Best Grape And Walnut Sweet Focaccia Recipes

KIDS CAN BAKE: SWEET GRAPE FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• Put 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110 degrees F) and 1 teaspoon of the sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and set aside until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together both flours and the salt in a medium bowl.
• Once the yeast is ready, add the oil to the bowl, then the flour mixture. Stir together the mixture with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Transfer it to a work surface dusted with all-purpose flour, and knead the dough until it is smooth, elastic and slightly tacky, about 5 minutes.
• Lightly oil the bowl that held the flour mixture, put the ball of dough in it, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Generously oil an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet. Punch the dough down, and transfer it to the baking sheet. Gently stretch and pat the dough to the edges of the baking sheet with your hands (it will recede slightly from the edges). (If the dough is resistant, let it rest for about 10 minutes, then try again.) Dimple the dough all over with your hands. Scatter the grapes over the top. Loosely cover, and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. When the dough is ready, uncover, generously drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake until the bread is golden brown and the grapes are soft and juicy, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GRAPE AND WALNUT SWEET FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment proof the yeast with the granulated sugar in the water for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is foamy, add the flour, the salt, 1/3 cup of the brown sugar, the cinnamon, and the butter, and combine the dough well. With the dough hook knead the dough for 2 minutes, or until it is soft and slightly sticky. Form the dough into a ball, transfer it to an oiled bowl, and turn it to coat it with the oil. Let the dough rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours, or until it is double in bulk. The dough may be made up to this point, punched down, and kept, covered and chilled, overnight. Let the dough return to room temperature before proceeding with the recipe. Press the dough evenly into an oiled jelly-roll pan, 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1 inches, and let it rise, covered loosely, in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it is almost double in bulk.
• In a bowl stir together the grapes, the walnuts, and the Marsala and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the focaccia with the remaining 1/3 cup brown sugar and bake it in the bottom third of a preheated 400°F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until it is cooked through and topping is caramelized. Let the focaccia cool in the pan on a rack and serve it warm or at room temperature.

SWEET WHOLE WHEAT FOCACCIA WITH PEARS AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Make the sponge. Combine yeast and water in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer and stir to dissolve. Whisk in sugar and flour. Cover with plastic wrap and let proof in a warm place until bubbly and doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
• Make the dough. If using a stand mixer, whisk together yeast and water in a small bowl and let stand until creamy, a few minutes. Add to sponge in the mixer bowl with sugar and olive oil. Add flours (including cornmeal) and salt and mix in with the paddle attachment for 1 to 2 minutes, until ingredients are amalgamated. Change to the dough hook and knead on medium speed for 8 to 10 minutes. Dough should come together and slap against the sides of the bowl. It will be slightly tacky. To make dough by hand, combine yeast and water as directed and whisk into the sponge with sugar and olive oil. Whisk in all-purpose flour. Add salt, cornmeal and whole wheat flour, one cup at a time, folding it in with a spatula or a wooden spoon. When you can scrape out the dough, add flour to the work surface, put dough on top and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until soft and velvety. Return to bowl (coat the bowl lightly with olive oil first).
• Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm spot until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Shape the focaccia. Coat a 12-x 17-inch sheet pan (sides and bottom) with olive oil. Line with parchment and flip the parchment over so exposed side is oiled. Turn dough onto the baking sheet. Oil or moisten your hands, and press out dough until it just about covers the bottom of the pan. Dough may be sticky. Cover with a towel and allow it to relax for 10 minutes, then continue to press it out until it reaches the edges of pan. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm spot for 45 minutes to an hour, or until dough is full of air bubbles.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees after 15 minutes of rising (30 minutes before you wish to bake), preferably with a baking stone in it. Combine rosemary and olive oil for the topping in a small pan and heat just until herbs begin to sizzle. Wait 30 seconds, swirl the oil in the pan, then pour mix into a ramekin or a small measuring cup. Allow to cool.
• With lightly oiled fingertips or with your knuckles, dimple the dough, pressing down hard so you leave indentations. Place walnut pieces in the indentations. Distribute pears evenly over dough and drizzle on the oil with rosemary (you will have to distribute clumps of rosemary that remain behind in the cup with your fingers). Combine remaining tablespoon of sugar and the cinnamon, and sprinkle evenly over pears and dough.
• Place pan in oven on baking stone. Spray oven 3 times with water during the first 10 minutes of baking, and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until edges are crisp and top is golden. If you wish, remove focaccia from the pan and bake directly on the stone during the last 10 minutes. Remove from oven, remove from pan at once and cool on a rack. If you want a softer focaccia, cover with a towel when you remove it from the oven. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SWEET FRUITED FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Tip the flour, yeast, caster sugar and cinnamon into a bowl with 1 tsp salt. Pour over 200ml warm water and the oil, then bring together into a sticky dough using your hands. Tip onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 mins until the dough comes together into a smooth, tight ball. Scatter over most of the fruit and knead until just evenly distributed. Tip the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to rise for 1 hr until doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, lightly oil a shallow 20-22cm cake tin. When the dough is ready, tip it into the oiled tin, stretch it to the side using your hands, then re-cover and leave to rest for another hour at room temp or put in the fridge overnight.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Scatter the rest of the fruit over the top of the loaf, then use your fingertips to push the fruit down into the dough - this will also create large air bubbles. Scatter over the granulated sugar. Bake for 20-25 mins until the focaccia is puffed up and golden. Immediately brush with maple syrup, if using - this creates a sticky glaze. Cool in the tin for 5 mins, then remove to a wire rack and cool until just warm. Cut into wedges and enjoy, or spread with butter, jam or chocolate spread.