The Ultimate Guide to Everything Bagel Focaccia: Transforming Simple Pizza Dough into Irresistible Bread

Imagine the warm, inviting aroma of freshly baked bread filling your kitchen, its crust golden and crisp, its interior soft and airy. Now, picture that bread infused with the savory, garlicky, and oniony magic of everything bagel seasoning. This isn’t just a dream; it’s the delicious reality of Everything Bagel Focaccia, an incredibly simple yet profoundly satisfying bake that starts with a humble ingredient: pizza dough. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a curious beginner, this recipe offers an accessible path to homemade bread that will impress everyone at your table.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the clever repurposing of pizza dough. For many, making pizza dough is almost second nature. It’s a quick process, especially with the help of a stand mixer’s dough hook, and it truly benefits from a little patience. The secret to the best pizzeria-quality pizza dough, and by extension, exceptional focaccia, is time. Allowing the dough to rest and ferment for at least 24 hours, or even longer, develops incredible flavor and a more desirable texture. This extended fermentation is what elevates a good dough to a great one, transforming simple flour, water, yeast, and salt into something truly extraordinary.

The Versatility of Pizza Dough: Beyond the Pie

Pizza dough is a culinary chameleon, capable of transforming into far more than just a base for your favorite toppings. Its robust structure and yeasty flavor make it an ideal foundation for a variety of breads, including the rustic Italian flatbread known as focaccia. Focaccia, with its characteristic dimpled surface, generous olive oil drizzle, and chewy crumb, is a true crowd-pleaser. It serves as a perfect accompaniment to soups and salads, a delightful base for sandwiches, or simply a delicious snack on its own.

While making pizza dough from scratch is a rewarding experience, we understand that time is often a luxury. Thankfully, the culinary world has made it easier than ever to enjoy homemade quality without the initial time commitment. Many grocery stores, specialty food markets, and Italian delis now offer fresh, high-quality pizza dough ready for you to take home. This convenience means you’re just a few steps away from warm, fragrant bread, making the Everything Bagel Focaccia an achievable reality on even your busiest days. So, whether you’re kneading your own or picking up a pre-made ball, you’re well on your way to a fantastic culinary adventure.

Unlocking the Flavor: The Magic of Everything Bagel Seasoning

What truly sets this focaccia apart is the generous application of everything bagel seasoning. This iconic blend, typically found adorning bagels, brings a symphony of savory notes that perfectly complements the rich olive oil and airy texture of the focaccia. The seasoning usually consists of poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds (both white and black), dried garlic flakes, dried onion flakes, and a touch of coarse salt. This combination creates an irresistible aroma and a burst of flavor in every bite.

If you don’t live near a store that sells this popular seasoning, or if you simply prefer the satisfaction of a homemade blend, making your own everything bagel seasoning is incredibly easy and highly recommended. It also gives you full control over the ratio and freshness of your ingredients. Here’s a simple guide to crafting your own:

DIY Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend:

2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
2 tablespoons black sesame seeds (or nigella seeds for a slightly different look and flavor)
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon granulated garlic (or dried minced garlic)
1 tablespoon granulated onion (or dried minced onion)
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt (adjust to your preference)

Simply combine all ingredients in a small jar and shake well. Store it in a cool, dry place, and you’ll have this versatile blend ready to sprinkle over eggs, avocado toast, salads, roasted vegetables, and of course, your glorious focaccia. Making small jars of this blend also makes for thoughtful, last-minute gifts for the foodies in your life!

Crafting Your Everything Bagel Focaccia: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s dive into the delightful process of transforming that beautiful pizza dough into a show-stopping focaccia. This recipe is designed to be straightforward, yielding impressive results with minimal fuss.

