Sweet Focaccia with Apples, Pine Nuts, and Chocolate

The sweet focaccia with apples, pine nuts, and chocolate is a delicious variation of a classic Italian comfort food. Here is the recipe to prepare this delightful snack or dessert:

Ingredients

• 300 g of type 00 flour
• 100 g of sugar
• 25 g of fresh brewer’s yeast
• 80 ml of warm milk
• 50 g of melted butter
• 2 medium-sized apples
• 50 g of pine nuts
• 50 g of dark chocolate shavings
• 1 egg
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• A pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar (for decoration)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with a teaspoon of sugar, and let it rest for about 10 minutes until it starts to foam.
2. In another bowl, combine the flour with the rest of the sugar and a pinch of salt. Make a well in the middle and add the egg, melted butter, and grated lemon zest.
3. Incorporate the yeast mixture in the center and start working the ingredients until you get a smooth dough. If the dough is too dry, add a little more milk; if it’s too wet, add a bit more flour.
4. Cover the dough with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
5. In the meantime, peel the apples, remove the core, and cut them into thin slices.
6. Take the risen dough and spread it in a previously greased or parchment paper-lined tray, forming an even layer.
7. Arrange the apple slices neatly over the dough, then sprinkle with pine nuts and dark chocolate shavings.
8. Let the dough rise again for about 30 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 180° C (350° F).
10. Bake the focaccia for 25-30 minutes or until it is golden and cooked.
11. Take the focaccia out of the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
12. Before serving, dust with powdered sugar to taste.

The combination of apples and chocolate with the crunchiness of pine nuts is truly delicious and makes this focaccia particularly suitable for an afternoon tea or as a tasty after-dinner treat.

Curiosity

In many Italian regions, sweet focaccia is served during holidays or as a Sunday dessert. In this recipe, we have enriched a classic focaccia dough with typical pastry ingredients, creating a blend between the simplicity of bread and the richness of a dessert.