About the Recipe
I have a real soft spot for fougasse. It’s that kind of bread I could happily eat every single day—crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and just so satisfying. Think of it like focaccia’s French cousin, but shaped into a beautiful leaf (or whatever shape you’re feeling, really).
What I love most about fougasse—besides how good it tastes—is how versatile it is. You can enjoy it as-is, tear off pieces to dip into spreads, pair it with cheese or charcuterie, or turn it into a full-on meal. That’s exactly what I did here by giving it a little Swiss twist: I added knackwurst and Gruyère, and honestly? It was so good. Warm, cheesy, and totally hearty.
It’s also super simple to make. The dough is easy to throw together, and shaping it doesn’t require any fancy tools—just your hands or a rolling pin and a sharp knife or blade to make those signature slashes.
Whether you’re new to baking or have your own sourdough starter named Fred in the fridge, fougasse is a fun, rewarding bread to make. And once you try it warm from the oven… you’ll get why I’m hooked.
Crispy crust, soft center: That golden, crackly crust with a pillowy interior is the best of both bread worlds.
Simple ingredients, big flavor: Just a few pantry staples—plus the smoky, melty magic of knackwurst and Gruyère—make this totally crave-worthy.
Easy to make, fun to shape: No fancy shaping required. The leaf-like cuts not only look impressive but are super simple to do.
Perfect for sharing: This bread makes a beautiful centerpiece for a brunch, picnic, or casual dinner spread.
Totally customizable: Switch up the fillings or keep it classic with olive oil and herbs—the base dough plays well with just about anything.
What You'll Love
Do I need to use knackwurst and Gruyère? Not at all! Feel free to swap in other cheeses (like Emmental or cheddar) and sausage or even go veggie with herbs, olives, or roasted garlic.
Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes! You can mix the dough and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Just bring it to room temperature before shaping and baking.
How do I get that classic leaf shape? After rolling out the dough, use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut slits into it (like the veins of a leaf), then gently stretch them open with your fingers. It doesn’t need to be perfect—it’ll look rustic and beautiful once baked.
Do I need a pizza stone or baking steel? Nope! A regular baking sheet works just fine. Just make sure it’s well-floured or lined with parchment to prevent sticking.
How should I serve it? It’s amazing warm from the oven, but also holds up well at room temp. Great with soup, salad, or as part of a charcuterie-style board.
Frequently asked Questions
Ingredients
2 cups All-Purpose Flour (+extra for dusting)
1 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 cups Warm Water
2 teaspoons Yeast
1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil (+extra for greasing)
1 teaspoon dried Oregano
1 cooked Sausage (chopped into small cubes)
1/3 cup cubed Gruyère Cheese
5 Cherry Tomatoes (sliced)
2 tablespoons Caramelized Onions
2 teaspoons Fresh Thyme
Cracked Salt for taste
Preparation
Begin by activating the yeast. In a small bowl, add warm water, yeast and sugar. Stir until the yeast has dissolved. Let sit for 15 minutes or until bubbles start to form at the surface. This is how you know the yeast is starting to wake up.
In a large bowl, add flour, salt and dried oregano. Mix with a whisk or a slotted spoon until well incorporated.
Once the yeast mixture is ready, make a small well in the center of your flour (like a volcano) and pour yeast mixture inside the well. Use your hands to slowly knead the dough.
Knead until all the flour in well incorporated. Add in the sausage bits and knead some more until the sausage bits seem well distributed throughout your dough. I used a German Knackwurst sausage, but really any cooked sausage will do. I like to cube mine into small bite sized bits, so that they can get distributed more easily and are small enough to be eaten in a single bite.
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let sit for 45 minutes until the dough has doubled in size.
When the dough has risen, give the dough a punch with your fist to deflate it and let it rise again for another 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Once it has risen for the second time, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Flour liberally so the dough will not stick. Dust the dough well with some more flour and transfer the dough onto the baking sheet. Don't feel shy to use flour, the dough can be quite sticky. It may feel a bit hard to handle if you are making this for the first time. Don't worry, use flour if you need to and take your time to stretch it out. You can use a rolling pin to help if need be.
Once transfered, you will want to try and spread the dough out into an oval 'leaf' type of shape. Use a sharp knife, or pizza knife to cut a long slit down the center length of the 'leaf' as well as a few side slits. Use your hands to open the slits up as much as you can without deforming or ripping the dough. Keep in mind, the bread will rise a bit in the oven, so the slits will get tighter when it bakes.
Once you have made the slits, brush the top of your fougasse with some olive oil.
Next decorate the top with your cubed Gruyère, sliced cherry tomatoes, caramelized onion bits and some fresh thyme. When it is all nicely laid out crack some sea salt over top (I like using Himalayan Pink Salt).
Stick it in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the bread is nice and crisp and golden.
I personally love fougasse straight out of the oven, when it is hot and crispy, but it is also very delicious when cooled. It usually doesn't last very long in my house and gets devoured instantly. It is a great bread to make as an appetizer, to bring to a potluck or to serve as a side to any dish.
Hope you love it as much as I do!
Bon appetit!