Making focaccia bread is fun because, like a blank canvas, it can be paired with any type of topping, which can create a variety of flavors and textures. Today I baked this delicious flatbread with green apple and thyme in the oven. I served it with afternoon tea and it was incredibly tasteful.

Ingredients:

• 3 ¾ cups bread flour
• ½ cup/115 grams unsalted melted butter (1 tablespoon for mixing apple, 1 tablespoon for bruising the bread on top, and the remaining for preparing dough)
• 1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
• 6 tablespoons sugar (1 tablespoon to dissolve yeast, 3 tablespoons for mixing dough, and 2 tablespoons sugar for green apple)
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 green apples, sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
• Nonstick cooking spray, as needed
• Parchment pepper

Method:

In a large bowl add slices of apple, cinnamon, sugar, and melted butter. Mix well and set aside.

Use the stand mixer, and add warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let the mixture become foamy. (It takes about 5 minutes.) Then add flour, sugar, salt, and melted butter into the mixer. Continue running the mixer for about 5-6 minutes until the dough is smooth.

Tip: Do not add extra flour so that the dough stays sticky.

Cover the dough bowl with plastic wrap. Keep the dough in a warm place until it has doubled in size. This whole process takes around 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now use fingers to stretch the dough out to a large oval shape. Carefully spread the slices of apple on top of the dough. Bake until golden brown, for about 20 to 25 minutes. While the focaccia bread bakes, brush melted butter on top. Serve warm.