Dinner

Christmas Tree Focaccia Recipe

BySana Jeannette December 17, 2025December 17, 2025

Introduction

Celebrate the season with this festive Christmas Tree Focaccia, a delightful and savory bread decorated with fresh herbs and colorful toppings. It’s both a feast for the eyes and the palate, perfect for holiday gatherings or as a unique appetizer.

A golden-brown oval focaccia bread with a slightly puffy texture sits in an oval baking dish, decorated on top to look like a tree. The base layer is the bread dough, evenly baked to a light golden color. On this, green rosemary sprigs are placed vertically and spread out like tree branches. Scattered among the rosemary are halved white onions, some slightly caramelized at the edges, along with red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some roasted until just wrinkled and shiny. Near the bottom, a darker baked garlic clove represents the tree trunk. The dish is placed on a white marbled surface with a white cloth and a small plate of mixed tomatoes, onions, and rosemary nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3 cups bread flour
1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast

1 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 2/3 cups warm water

Pear (thinly sliced)
Pearl onions (peeled and halved)

Cherry tomatoes (halved)
Thinly sliced red onion
Fresh rosemary sprigs

Coarse salt, for sprinkling
Olive oil (a few tablespoons, plus more for drizzling)

Instructions

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the bread flour, active dry yeast, and coarse salt. Add the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough is shaggy and wet. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel, then leave it to sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours or overnight.

Step 2: The next day, drizzle olive oil into a casserole dish (about 7×12 inches) to coat the bottom. Uncover the dough—it should be risen and bubbly. Tip it into the dish and spread it evenly with your hands, then dimple the surface with your fingers. Drizzle more olive oil on top, cover lightly, and let it rest for two hours.
Step 3: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Decorate the dough to form a Christmas tree shape using fresh rosemary sprigs as branches. Use pear slices for the tree base and topper, and place cherry tomatoes and pearl onions as ornaments. Feel free to get creative with your decorations.
Step 4: Sprinkle a little coarse salt over the decorated focaccia. Bake for about 25 minutes until the bread is golden and puffed, and the toppings have set.

Step 5: Let the focaccia rest for a few minutes after baking, then slice and serve warm.

Tips & Variations

For an extra flavor boost, brush the focaccia with garlic-infused olive oil before baking.
Try different toppings like olives, sliced bell peppers, or caramelized onions to customize your tree.

If you prefer a softer crust, cover the focaccia with a damp towel as it cools.

Storage

Store leftover focaccia wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To refresh, warm slices briefly in a preheated oven or toaster oven. Avoid refrigerating as it can dry out the bread.

How to Serve

An oval white baking dish holds a thick layer of pale dough as the base, decorated creatively to look like a Christmas tree. Several sprigs of fresh green rosemary form the tree shape, starting with a single bunch at the bottom center that fans out upwards. White pearl onions and small round cherry tomatoes in red, orange, and yellow colors are placed evenly across the dough to represent tree ornaments. Thin slices of red onion are scattered lightly for extra texture. At the top of the tree is a small, star-shaped piece of light orange vegetable, and a round, light brown piece at the bottom acts as the tree trunk. The dish rests on a white marbled surface with scattered rosemary sprigs, onions, a white cloth, a white mug of coffee, and a white plate with blue floral designs nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this focaccia without letting the dough rest overnight?

While the overnight rest develops flavor and texture, you can let the dough rise for 2-3 hours until doubled in size for a quicker version, though results may be less flavorful.