Ingredients:

1 pound (approximately 450-500g) prepared pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for the pan
2-3 tablespoons Everything Bagel Seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
Optional: A pinch of flaky sea salt for finishing

Equipment:

9×13 inch baking sheet or a 9-inch round cake pan (for thicker focaccia)
Plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel

Instructions:

Prepare the Dough: If your pizza dough has been refrigerated, take it out at least 1-2 hours before you plan to bake. This allows it to come to room temperature, making it easier to work with and promoting a better rise. Lightly oil your chosen baking pan with olive oil, ensuring the bottom and sides are well coated. This prevents sticking and contributes to a wonderfully crispy crust.
Stretch and Settle: Gently transfer the room-temperature dough to the oiled baking pan. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top of the dough. Using your fingertips, gently press and stretch the dough to fill the pan. Don’t force it; if the dough springs back, let it rest for 10-15 minutes, then continue stretching. This resting period allows the gluten to relax. Once stretched, cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rest in a warm place for about 30-60 minutes, or until it has visibly relaxed and expanded slightly. This is its second proofing and is crucial for a light, airy texture.
The Dimpling Ritual: This is arguably the most satisfying part! Uncover the dough. Drizzle another tablespoon of olive oil generously over the surface. Now, using your fingertips (or the handle of a wooden spoon for more defined indentations), deeply dimple the entire surface of the dough. Press firmly enough to create pockets for the oil and seasoning, but not so hard that you tear through the dough. These dimples are essential; they catch the olive oil, creating those irresistible pockets of richness, and prevent large air bubbles from forming during baking.
Season with Abandon: Once dimpled, liberally sprinkle the Everything Bagel Seasoning all over the surface of the dough. Don’t be shy here! Ensure every dimple and every surface area gets a good coating. If desired, you can add a final sprinkle of flaky sea salt for an extra textural and flavor boost.
Final Proofing and Preheat: Cover the focaccia again and let it rise for another 20-30 minutes while you preheat your oven. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This final short proof allows the dough to relax further and become even more aerated.
Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the focaccia in the preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the edges are crispy. The exact baking time will depend on your oven and the thickness of your focaccia. Keep an eye on it; you want that beautiful golden hue.
Cool and Serve: Once baked, carefully remove the focaccia from the oven. For the crispiest crust, immediately transfer it to a wire rack to cool slightly. While delicious warm, allowing it to cool for 10-15 minutes makes it easier to slice and allows the flavors to meld. Slice into squares or strips and serve.

Serving Suggestions and Creative Variations

Everything Bagel Focaccia is incredibly versatile. Enjoy it as a standalone snack, perfect for dipping in extra olive oil or balsamic vinegar. It makes an excellent accompaniment to a bowl of hot soup or a crisp salad, adding a satisfying texture and flavor. Cut it horizontally to create unique sandwich bread, perfect for deli meats, cheeses, or roasted vegetables. For breakfast, a slice of this focaccia topped with cream cheese and chives is surprisingly delicious!

While the everything bagel topping is a star, feel free to experiment with other flavor profiles. Here are a few ideas:

Classic Rosemary and Sea Salt: A timeless combination, simply dimple, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle fresh rosemary leaves and coarse sea salt before baking.
Garlic and Herb: Mince a few cloves of garlic and mix with dried oregano or Italian seasoning, then sprinkle over the dough with olive oil.
Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato: Dot the dimpled dough with pitted Kalamata olives and chopped sun-dried tomatoes before baking for a Mediterranean twist.
Caramelized Onion and Thyme: Sauté onions until deeply caramelized, then spread them over the dough before dimpling and baking, adding fresh thyme for aroma.

Why Bake Your Own Focaccia? The Rewards Are Endless

There’s an undeniable satisfaction that comes from baking your own bread. Beyond the incredible aroma and taste, making focaccia from pizza dough is a truly rewarding experience. You have complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to choose high-quality olive oil and fresh seasonings. It’s often more cost-effective than buying artisanal bread, and the pride of serving something you’ve created from scratch is immeasurable. This focaccia is not just a dish; it’s an experience – a simple pleasure that elevates everyday meals and gatherings.

So, the next time you find yourself with a ball of pizza dough, don’t just think pizza. Think focaccia. Think about the joy of pressing your fingers into the soft dough, the aroma of olive oil and garlic, and the satisfying crunch of everything bagel seasoning. This Everything Bagel Focaccia is more than just bread; it’s an invitation to savor the simple, delicious moments in life. Happy baking!