Sourdough Caramel Apple Focaccia

Ingredients

• 100 g sourdough starter (active and bubbly)
• 250 g water (warm)
• 100 g applesauce (unsweetened, used to replace some water for flavor and softness)
• 500 g bread flour
• 10 g salt
• 20 g honey
• 1 cup apples (juicy, diced)
• 0.5 cup soft caramels (chewy, chopped into small pieces)
• 2 tbsp butter (for greasing the pan)
• caramel sauce (for drizzling after baking)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the active sourdough starter, warm water, and applesauce. Whisk until the starter is mostly dissolved.

2. 2

   Add the bread flour, salt, and honey to the wet mixture. Mix by hand or with a dough whisk until a shaggy dough forms and no dry flour remains.

3. 3

   Perform a series of stretch and folds every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours of bulk fermentation to build dough strength.

4. 4

   During the final set of folds, gently fold in the juicy diced apples and chewy soft caramel pieces until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

5. 5

   Cover the bowl and let the dough rise at room temperature for the first rise until it has increased in size by about 50-75%.

6. 6

   Generously butter a 9x13 inch baking pan. Transfer the dough to the pan, being careful not to deflate it too much.

7. 7

   Let the dough rest and undergo a second rise in the pan for 2-4 hours, or until it has spread to the corners and is very bubbly and jiggly.

8. 8

   Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

9. 9

   Dimple the dough with oiled fingertips, pressing down to create the characteristic focaccia craters.

10. 10

    Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the caramels are bubbling.

11. 11

    Remove from the oven and finish the bread with a rich drizzle of caramel sauce while still warm.

Notes

Replacing a portion of the water with applesauce provides a natural sweetness and keeps the crumb exceptionally soft. Ensure the caramels used are soft-style so they melt properly into the bread during baking.

Nutrition per serving

• sourdough
• focaccia
• apple
• caramel
• fall recipes
• baking
• bread
• dessert bread