Bread maker Olive and Italian herb loaf
19-03-2025
18-07-2025
15 mins
3 h 30 mins
Beginner
14

Personally, I really like Focaccia bread, and I wondered if I could make something reasonably close in the bread maker. It won't be flat like the Focaccia is, but it could share some features of the bread.

For this recipe I used a mix of OO flour and strong white bread flour, but I think you could use either just as well. Use a light sugar such as either white sugar or regular brown sugar. As per the method below, you can replace around 20g of the white bread flour with rye (or other coarse flour).

As the Olive pieces are both heavy and significant, they will interfere with the proving; so I tend to add them in the second mixing stage. Most bread-makers beep after about 30-40 minutes of proving where you can add extra ingredients. Some breadmakers even have a special basket for nuts and seeds. Importantly, check the olives carefully and remove any stones.

Sliced herby italian olive bread on plate with butter
Herby Italian Olive bread sliced

Ingredients

Nutritional Information
NutrientPer ServingTotal
Energy614.39kJ8601.45kJ
Calories147.04kcal2058.58kcal
Carbohydrate25.69g359.69g
Sugar (Low Accuracy)0g0g
Fibre1.02g14.29g
Protein4.35g60.86g
Sodium293.42mg4107.89mg
Total fat2.76g38.59g
Saturated fat0.31g4.28g
Polyunsaturated fat0.34g4.75g
Monounsaturated fat1.85g25.93g
Cholesterol0mg0mg
Trans fat (Low Accuracy)0g0g
Vitamin a0.40µg5.59µg
Vitamin b0.02mg0.29mg
Vitamin c0.08mg1.10mg
Vitamin d0µg0µg
Vitamin e1.00mg13.97mg
Vitamin k0.00mg0.01mg
Calcium8.49mg118.81mg
Iron1605.40µg22475.60µg
Magnesium9.12mg127.61mg
Potassium40.89mg572.46mg
Selenium13.68µg191.54µg
Zinc0.34mg4.73mg

Based on 14 servings, we sourced nutrient data from:

Method

Mix all the ingredients into the bread-maker tray, most bread makers suggest liquid ingredients first so I've structured the list that way. If you're using fresh yeast instead of dried powdered yeast, warm up the water slightly and crumble the yeast into the water along with the sugar for a few minutes before anything else.

Ingredients for the herby italian and olive bread on wooden worktop
Herby Italian and Olive ingredients

When adding the flours into the machine, a nice variation is to replace about 20g of the white flour with a coarse flour such as wholemeal or rye. I've tried this and it gives a slightly different texture. Just make sure the yeast and the salt say separated until mixing starts.

Always make this loaf on the regular setting in the bread-maker. I normally set the weight to maximum and bake to the dark/longer option. However, if you're not that used to your bread-maker, try medium first.

Take the bread out of the tray as soon as possible after baking is complete and put onto a wire rack. The basket will be very hot, take care when removing it. If the base is soft, I normally turn the loaf upside down for a few minutes once it is removed. It makes the base more crispy. Just remember after a few minutes turn it back the regular way around.

Loaf turned upside down on metal grille
Loaf turned upside down

Although tempting, don't eat the bread until it has cooled, as it is still cooking when hot.

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