Stove Top Sweet Stuffed Focaccia
This Easy Stuffed Focaccia, is made in a skillet on the stove. Stuffed with your favourite chocolate and or creamy hazelnut spread. Dessert or snack, it’s perfect.
In Italy I soon found out that every meal was important and to be enjoyed to the fullest. And that of course included “Merenda” (snack). Especially for kids. Whether it consisted of a slice of Homemade Crostata or a piece of Pizza Bianca!
A couple of weeks ago after having a conversation with my kids on the what else but food. We remembered this incredibly delicious Sweet Focaccia that was stuffed with chocolate and Nutella that I would make for them.
Recipe Ingredients
- Flour – all purpose flour
- Sugar – granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Vanilla – vanilla extract
- Water
- Oil – vegetable, coconut, light olive oil or melted butter
- Nutella – either homemade or store bought
- Chocolate – good quality dark chocolate
- Butter
- Powdered sugar – also known as icing sugar or confectioners sugar
Variations and substitutions
Instead of water you could substitute with milk, instead of Nutella you could substitute with a chocolate spread or even a pistachio spread, you could use chocolate chips instead of chopping your own chocolate, use semi sweet, dark or even milk chocolate.
How to make a Sweet Stuffed Focaccia
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the middle and add the vanilla, water and oil. Mix together with a fork until combined.
Move dough to a flat surface and knead a few times to form a smooth dough ball. Cover (with bowl or clean towel) and let rest.
Cut the dough in half and form two circles, one circle spread with the Nutella and sprinkle with the chopped chocolate (or chips). Wet the border with a little water and then place the 2nd circle on top and seal with a fork or wooden fork.
Heat half the butter in a frying pan, place the focaccia in the pan, cover and cook on low-medium low heat. Remove the focaccia to a clean plate, melt the remain butter and then gently add the uncooked side of the focaccia, again cover and cook until golden brown and cook through. Move to a plate, cool to warm, dust with powdered sugar and serve.
This is one of the best sweet treats to make on a hot summer day when we don’t want to turn on a hot oven! This Focaccia is what Italians refer to as “Golasa”, meaning good and rich, an incredibly good food experience!
It had been a while since I last made this, in fact the kids were quite little, but I am telling you, they loved it now as much (maybe more) as they loved it back then. And yes the Italian too!
You may think that it’s going to be so sweet and a small piece is all you need, but believe me it’s one of those Italian sweet recipes that are in fact perfectly balanced. Not too sweet and not too savory!
The best way to eat this Focaccia is warm and be sure to give it a dusting of powdered sugar, it really does make it perfect.
What is Focaccia made of?
When we think of Focaccia we think of a savory yeast bread made with flour and olive oil. But this sweet Focaccia has a little sugar and baking powder rather than yeast.
More delicious Focaccia recipes
- Homemade Focaccia Pugliese
- Pumpkin Focaccia Bread with Black Olives
- Thin Crispy Focaccia
- Easy Focaccia Bread
However you decide to fill your Skillet Sweet Focaccia I hope you enjoy it. And be sure to let me know how it turns out. Enjoy!
Stove Top Stuffed Sweet Focaccia
Ingredients
FOR THE DOUGH
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon oil (light olive oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil or melted butter)
FOR THE FILLING
- ½ cup Nutella (or favourite hazelnut cream)
- 3½ ounces chocolate (dark, milk or white or combination) chopped
EXTRAS
- 1 tablespoon butter (divided)
- 2 tablespoons powdered / icing sugar (more or less)
Instructions
FOR THE DOUGH
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the middle and add the vanilla, water and oil. Mix together with a fork until combined.
- Move dough to a flat surface and knead a few times to form a smooth dough ball. Cover (with bowl or clean towel) and let rest 15 minutes.
- Cut the dough in half and form 2x 8 inch (20 cm) circles, one circle spread with the Nutella and sprinkle with the chopped chocolate (or chips). Wet the border with a little water and then place the 2nd circle on top and seal with a fork or wooden fork.
- Heat half the butter in a 9-10 inch (23-25 cm) frying pan, place the focaccia in the pan, cover and cook for 7-10 minutes* on low- medium low heat. Remove the focaccia to a clean plate, melt the remain butter and then gently add the uncooked side of the focaccia, again cover and cook for 7-10 minutes. Move to a plate, cool to warm, dust with powdered sugar and serve. Enjoy!
*Check halfway through to make sure it isn't burning. Turn down heat if cooking too quickly.
Notes
How long does it take to make Focaccia?
This Fast and Easy Focaccia takes about 30 minutes to make, the dough comes together in about 10 minutes (there is a small resting time), then it is then baked in a covered skillet for approximately 5-8 minutes on either side.The Best Fillings for a Sweet Focaccia
- I like to stuff mine with a layer of Hazelnut Cream and grated milk chocolate, you could also use just chocolate, either dark, milk or white chocolate. Just be sure to use a good quality chocolate. Chocolate chips would work too.
- Or even fill with a combination of chopped nuts and chocolate.
- How about a layer of your favourite jam?
- Finely chopped apples tossed with cinnamon, brown sugar and a little melted butter sounds pretty good too.
How to store the stuffed focaccia?
Any leftovers should be stored well wrapped and placed in a airtight bag, and kept at room temperature. It should keep for 1-2 days at the most. It can also be frozen in a freezer bag or container, it will keep for up to a month. Thaw the focaccia in the fridge overnight and reheat it to warm in a pre-heated oven. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.Nutrition
Updated from March 16, 2019
Delicious!! (I think…)
I followed your directions exactly. I used a 10 inch cast iron skillet and a round cake lifter. I kept the sweet bread on the cake lifter while I melted the rest of the butter to cook the other side. It came out exactly like you said it would. So, I left it to cool for a little while and came back to the kitchen and it was gone!! I never got to have a piece…did it ever occur to anyone to save Mom a piece?… So, it must be delicious!!! lol I will have to make another one so I can sample. I will have to threaten the family to keep hands off…lol Love your recipes!!!
Hi Kathy, thanks so much, so glad everyone enjoyed it, sorry you didn’t get a taste, next time do like me and hide it! ๐ Take care!
I omitted the sugar and vanilla in the dough, added oregano, garlic and onion powder and stuffed it with leftover sliced ham, roast potatoโs ( thinly sliced) ratatouille and grated mozza. It was delish!!!!
Great way to dress up any leftovers ๐ฅฐI will try the sweet version next
Hi Maria, thanks glad you like it and yes itโs very popular in Italy as a Savory dish instead. Your way sounds delicious! Take care.
This is a wonderful, not-too-sweet dessert that I’ve given as gifts a few times. It’s very popular.
Hi Martha, thanks so much, yes we love it. Take care.
Amazing. My kitchen smells fantastic. So happy, thank you.
Hi Jade, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it.
My grandsons love Nutella.
Sound simple enough.
Just wondering how it holds without eggs?
Thanks for all the fabulous and tasty recipes!
Hi Luisa, thanks so much, well there is oil in it so that helps hold it together. ๐
Mine didn’t rise much after 15 min so my 2 disks only came out about 6 in each. It’s still cooking so we’ll see if the dough tastes too heavy.
Hi Jennifer, well it is a type of pastry dough so it won’t rise like a cake and it will be on the heavier side.
I put some strawberry jam in mine since I didn’t have nutella and it was really good! I accidentally overcooked one side a little bit, but after the powdered sugar is on you can’t tell. Definitely a super yummy little breakfast cake! Thanks!
Hi Monica, thanks great idea with the strawberry jam, so glad you like it. Have a great week.