If you’ve ever dreamed of bread that’s fluffy on the inside, golden and crisp on the outside, and bursting with rich, spicy, garlicky flavor, then welcome to your new favorite obsession. The Spicy Garlic Confit Butter Focaccia is exactly what you need in your life—a warm, pillowy bread slathered with a luscious garlic confit butter that will have your taste buds doing a happy dance.
Trust me, every bite of this focaccia will leave you wondering how something so simple can be so downright delicious. It’s perfect as an appetizer, a side dish, or even just for snacking while you binge your favorite show. Warning: it’s dangerously addictive.
Why You’ll Love Spicy Garlic Confit Butter Focaccia
This focaccia isn’t just your average loaf of bread. Here’s why it’s destined to be your new go-to:
Fluffy and Buttery: The focaccia dough bakes up light and airy with that classic golden crust. The confit butter, though, is the real star—it’s rich, indulgent, and oozing with garlicky goodness.
Spicy Kick: The added chili gives the butter the perfect balance of heat to complement the rich garlic flavor. It’s not too much—just the right amount to make your taste buds tingle.
Easy to Make: If you’ve ever been intimidated by making bread, this recipe is your new best friend. It’s incredibly forgiving and doesn’t require fancy equipment.
Customizable: You can easily tweak the flavor—add extra herbs, throw in some olives, or top with cheese to take it to the next level.
Perfect for Sharing: This focaccia is great for gatherings, and it’s hard to not grab a second (or third) slice.
Ingredients in Spicy Garlic Confit Butter Focaccia
Here’s everything you need to create this beautiful, flavorful focaccia. Trust me, your kitchen will smell amazing.
All-Purpose Flour: The foundation for your dough—makes it soft and airy with that perfect chew.
Active Dry Yeast: This is what makes the bread rise and gives it that fluffy texture.
Olive Oil: Adds richness to the dough and gives the focaccia a golden crust.
Garlic: Garlic confit is the hero here—it’s sweet, soft, and beautifully fragrant.
Butter: A silky butter that will melt into the bread for maximum flavor.
Chili Flakes: A touch of heat that perfectly balances the garlic.
Salt & Sugar: Essential for flavor and to help the yeast do its magic.
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)
Instructions
Let’s dive into the steps to create this flavorful masterpiece:
Preheat Your Equipment: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). We want a hot oven to get that perfect crust.
Make the Dough: In a bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and olive oil. Slowly add water and mix until a dough forms. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). Let it rise for an hour or until doubled in size.
Prepare the Garlic Confit Butter: While the dough rises, make the garlic confit. Gently simmer garlic cloves and olive oil in a small pan for about 20 minutes until the garlic becomes soft and golden. Add chili flakes to the garlic oil for that spicy kick.
Shape the Dough: Once the dough has risen, punch it down and stretch it out into a baking dish, gently pressing your fingers into the dough to make little wells.
Assemble the Focaccia: Drizzle the garlic confit butter generously over the dough, making sure it seeps into every nook and cranny. You can also sprinkle some fresh herbs or flaky sea salt on top for extra flavor.
Bake to Perfection: Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the focaccia is golden brown and crispy on the edges.
Finishing Touches: Let it cool for a few minutes, then cut it into slices. The garlic confit butter will be oozing out, and the whole thing will be absolutely irresistible.
Serve and Enjoy: Serve warm, and enjoy the satisfying crunch and the buttery, garlicky, spicy flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Calories per serving: 350
(Note: approximate values)
Preparation Time
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
How to Serve Spicy Garlic Confit Butter Focaccia
This focaccia pairs wonderfully with various sides and accompaniments. Here are a few serving suggestions to enhance your dining experience:
- A bowl of creamy tomato soup for dipping
- A fresh mixed green salad with lemon vinaigrette
- A glass of dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
- A side of roasted vegetables or grilled meats for a full meal
Additional Tips
Here are some extra tips to help you get the most out of this recipe:
- Use fresh garlic for the confit—it’s worth the extra effort!
- If you want extra flavor, sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top before baking.
- You can freeze the dough for later use—just let it rise first, then freeze.
- Feel free to add herbs like rosemary or thyme for an aromatic twist.
- If you don’t have garlic confit, you can use roasted garlic as a substitute.
FAQs
1. Can I make this focaccia without garlic confit?
Yes! You can substitute regular roasted garlic or even fresh garlic if you prefer.
2. How do I store leftover focaccia?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also freeze it for up to a month.
3. Can I use whole wheat flour for this recipe?
Yes, but the texture will be a little denser. You can use half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour for a lighter texture.
4. How can I make the dough rise faster?
Place the dough in a warm place, such as an oven with the light on, or near a radiator.
5. Can I add cheese to the focaccia?
Absolutely! Mozzarella, parmesan, or even goat cheese would be fantastic in or on top of the bread.
6. How can I make this recipe vegan?
Use a plant-based butter and swap the honey in the garlic confit for maple syrup or agave.
7. Can I use a stand mixer for the dough?
Yes, a stand mixer with a dough hook is perfect for kneading the dough.
8. What’s the best way to reheat focaccia?
To reheat, wrap the focaccia in foil and warm it in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
9. Can I make this focaccia in advance?
You can make the dough a day ahead and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Just bring it to room temperature before baking.
10. How do I make the focaccia extra crispy?
For an extra crispy crust, drizzle the dough with a little more olive oil before baking.
Conclusion
The Spicy Garlic Confit Butter Focaccia is a game-changer in the world of bread. It’s soft, flavorful, and packed with garlic and spice that will make you crave it again and again. Whether you’re serving it as a side dish or enjoying it as a snack, this focaccia is sure to impress. Give it a try, and prepare for your new bread obsession.
Print
Spicy Garlic Confit Butter Focaccia
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 large focaccia (about 8 servings) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Spicy Garlic Confit Butter Focaccia is a flavor-packed twist on the classic Italian bread, infused with slow-roasted garlic, chili flakes, and rich herb butter for a soft, aromatic, and slightly spicy loaf.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 3/4 cups (420ml) warm water
- 1 tbsp honey or sugar
- 1/2 cup garlic confit (about 10-12 garlic cloves cooked in oil)
- 1/4 cup garlic confit oil (reserved from garlic confit)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp chili flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary or thyme
- Coarse sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix warm water, honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add flour and salt. Mix until a sticky dough forms. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Meanwhile, prepare the garlic confit butter: melt butter in a small saucepan, add garlic confit cloves, chili flakes, and chopped herbs. Simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Grease a baking pan with some garlic confit oil. Transfer the dough into the pan and gently stretch it to fit. Let rest for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Use your fingers to dimple the dough all over.
- Drizzle the garlic confit butter generously over the dough. Press garlic cloves into the dough and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown and crisp on top.
- Cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven for best texture.
- You can make the garlic confit in advance and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
- Try adding sliced olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or caramelized onions for variation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg