Apple Rosemary Focaccia

# What this focaccia is

# Why apples work here Thin apple slices add a mild sweet-tart note that complements the herbal rosemary and savory cheese. The recipe recommends crisp, flavorful eating apples—Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji are given as examples—sliced very thin so they warm through and caramelize slightly without releasing too much moisture into the dough.

# Ingredients at a glance

• Active dry yeast
• Warm water (1½ to 2 cups total) and 1/2 cup reserved to bloom the yeast
• 5 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon salt in the dough
• 2 tablespoons olive oil in the dough
• Topping: extra virgin olive oil, coarse sea salt, fresh chopped rosemary, thinly sliced apples (2 medium), and 3/4 cup grated cheese of choice (Asiago, Gruyere, or Parmesan suggested)

# Method summary

1. 1Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and wait about 10 minutes until bubbly.
2. 2Combine flour, salt, olive oil, yeast mixture, and the remaining warm water. Mix by spoon then by hand and knead briefly until smooth.

1. 1Preheat oven to 425°F. Punch down the dough, spread it across an oiled 13 x 9-inch baking sheet, and dimple the surface with your fingertips.
2. 2Arrange very thin apple slices evenly over the dough. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle coarse sea salt and chopped rosemary.
3. 3Bake about 20 minutes. Remove, sprinkle the grated cheese across the top, then bake another 5–7 minutes until cheese melts and focaccia is golden.
4. 4Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Serving and storage

# Variations and small adjustments

• Toppings: the author sometimes adds chopped olives into the dough or tries other fruit or lemon slices. Fresh chopped rosemary is identified as essential for the intended herbal note.

# Quick tips

• Slice apples very thin to avoid excess moisture.
• Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the topping flavor.
• Dimple the dough with fingertips before adding toppings so the focaccia keeps its characteristic surface texture.

Buon Appetito — a simple, seasonal twist on focaccia that uses common pantry ingredients and a modest extra step to add fruit and cheese for fall baking.