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Recipe · Focaccia · Same-Day

65% Hydration Same-Day Focaccia

Focaccia is the easiest yes in this matrix. High hydration, generous olive oil, finger-dimples that hold flaky salt, and a soft open crumb that takes any topping you put on it.

Total time

5 hours

Active

60 minutes

Hydration

65%

Difficulty

⌬○○

At 65% hydration, the dough is firm and forgiving. It shapes cleanly, holds its form during proof, and produces a tighter, more even crumb. Good for beginners, sandwich loaves, and anything you want to slice neatly.

A same-day schedule fits a Saturday afternoon. Mix in the morning, bake by dinner, and use commercial yeast at a percentage that matches the timeline. Flavor is honest but less developed; structure is reliable.

Ingredients

800g total dough. Yields 1 focaccia in a 9x13 inch sheet pan.

Ingredient Grams Baker's %
Bread flour 462 g 100%
Water 300 g 65%
Salt 10.2 g 2.2%
Instant yeast 3.7 g 0.8%
Olive oil 23 g 5%

Schedule

  1. Hour 0
    Mix flour, water, yeast. Autolyse 20 minutes.
  2. Hour 0:20
    Add salt, mix until smooth.
  3. Hour 0:30
    First fold.
  4. Hour 1:00
    Second fold.
  5. Hour 1:30
    Third fold.
  6. Hour 2:00
    Bulk ferment until visibly puffy.
  7. Hour 3:30
    Pour into an oiled 9x13 sheet pan, stretch to corners, proof 45-60 minutes.
  8. Hour 5:00
    Dimple the surface deeply with all ten fingers, drizzle generously with olive oil, and add toppings (flaky salt, herbs). Bake at 425°F for 22 minutes until the bottom crust is crisp and golden.

Method tips for this style

Pour the dough into a generously oiled pan, oil your hands, and dimple the surface with all ten fingers right before the final proof. Drizzle more oil over the dimples just before baking.

What to expect

A denser version of the style than purists would shape. The dough handles easily and bakes into a structured loaf, but you give up some of the open-crumb drama the higher hydrations bring.

What you'll need for this bake

Escali Primo Scale

NY Times recommended. 11 lb capacity, 1g accuracy, simple two-button operation.

OXO Bench Scraper

Stainless steel blade with measurement markings. Comfortable non-slip grip.

ThermoWorks Thermapen

Pro-grade accuracy in 1 second. Check water temp and bread doneness (190-210°F).

USA Pan 9x13 Rectangular Pan

Aluminized steel with a corrugated base bakes an even, deeply browned focaccia bottom. The two-inch sides give a high-hydration dough room to rise.

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