Frosted Chocolate Donut Sourdough Focaccia 🍫

If a chocolate donut and a loaf of sourdough focaccia had a baby, this would be it. This Frosted Chocolate Donut Sourdough Focaccia is soft, rich, and decadently chocolatey—like biting into a warm brownie, but with that signature airy focaccia texture. Topped with buttery chocolate chunks and optionally drizzled with ganache, it’s perfect for a sweet brunch, an indulgent snack, or even dessert.

With a touch of sourdough tang and a high-hydration dough enriched with cocoa and coconut oil, this recipe is a chocolate lover’s dream—and a unique spin on traditional focaccia.

📝 Ingredients

Levain (prepare 3–4 hours ahead)

35g active sourdough starter
35g water
35g all-purpose flour

Chocolate Focaccia Dough

20g cacao powder
20g coconut oil
100g ripe levain
40g coconut sugar
420g filtered water
10g pink salt
500g bread flour
175g chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Proofing & Topping

50g light olive oil (for the pan)
30g unsalted butter, melted
60g chopped chocolate (for topping)

🍞 Day 1: Prep the Dough

Step 1: Make the Levain

Mix 35g starter, 35g flour, and 35g water. Cover and let it sit at 78ºF for 3–4 hours, or until doubled and bubbly.

Step 2: Bloom the Cocoa

In a small saucepan or microwave, gently warm the cocoa powder and coconut oil together. Set aside to cool completely—this step intensifies the chocolate flavor.

Step 3: Mix the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, combine:

100g ripe levain
40g coconut sugar
Bloomed cocoa mixture
420g filtered water
10g pink salt
500g bread flour

Mix until a sticky dough forms. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.

Step 4: Stretch & Fold Series

Perform 4 sets of stretch and folds, resting 30 minutes between each. Add the chocolate chips during the second set.

To stretch and fold:

Wet your hands.
Lift one edge of the dough and fold it over.
Rotate the bowl and repeat on all four sides.

After the final fold, cover and rest for 1.5–2 hours at 78ºF. The dough should rise 30–40% and have bubbles around the edges.

🛌 Overnight Rest

Coat a 9x13” metal baking pan with olive oil. Transfer the dough into the pan and gently stretch it to fill the corners. If it resists, let it rest 5 minutes and try again.

Cover and refrigerate overnight. (Or let it rise at room temp and bake same-day.)

🍫 Day 2: Bake

Step 5: Final Rise

Remove the pan from the fridge and let the dough rise at room temperature (78–80ºF) for 3–5 hours. It should become bubbly, airy, and fill the pan.

Step 6: Preheat & Dimple

Preheat your oven to 425ºF. Melt butter and brush it over the dough. Gently dimple the dough with your fingertips, then scatter chopped chocolate over the top.

Step 7: Bake

Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden, bubbly, and a thermometer reads 200ºF internally. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

🍩 Optional: Vanilla Donut Glaze

For that classic frosted donut feel, finish your focaccia with a simple vanilla glaze:

Ingredients:

120g (1 cup) powdered sugar
1–2 tbsp milk of choice (adjust for desired consistency)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Add more milk to thin or more powdered sugar to thicken the glaze to your liking.
Once the focaccia has cooled slightly, drizzle the glaze generously over the top for a sweet, donut-style finish.

🧠 Notes & Tips

High hydration alert: Use bread flour for better structure. If using lower-protein flour, reduce the water slightly.
Flavor choice: Dutch-processed or dark cocoa powder gives the deepest flavor.
Oil matters: Use a mild olive oil—too strong a flavor can overpower the chocolate.
Make it yours: Swap in white chocolate, hazelnuts, or espresso powder for fun variations!

🥄 Final Thoughts

This sourdough chocolate focaccia has quickly become a favorite in our house—it’s indulgent but not too sweet, rich but still light and airy. Plus, it looks absolutely stunning on a brunch table or dessert board.

If you bake this, tag me on Instagram @wildsourdoughco so I can swoon over your creations! 💕🍫