Edible Flower Focaccia Lets Your Dough and Creativity Rise

Focaccia bread is an Italian staple, known for its airy texture and rich, olive oil flavor. But, focaccia can also be a work of art. In recent years, bakers have turned this humble flatbread into a creative outlet—decorating the surface with sliced vegetables, herbs, and even edible flowers.  

A quick glimpse of the trend on social media will showcase bread designed to look like bouquets or blooming gardens. Sunflowers are easily made from sliced bell peppers with a long green onion stem. The perfectly flared red onion looks like a flower in bloom while thyme sprigs and basil leaves give the illusion of greenery in a bursting bouquet. 

For a more literal floral look, edible flowers like calendula (also known as marigolds), rose petals, cornflowers (also known as Bachelor Buttons), pansies, and lavender can also be used. These particular flowers are not only safe to eat, but they also bring in delicate flavor as well as an eye-catching color.

While the focaccia art trend may be new, edible flowers have been used in cooking for centuries and they were particularly popular in the Victorian era. Much like they are today, they were used to garnish salads or would be popular additions to desserts. These days, in addition to topping focaccia, we also see bartenders and baristas getting creative with edible flowers thanks to the unique sweet or spicy flavors they pack in infused simple syrups or for teas.

The trickiest thing about edible flowers is being able to identify the flowers exactly because not all flowers are edible. The best place to find edible flowers is at a farmer market, at the produce section of your grocery store, or from specialty food stores. We grabbed a petal blend comprised of rose, blue cornflower, and calendula for our most recent focaccia and sprinkled it on top as generously as we did salt.

If you are feeling inspired by this beautiful (and delicious) trend taking over kitchens and Instagram feeds alike, here is all you need to know about creating your own edible masterpiece.

1. Prepare the Dough: When we call focaccia humble, we mean it. The best recipe for what will become the canvas for your work of art is just flour, yeast, water, olive oil, salt, and plenty of time to let it rise. A long, slow rise adds flavor and texture.
2. Prepare Your Toppings: If using edible flowers, be sure to properly clean and dry them before using. Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, dill, and chives are also great. Prepare thinly sliced vegetables like peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, radishes, or whatever your refrigerator and creativity has in store!
3. Shape and Decorate: Press the dough into a well oiled sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Now the fun begins—press flowers, herbs, and veggies into the top gently, arranging them like a floral still life. Brush with olive oil to help the flowers and veggies retain much of their vibrancy while baking.
4. Bake until golden and crisp around the edges. Keep an eye on the flowers, delicate herbs, and vegetables—some may brown or crisp slightly. 
5. Serve with good olive oil for dipping and a light rose as you celebrate spring with your own one-of-a-kind, piece of edible art!