There is nothing better than fresh homemade bread. This Vegan Focaccia bread recipe is so easy, anyone can make it, and it doesn’t take days and days of resting and kneading. Mix the ingredients in the morning, and you’ll have fresh bread by dinner time with super minimal effort.
If you’re looking for more easy bread recipes, try this Classic Italian Bread Recipe, this easy Vegan Rye Bread, or this delicious Vegan No Knead Artisan Bread.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No knead – No need to knead! This easy recipe requires minimal hands-on work and no special equipment.
- Light & fluffy – This focaccia bread is light and fluffy without lacking any of that delicious rich flavor.
- Make it your own – You can easily add fresh or dried herbs, vegetables, or cheeses to this bread. Get creative!
- Simple Ingredients – It really doesn’t get any easier than this. The magic is in the mixing.
- Versatile – This makes for great sandwich bread or the perfect side to your next Italian meal.
Ingredients
- Flour – I use all-purpose flour, but you could use whole wheat as well. I have not tried this recipe with gluten-free flour, but I suspect gluten-free bread flour may work.
- Water – The water temperature is very important here. It needs to be WARM, but not hot, to activate the yeast. Too cold will not activate it, and too hot will kill it. The water should be warm the the touch, but comfortable enough that you can hold your hand under the heat easily.
- Yeast – Instant yeast or active dry yeast works best in this recipe.
- Sugar – A touch of sugar helps to feed the yeast during these shorter resting times.
- Salt – For flavor in the dough and as a garnish to finish it off. You can use regular sea salt for both, or flaky sea salt for the garnish.
- Olive oil – A high-quality extra virgin olive oil really makes a difference here.
Helpful Equipment
In addition to measuring cups and spoons, the following equipment is helpful for this recipe:
- Large bowl
- 13-inch pan
- Plastic wrap, kitchen towel, or bowl cover
How to Make Homemade Focaccia Bread
This is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to make this recipe including photographs. For the quick version, skip ahead to the recipe card below!
Mix the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, add the warm water, sugar, salt, and yeast and mix briefly. Next, add the flour and olive oil and mix until a stretchy but shaggy dough forms. This will be a bit of a dryer yet sticky dough.
First Dough Rise
Cover the bowl in plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and set it in a warm area of your home for 4 hours to let the dough rest.
After 4 hours, the dough will have nearly doubled in size and will look slightly bubbly (shown below).
Transfer the focaccia dough to a well-oiled 9 x 13-inch baking dish, scraping the edge of the bowl. Stretch the dough to reach the sides of the baking pan if necessary.
If you want to use less oil, you can place parchment paper on the bottom of the pan instead.
Second Rise
Once in the 9 x 13-inch baking dish (Step 1 below), cover the dough with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Do not let the towel rest on top of the dough, it will stick.
Let rest another 40-45 minutes. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit at this time.
Once it has rested (Step 2), coat the surface of the dough generously with 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil (Step 3) and use your fingers to make deep dimples all over the bread (Step 4).
Time to Bake
Place the dough in a preheated oven (450°F) and bake for 20-25 minutes or until it is golden brown.
Remove from the oven, lightly spray with olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. You can also garnish the top of the focaccia with fresh rosemary or any other dried or fresh herbs.
Slice, serve, and enjoy!
How to Store
- Room Temperature: This bread will last 3-5 days at room temp in an air-tight container. Make sure the bread is fully cooled before storing it to prevent mold. When stored in a reusable linen bread bag, it may store for up to 7 days.
- Freezer: Freeze this bread in slices in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer for a crispier finish.
More Tips
- Not vegan? Instead of the final coat of olive oil, lightly brush butter on the bread before sprinkling the salt. Add crumbled feta or sliced mozzarella to the top of the dough before baking.
- Want more flavor? Add fresh or dried herbs right into the dough before mixing, or press into the top of the dough before baking.
- Gluten-free? I have not tried this dough with gluten-free flour, but I suspect it would work with gluten-free bread flour.
FAQ
Heck yes! This would make delicious deep dish pizza. Just add your toppings before baking and boom – pizza, pizza.
Yes, you’ll want to stick with instant yeast or active dry yeast otherwise the rise times will be off.
Easy Vegan Focaccia Bread
Equipment
- Plastic wrap or dish towel
Ingredients
- 3.5 cup flour
- 1.5 – 2 cups water
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Instant yeast
- 1-3 tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt for garnish
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the warm (but not hot) water, salt, sugar, and yeast. Mix 1-2 seconds.
- Add the flour and 1 tbsp olive oil. Mix until the dough is stretchy/shaggy.
- Cover the bowl in plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let rest in a warm area of your home for 4 hours.
- Once the dough has nearly doubled in size, transfer to a well-oiled 9 x 13" baking dish. Stretch the dough to the edges of the dish.
- Cover with plastic wrap or kitchen towel and let rest another 40-45 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- After the second rest, coat the top of the bread generously in olive oil and use your fingers to make several deep dimples all over the bread.
- Bake at 450 F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven. Lightly spray in olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Slice, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The water temperature is very important here. It needs to be WARM, but not hot, to activate the yeast. Too cold will not activate it, and too hot will kill it. The water should be warm the the touch, but comfortable enough that you can hold your hand under the heat easily.
- Not vegan? Instead of the final coat of olive oil, lightly brush butter on the bread before sprinkling the salt. Add crumbled feta or sliced mozzarella to the top of the dough before baking.
- Gluten-free? I have not tried this dough with gluten-free flour, but I suspect it would work with a gluten-free bread flour.
- Want more flavor? Add fresh or dried herbs right into the dough before mixing, or press into the top of the dough before baking.
Nutrition
Please note, while all ingredients used in this recipe have been verified to be vegan and free of applicable allergens at the time of recipe creation, different brands may differ in their ingredients or processing procedures and may change their ingredients at any time. For some recipes, I do include ingredients that are processed in a facility that processes other allergens. Please make sure to check the ingredients and processing procedures for your specific purchases to ensure they meet your dietary needs.
Last Updated on April 23, 2025
This recipe is so easy and so delicious! I make this bread all the time for family gatherings and it is always a hit!
Great photos with helpful instructions!