Indulge in the irresistible flavors of Hazelnut Focaccia di Recco, a delicate Italian treat. With its paper-thin layers, creamy mascarpone, and luscious hazelnut praline, this sweet and savory focaccia is the perfect breakfast or dessert.
Hazelnut Focaccia Di Recco
Ingredients
Foccacia
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (200 grams)
- ½ cup room temperature water (125 ml)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil plus additional for drizzling
Hazelnut praline
- 2 cups hazelnuts, raw (240 grams)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
Remaining ingredients
- ½ cup mascarpone (112 grams)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Make the focaccia dough. Combine the flour, water, salt, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in the bowl of a stand mixer and knead until the dough comes into a ball, about 5-6 minutes. The dough should be soft and elastic but not sticky. Place the dough in a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Make the hazelnut praline. Toast the hazelnuts until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the hazelnuts with a clean towel to remove the outer skins. Spread the nuts on parchment paper and set them aside.
- Place the sugar in a heavy-bottomed pot and heat it over medium heat. Gently melt the sugar until it starts to brown. Lower the heat to low and continue to cook until the sugar is browned and caramelized, about 4-5 minutes. Gently stir the sugar with a rubber spatula throughout the cooking process to ensure even browning. Immediately pour the caramel onto the hazelnuts and let cool completely. Break the caramelized hazelnuts into small pieces and place them in a food processor. Puree the nuts until smooth, about 7-8 minutes.
- Whisk together the mascarpone with honey until smooth. Set aside.
- Increase the oven temperature to 500 degrees F.
- Lightly dust a clean work counter with flour. Divide the dough in half. Working with one portion at a time, roll out the dough. Continue to stretch pull the dough until it's paper-thin, about 14 inches in diameter. You should be able to see your fingers through the dough when it's ready. Repeat with the other half.
- Brush a large baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Place one of the dough portions on the baking sheet. Place about 6-7 dollops of the mascarpone cheese on the dough, spreading the dollops evenly. Spread the mascarpone with the back of a spoon to create a small well in the center. Fill the wells with about 1 tablespoon of the hazelnut praline.
- Top the focaccia with the remaining dough, pressing the edges together to seal. Trim the excess dough and discard. Gently tear small holes on top of where the filling is. Brush the focaccia with melted butter and sprinkle coarse sugar. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Remove the focaccia from the oven and dust with powdered sugar. Cut into smaller pieces and serve immediately.
Notes
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The Inspiration
Sometime last year, I vaguely remember watching a chef on TV making focaccia di recco. I had never seen this bread before but my mouth couldn't stop watering as I watched. It looked like paper-thin flaky dough sandwiched with stringy melted cheese, finished with a generous drizzle of olive oil. I wanted it. But since I wasn't able to successfully find the proper cheese, I decided to go another route and make a sweet version. This hazelnut focaccia di recco is, to say the least, epic. The thin sheets of focaccia are filled with homemade hazelnut praline and honey mascarpone, baked until browned, and finished with powdered sugar. I could not get enough.
What is Focaccia di Recco?
When people imagine focaccia, they usually picture thick crusty bread with dimples often topped with various herbs or vegetables. However, there are actually many different variations. Today, we're preparing focaccia di recco, a traditional Italian dish originating from the town of Recco.
Unlike the more well-known thick and fluffy focaccia bread, Focaccia di Recco is a thin and crispy version that consists of two layers of dough filled with a creamy cheese mixture. The dough is rolled out to a paper-thin consistency, allowing the cheese to melt and ooze out during baking, creating a delightful contrast of textures. It's a beloved specialty that is often enjoyed as an appetizer, snack, or even a main course.
How to Make Hazelnut Focaccia di Recco
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
To start, make the dough. The dough is made from just four ingredients, flour, water, salt, and olive oil. Combine the ingredients and knead until the dough is soft and elastic. Cover and let it rest for at least two hours or overnight in the fridge. If you chill the dough overnight, make sure to let it sit at room temperature for one hour before rolling it out. It's important to let the dough rest so that it can easily be stretched and pulled later on.
Step 2: Make the Fillings
While the dough is resting, make the hazelnut praline. I got the idea for the hazelnut praline from Le Pain's brunette spread. When I used to work there, I used to toast a slice of bread and slather on the brunette spread for breakfast. It was so addicting. If you're unfamiliar with the spread, think of it as Nutella without the chocolate, just hazelnuts.
To make the hazelnut praline, first, toast the hazelnuts. Rub the nuts in a clean towel to remove the outer skins. Don't worry if you can't get them all off. Then, melt the sugar to make a caramel. You may have noticed that we're not adding water to the sugar to make the caramel. This is because this is the dry method. You can also use the wet method and add a bit of water if you prefer.
If the outer edges of the sugar turn brown first, gently stir the mixture with a rubber spatula. Immediately pour the caramel on top of the hazelnuts and let it cool. Break up the pieces and puree in a food processor until smooth. It's essentially the same as making nut butter just with the addition of the caramel. Luckily, this recipe makes a large batch so you'll have plenty of leftovers. You can also make the hazelnut praline several days in advance.
Step 3: Putting it All Together
Now let's back to the focaccia. Lightly dust a work counter with flour and roll out each of the dough halves until it's about 14 inches in diameter. You may need to stretch and pull the dough to get it to the right thickness. If you hold up the dough, you should be able to see right through it.
Place dollops of the honey mascarpone evenly on the dough. Spread the cheese and make a well in the center, helping prevent the hazelnut praline from spreading too much. Then, place the other dough on top and seal the edges.
Gently tear small holes where the filling is to help it ooze out while it's baking. Brush the top with butter, sprinkle some coarse sugar, and bake the hazelnut focaccia di recco until browned, about 11-13 minutes.
Finish the focaccia with a dusting of powdered sugar and get ready to dive in.
This hazelnut focaccia di recco was even better than I had imagined. It's not too sweet, making it easy to golf down several pieces. Now I'm even more intrigued to try the savory version!
FAQs
Can I use a different type of nut instead of hazelnuts?
Absolutely! Almonds, pecans, or walnuts would all work wonderfully with this recipe.
Can I substitute mascarpone cheese with another type of cheese?
Mascarpone cheese provides a creamy and delicate flavor that pairs well with the hazelnut praline. However, if you can't find mascarpone or prefer a different cheese, you can try using cream cheese or ricotta as an alternative.
How should I store the leftover focaccia?
To maintain its crispness, it's best to store the leftover focaccia di Recco in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. You can reheat it in the oven for a few minutes to regain its warmth and crisp texture.
What should I do with the leftover hazelnut praline?
Use it as a spread for toast, swirl it into your oatmeal, drizzle it on ice cream, or make hazelnut butter cups. The options are endless!
For more sweet bread inspiration check out this Japanese honeydew bread!
Karen
I think your measurements are off. I have a soupy batter, like a crepe batter.
Cherry on My Sundae
I'm so sorry about that - that was a typo on the amount of water. I've corrected it to read 1/2 cup water (125 ml). I sincerely apologize for the error!