Kids Can Do It: Focaccia

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 packet (7 g) of dry active yeast (2 and 1/4 tsp)
• 3 cups premium flour + extra for work
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 0.5 cups extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing and drizzling
• Sea salt flakes for sprinkling
• Special equipment: baking sheet with sides measuring 17.5 x 42.5 cm.

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, combine 1.5 cups of dark water (approximately 40°C) with sugar. Sprinkle the yeast on top and set aside until bubbly, about 5-10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together all the flour and coarse salt.
3. Once the yeast has dissolved, add the olive oil to the bowl, then the flour mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon to form a loose dough. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead until smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky, about 5 minutes.
4. Lightly oil the bowl that held the flour mixture, place the dough ball in it, cover and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
5. Generously grease a 7 x 17.5 cm (7 x 17.5 in) baking pan with olive oil. Punch down the dough and transfer it to the pan. Gently stretch the dough with your hands, patting it toward the edges of the pan (it will pull away slightly). If the dough resists, let it rest for 10 minutes, then try again. Use your fingers to make indentations all over the surface of the dough. Cover loosely and let rise in a warm place until it has almost doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F). When the dough is ready, uncover it, drizzle generously with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake the focaccia until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
   
   

   Note

   
   When measuring flour, we spoon it into a measuring cup and remove any excess. If you scoop flour directly from the bag with a measuring cup, you'll compact it, resulting in dry baked goods.
   
   Don't leave your child unsupervised in the kitchen. Limit them to tasks appropriate for their age.