Pumpkin Focaccia: The Perfect Fall Bread

Introduction

Pumpkin focaccia captures everything people love about fall: bold flavors, golden hues, and a warm, inviting aroma straight from the oven. This stunning bread is as striking on any holiday table as it is delicious and versatile—ideal alongside soups, salads, or simply enjoyed with a drizzle of olive oil. With a pillowy, moist crumb and gentle sweetness from pumpkin puree, this focaccia is sure to become a seasonal staple.

Why Pumpkin Focaccia is a Fall Standout

What sets this pumpkin focaccia apart is its combination of classic Italian texture with autumnal flavor. Pumpkin puree brings natural color, subtle earthiness, and extra moisture. Paired with aromatic toppings like rosemary and flaky sea salt, it’s a show stopper for gatherings or cozy nights in. Kids and adults alike will reach for another slice, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Crafting the Best Pumpkin Focaccia

The key to outstanding focaccia is a delightfully sticky dough enriched with olive oil and, in this recipe, pumpkin puree. Don’t rush the rising time: a good long proof ensures an airy crumb and crisp, bronze edges. Topping your dough with rosemary sprigs, pumpkin seeds, and sea salt brings the bakery experience home. For more depth, try adding a pinch of ground nutmeg or black pepper into the dough.

Baking and Serving Tips

Dimple the dough generously with your fingertips just before baking to create that signature focaccia appearance and texture. A liberal brush of olive oil before baking helps achieve crisp, golden edges. Serve warm, either as-is or with extra olive oil for dipping, a swipe of ricotta, or sliced with cheese and cured meats for a hearty appetizer.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields one large pumpkin focaccia (about 15 servings). Each serving contains roughly 160–190 calories, depending on toppings and portion size. Packed with vitamin A from pumpkin and heart-healthy olive oil, this bread is an autumn treat worth savoring.

Pumpkin Focaccia: Why You’ll Love It (Recap)

Pumpkin focaccia delivers comforting fall flavors in a crowd-pleasing, shareable form. Its soft interior and crisp crust pair perfectly with a variety of fall meals, making it a go-to bread throughout the season.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, and 1½ teaspoons salt. Stir in pumpkin puree, lukewarm water, honey (or maple syrup), and 1/4 cup olive oil. Mix until a sticky dough forms.
2. Knead dough on a lightly oiled surface for 5–8 minutes, or use a stand mixer, until smooth and elastic. If using, knead in nutmeg or black pepper with the rosemary.
3. Drizzle a clean bowl with olive oil. Transfer dough, turning to coat, then cover with a towel and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
4. Generously oil a 13×9-inch baking pan (or similar). Transfer dough to pan, stretching gently to fill corners. Cover and let rise another 20–30 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Drizzle dough with remaining olive oil, then use wet fingertips to press deep dimples all over the surface.
6. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds, rosemary, and coarse sea salt. Optional: top with a few more cracks of black pepper.
7. Bake for 22–28 minutes, or until deeply golden and crisp on the edges. Let cool slightly before slicing.

Weekly Meal Planning

Pumpkin focaccia isn’t just a delicious bread—it’s a smart addition to weekly meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe to integrate it into your week’s lineup. CookifyAI automatically tracks ingredient totals, organizes lists by store section, and helps avoid duplicate purchases, making fall meal planning smooth and stress-free.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates total ingredient needs for all recipes across your planned week
– Sorts your shopping list by grocery section for quick trips
– Avoids buying too much or forgetting key ingredients
– Helps streamline weekly meal prep and baking

Pro tip: Planning soup, salad, and this bread all in the same week? Schedule your recipes on CookifyAI to combine ingredient needs (like olive oil or rosemary) and reduce food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Enjoy your vibrant, homemade pumpkin focaccia with all your favorite fall meals!