Chocolate skillet focaccia with cream cheese frosting and berries. Great July 4th dessert if you don't like sugary desserts
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If you are looking for simple less sugary dessert for your July 4th celebration here it is. It is made with sourdough and cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Delicious dessert or breakfast dish, when you add frosting and berries it becomes Red, white and blue dish. It is far better than any dessert or breakfast dish loaded with sugar. Get ready for Chocolate Skillet Focaccia with cream cheese frosting and berries
What is FocacciaFocaccia is rustic simple bread usually a naturally leavened dough topped with simple ingredients, usually made with tomatoes, olives, olive oil and salt. Some are soft and some are crispy. Sometimes it is thick or some time it is thin. You can make it no knead also. Mix starter flour, salt and water and keep overnight next day make it in a pan brushed with olive oil. Best part is less effort. Only you need ripe sourdough starter. Rest it will take care of the job.
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Savory or sweet Focaccia?
Usually Focaccia bread is made as savory dish. There is sweet version also there. In the sweet version there will be honey, sugar or any other sweetener is used. Butter is used in sweet version whereas savory olive oil is used. I have tried savory version of focaccia with tomato and rosemary here is the recipe link that too I used sourdough.
This Chocolate Focaccia with Cream cheese frosting and berries is no-knead recipe. Made with cocoa powder, chocolate chips. I used dark chocolate chips.
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This recipe is adapted form Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffia. I used her skillet chocolate focaccia recipe. But the cream cheese frosting is my version. I used cream cheese, powdered sugar as well as lemon juice to make thin frosting. It is not thick as we use in cakes but not thin as cinnamon rolls. It is medium. I didn’t use any milk or cream. If you want, you can use that.
Tips to remember
- You can mix flour and cocoa powder first and then mix in with starter to prevent streak of different color. Otherwise make sure to mix uniformly so that you won’t see different color.
- Only mix in dough for second fermentation when the melted butter is cold. Otherwise it will affect the fermentation of dough.
- Since its chocolate focaccia you won’t see the golden-brown color when you bake. To check whether focaccia done you need to use thermometer and it should register internal temperature of 198-200F.
- While maintaining the sourdough starter use little rye flour along with 50: 50 flour and wheat flour mix will strengthen the growth
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Once you have starter is ready, mix everything for the chocolate focaccia in the night next morning bake and enjoy with cream cheese frosting and fresh berries. If you are planning a July 4th get together then arrange with blueberry, strawberry and raspberry to make it red white and blue dish.
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What is your favorite focaccia? Sweet version or savory. If you tried this recipe, please take picture and tag me @ nidhhinikhil in Instagram. I would like to see your creation.
Chocolate Skillet Focaccia
Ingredients
- 4 cups plus 2 tablespoon 500g all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup 20 g cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon 5g fine sea salt
- ¼ cup 50 active starter
- 1 ⅔ cups 400g cool water
- 1 tablespoon 20 g honey
- 1 teaspoon 5g pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup 90 g semi-sweet chocolate chips plus extra as needed
- 5 tablespoon 70 g unsalted butter melted
- Cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened at room temperature
- ⅓ cup/80g powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- For topping
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
Instructions
- Make the dough: Day before baking in the evening. Add the starter, water, honey, and vanilla in a bowl and mix in flour, cocoa powder and salt. Mix to combine, then finish by hand to form a rough and shaggy dough. Cover the bowl and let rest for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- After the dough has rested, add the chocolate chips to the bowl. Gently knead to incorporate, about 1 minute.
- Bulk rise: Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let rise overnight at room temperature, 70°F (21°C), about 12 to 18 hours.
- Second rise: Next morning melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, or in the microwave. Pour the butter into a 10-inch (25-ccast iron skillet and swirl to coat. Cool for a few minutes before adding the dough. Remove the dough into the skillet, and then flip it over to coat both sides in the melted butter. Cover and let rest for about 1 hour or more, until very puffy. The butter may solidify during this stage, depending on the room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Assemble the focaccia: Gently dimple and stretch the dough to reach the sides of the skillet. Sprinkle with a small handful of extra chocolate chips, pressing them into the dough as you go.
- Bake: Bake the focaccia for 25-28 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
- Make cream cheese frosting In a kitchen aid stand mixer add cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and lemon juice and beat well to form the frosting.
- Add the frosting in the cooled focaccia leaving 2 inch sides. Then arrange with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.
Video
Notes
- You can mix flour and cocoa powder first and then mix in with starter to prevent streak of different color. Otherwise make sure to mix uniformly so that you won’t see different color.
- Only mix in dough for second fermentation when the melted butter is cold. Otherwise it will affect the fermentation of dough.
- Since its chocolate focaccia you won’t see the golden-brown color when you bake. To check whether focaccia done you need to use thermometer and it should register internal temperature of 198-200F.
- While maintaining the sourdough starter use little rye flour along with 50: 50 flour and wheat flour mix will strengthen the growth
Nutrition
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
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This worked exactly as written, thanks!
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Rachel Lavern says
I am accustomed to savory focaccia and was not aware that there was a sweet version. I cannot even imagine how this would taste. Hope you enjoyed it.
