Sourdough Apple Fritter Focaccia Recipe

When life throws you over-fermented dough, make focaccia! This apple fritter focaccia was born from a kitchen mishap and became a viral recipe.


Sourdough Apple Fritter Focaccia

One morning I woke up to dough that had completely over fermented… like, way past the point of saving for a decent loaf. I’d heard people say you can turn over fermented dough into focaccia, but it was breakfast time, and I was craving something fun—something like an apple fritter. And then it hit me: why not make a sourdough apple fritter focaccia?

example of over fermented sourdough dough
My very over fermented dough…oops!

So, I grabbed my phone, hit record, and just went for it. I posted the video, and it instantly blew up. We’re talking millions of views. Since then, it’s become one of the most popular recipes on my entire website, all because of one “oops” moment in my kitchen.

The good news is you don’t have to over ferment your dough to make this. It’s super flexible and easy to pull together. Let me show you how I made it!

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Here’s How I Made It-

Prepare the Focaccia Dough (Night Before Baking):

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine 100g active sourdough starter, 375g filtered water, 30g honey and mix until milky. Then, add 500g unbleached bread flour, and 10g salt. Mix until fully incorporated and let rest for about 30 minutes.
  • Perform a couple of sets of stretch and folds 30 minutes apart to strengthen the dough. Cover and let the dough bulk ferment at room temperature overnight (8–12 hours).
bubbly sourdough dough for Sourdough Apple Fritter Focaccia Recipe
This step is flexible—even over fermented dough like this will work!

Baking the Apple Fritter Focaccia (Next Morning):

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Peel and chop 1 apple, then set it aside.
  • In a small bowl, melt 1 stick of unsalted butter. Use a portion to grease a 9×13” baking pan or 12 inch cast iron skillet. Mix the remaining melted butter with 1–2 tbsp cinnamon and ¼–½ cup brown sugar depending on how sweet you want it.
  • Transfer the dough into the greased baking pan, gently stretching it to cover the bottom.
  • Pour the cinnamon sugar butter over the dough. Evenly distribute the sliced apples on top. Use your fingers to dimple the dough, pressing the toppings into it.
dimpling apples and cinnamon sugar butter into focaccia dough
Dimpling the mixture into the dough
  • Cover the pan with foil and bake at 425°F (218°C) for 15 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Prepare the Glaze:

  • While the focaccia bakes, whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp. milk, and a pinch of salt until smooth.

Finish & Serve:

  • Remove the focaccia from the oven, check internal temp (205°F), and let it cool for a few minutes, and drizzle the glaze over the top.
  • Slice, serve, and enjoy!
adding icing to a Sourdough Apple Fritter Focaccia

This recipe is proof that mistakes can lead to something truly special. If you ever find yourself with over fermented dough, don’t throw it away—turn it into something amazing!

a slice of Sourdough Apple Fritter Focaccia Recipe

If You Like This Recipe, Try These:

Sourdough Apple Fritter Focaccia

A deliciously soft sourdough apple fritter focaccia with a rich cinnamon-sugar butter and fresh apples, finished with a sweet glaze.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Keyword: apple cinnamon bread, cinnamon sugar focaccia, sourdough apple bread recipe, sourdough apple dessert bread, sourdough apple fritter focaccia, sourdough dessert, sourdough fall recipes, sweet sourdough focaccia recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 12 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 1 Focaccia

Equipment

  • 1 Medium/ Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 9×13 Baking Pan or 12" Cast Iron Skillet
  • 1 Foil for covering while baking

Ingredients

For Dough – Prepare The night before

Cinnamon Sugar Butter

  • 113 g Unsalted Butter Melted (1 Stick)
  • 1-2 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 60g or ¼–½ cup Brown sugar

For the Glaze

  • 120g or 1 cup Powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp Milk
  • Pinch of Salt

Additional Topping

  • 1 apple peeled and sliced

Instructions

  • Prepare the Dough (Night Before Baking): In a large mixing bowl, combine the 100g active sourdough starter, 375g filtered water, 30g honey, until milky. Then add 500g unbleached bread flour, and 10g salt. Mix until fully incorporated and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
  • Perform a couple of sets of stretch and folds 30 minutes apart to build strength in the dough. Cover and let the dough Bulk ferment at room temperature overnight (8–12 hours). This step is flexible, and even over fermented dough will work!
  • The next morning: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Peel and chop 1 apple then set aside. In a small bowl, melt the 1 stick of unsalted butter and use a portion to grease a 9×13” baking pan or 12" cast iron skillet. Mix the remaining melted butter with 1- 2 tbsp. of cinnamon and 1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar.
  • Transfer the dough into the greased baking pan, gently stretch it to the sides of the pan so its covering the bottom. Pour the cinnamon sugar butter over the dough. Evenly distribute the sliced apples on top. Use your fingers to dimple the dough, pressing the toppings into it.
  • Bake: Cover the pan with foil and bake at 425°F (218°C) for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Prepare the Glaze: While the focaccia bakes, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp. milk, and a pinch of salt until a smooth icing forms.
  • Finish & Serve: Remove the focaccia from the oven, check internal temp (205°F), and let it cool a few minutes, and drizzle the glaze over the top.
  • Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

This recipe works great with over fermented dough!

6 responses to “Sourdough Apple Fritter Focaccia Recipe”

  1. kare nor Avatar
    kare nor

    Can I use strawberry pie filling instead of the cinnamon and apples

    1. Hayley Avatar
      Hayley

      I haven’t tried this before, but I don’t see why not! However, I would make sure to still drizzle some butter on it so it gets nice and crisp!

  2. Shelia Williams Avatar
    Shelia Williams

    5 stars
    Will be wonderful

  3. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    5 stars
    I made this with an adaptation , I gently folded in about 1/2 cup of finely diced apples and a handful of plump tricolor raisins, with a sprinkle of cinnamon to the dough in the morning before putting the dough in the pan , I added few more raisins to the top with the rest of the apples.
    This is delicious recipe!

  4. Cassie Avatar
    Cassie

    Does it have to be bread flour or will all purpose work also?

    1. Hayley Avatar
      Hayley

      All purpose flour will work, but it will be a wetter and stickier dough.