Ingredients
Focaccia Muffins
- 1.5 pounds store-bought pizza dough
- 1/2 scant cup extra virgin olive oil
- 8 cloves garlic
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Flaky salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: Allow the store-bought pizza dough to come to room temperature in a lightly greased bowl if time permits. This helps the dough become more pliable and easier to work with.
- Preheat and oil muffin pan: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Pour 1 teaspoon of olive oil into each cup of a standard muffin pan to prevent sticking.
- Shape the dough: Using a bench scraper or sharp knife, cut the dough into 12 even slices. Shape each slice into a rough ball, taking care not to deflate the air bubbles, then place each ball into the oiled muffin cups. Cover the pan with a towel and let the dough rest near the oven while it preheats, allowing it to rise slightly.
- Prepare garlic and rosemary oil: Chop the garlic cloves and remove the leaves from the rosemary sprigs, then finely chop the rosemary. In a small pan, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Test the heat by flicking a drop of water into the oil; if it sizzles, remove from heat and carefully add the garlic and rosemary, stirring until the sizzling stops.
- Apply flavored oil and seasoning: Spoon the infused olive oil generously over each dough ball, using all of the oil. Use two fingers to press into the dough to create dimples, which help the garlic and rosemary adhere and result in a characteristic focaccia texture. Sprinkle each muffin with flaky salt.
- Bake: Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and bake for 14-16 minutes until golden brown. If the tops brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil to prevent burning.
Notes
- Pizza Dough: Fresh pizza dough from the refrigerated bakery section or canned dough like Pillsbury’s both work well for this recipe.
- Do not overwork: Minimize handling the dough to preserve air bubbles, which are essential for light and fluffy muffins. Overworking leads to tough, dense bread.
- Resting is key: Letting the dough rest while the oven preheats helps it puff up and improves texture and flavor.
- Be generous with olive oil: Olive oil enhances flavor, helps garlic and rosemary stick, and prevents the muffins from sticking to the pan.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
