Sena Recipes. Happy baking, friends!
Print
Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread
- Total Time: 12 hours 45 min
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Make a festive, family-style focaccia bread shaped and decorated like a Christmas tree using fresh vegetables and herbs for a beautiful holiday centerpiece.
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 tsp coarse salt
- 1 2/3 cup warm water
- Pear, thinly sliced
- Pearl onions, halved
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Coarse salt, for sprinkling
- A few tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk them together.
- Add the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough is shaggy and wet.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rest on the counter overnight, for at least 12 hours.
- The next day, drizzle a good amount of olive oil on the bottom of a 7×12 inch casserole dish.
- Tip the risen dough into the prepared dish. Spread it gently with your hands to fit the dish snugly.
- Dimple the dough surface with your fingers and drizzle with more olive oil.
- Cover the dish lightly and let the dough rest for two more hours.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Decorate the dough to look like a tree. Use rosemary sprigs for the branches, fanning them out.
- Use a small slice of pear for the tree base.
- Use halved cherry tomatoes and halved pearl onions as ornaments.
- Place a small slice of pear on top for the tree topper.
- Sprinkle the decorated bread with coarse salt.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until the bread is puffed, golden, and the toppings are set.
- Let the bread rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- This recipe makes one focaccia loaf.
- Shaping the dough and decorating the tree is a fun, creative activity to do with children.
- You can substitute other vegetables like olives or sliced peppers for the ornaments if you prefer.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Holiday Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: Christmas Tree Focaccia Bread, Holiday Baking, Festive Bread, Christmas Dinner Ideas, Family Cooking, Homemade Focaccia, Holiday Treats