Alissa says
Yum! Looking forward to trying this... Occasionally, a sugary-sweet dessert is really nice, but i can't help but love the calmer-tasting treats... especially with real fruits and cream cheese!
Natalie says
What a simple yet delicious looking dessert. It's perfect for summer and long days. I will make this to enjy with my afternoon coffee. I know my family will love it too.
Janet says
I never would have thought of a chocolate foccia and it looks amazing. Going to pin this one for summer parties
David Elliott says
Oooh... I packed my cast iron skillet away after the divorce. I am going to have to get it out for this. It really does look amazing and delicious. I know my daughter would love it too.
Hannah Marie says
This is my type of dessert. It looks very sweet actually. I just think that fruits and few greens are great for chocolate cakes.
Laura G says
That looks yummy! I never thought of a sweet focaccia! What a cool idea!
Gilbert Motherhood Blogger says
Wait. Focaccia can be a desert too?! I am so very intrigued to try this out now!
Jeannette (Jay Joy) says
You are right this a great July 4th dessert if you don’t like sugary desserts. My husband and son are not fans of really sugary desserts. My daughter and I, on the other hand, LOVE them.
Rachel says
Wait, what!? Chocolate focaccia exists?! This sounds heavenly!
Mirlene says
Swathi, I have never had Focaccia before. I can see myself making this and enjoying it in the morning for breakfast with my family. a great mix of sweet and savory together. I am always looking for new excited ideas and dishes to try. This is perfect!
natasha d’anna says
focaccia is my fave! this recipe is truly a five star must try rubin our house! the mix of fruits are perfection.
Heather says
This looks like a great recipe! I love to make things and I just can't wait to make this! Thanks for the tips.
Janay says
I love a super yummy super easy to make snack! I love that this is healthy and I can’t wait to try making this! It looks perfect for a summer snack!
April says
Mmmmm, time for me to make this focaccia. I was just thinking that I need a good dessert with fresh berries (I have plenty right now), so this is perfect! 🙂
Chad says
I had no idea you can do a chocolate Focaccia!!! This is something i would love to try soon..very very soon. Thanks a lot.
Danielle says
Delicious recipe for the coming holiday and, in fact, any other day. I really like the freshness of the berries on top - it must make this dessert so yummy.
emma iannarilli says
Wow. My husband is not a fan of overly sweet desserts so I think the use of foccacia would make this perfect for him.
Rachel says
I don't think I realized that this is how focaccia bread is made. It looks so good!
Beth says
My husband doesn't like "too sweet" desserts, so this would be something he would love.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
Wow this skillet focaccia sounds absolutely incredible. It looks so tasty too. Can't wait to try this!!
Ruth I says
Yum! This looks delicious! I can't wait to try this recipe, I am sure this will be a hit!
Lynndee says
Never had this before, but we love anything with chocolate over here. So we are definitely going to try this soon. Looks good!
Alexandra Cook says
Oh my gosh, this looks SO good! You definitely had me at chocolate and then I saw the word skillet and was sold even more.
Kathy says
This looks really good. I don't think I've ever made focaccia before. It sure sounds delicious though. Love that this is a chocolate one too.
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
What a beautiful recipe for the 4th of July. I have never made a dessert bread like this one, and I would really love to give this one a try!
Lyanna Soria says
Okay, that looks absolutely delicious and I want to try one. Thanks for the recipe, would love to try making this someday.
Krysten Quiles says
Oh my goodness, that looks absolutely divine. Thanks for sharing, will definitely try out that recipe.
Ricci says
I recently purchased a cast iron skillet (ok, I got it last summer...LOL) and I actually haven't used it very much! Yikes! I need to make this recipe STAT because it looks and sounds AMAZING!!
Melissa Dixon says
Wow this looks amazing. I bet my family would love to have this one for dessert today. I have never made anything like this before so it would be awesome to try out.
Cristina Petrini says
Too bad I can't eat chocolate anymore! It is a marvel!
Mommy Sigrid says
Oh my gosh! This looks so good! And sounds so easy to make. Copying the recipe now for the weekend. 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
What a great dessert! I love all that fresh fruit piled on top of a chocolaty bread! This looks so delicious!
Terri Steffes says
I love focaccia and it was only a matter of talent and time before someone would make it sweet! It looks incredibly delicious.
Scott Gombar says
This looks absolutely amazing. I will share this with my wife so we can try it together. She's the cook, I am the foodie.
Liz Mays says
This is such an awesome treat. I need to make one. The slices turned out so beautifully!
Nancy L says
Mmmm....This looks absolutely delicious. I don't like desserts that are too sweet and from the ingredients, I can tell the cocoa probably gives it a rich chocolate flavor without a ton of sugar.
This is on my must-try list for the upcoming holiday!
Rena says
That looks amazing! I had never heard of it before but it looks like something that my family would probably love.
Amber Myers says
This would be such an amazing dessert! I'm all about chocolate, and the fruit on top looks incredible. We'll have to make this soon!
Alli Smith says
This looks so good and it's the perfect dessert for my 4th of July party. I love cream cheese frosting and the berries are so pretty on top.
cait says
oh gosh ive never heard of this before but it sounds not only delicious but super simple to make. it'll be on my list of some yummy recipes to try next week over the fourth!