Step 1

Add honey to a medium mixing bowl and pour in the warm/hot water (roughly 115°) and whisk until the honey dissolves. Whisk in the active dry yeast and set off to the side for about 5 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the dough hook attachment, measure and add bread flour and kosher salt. Turn the mixer on low and stir until combined.

Step 3

Once the yeast mixture is foamy, add it to the mixer. Mix until incorporated, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go.

Step 4

When the dough is just about combined, add in olive oil. Continue to mix until for 4 minutes or the dough is throughly combined.

Step 5

Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a large clean bowl. Remove the dough off of the hook and shape into a ball. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl and toss the dough around to coat in the oil. Then use the coated dough to grease the inside of the bowl. This keeps the dough from sticking to the bowl as it rises.

Step 6

Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place it in a warm spot to rise for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.

Step 7

Once the dough has risen, use your impeccably clean hands to press or punch down the dough to deflate it.

Step 8

Transfer the dough to a well oiled 9×13 pan. I add a generous amount of oil beforehand and use a pastry brush to coat the entire inside of the pan.

Step 9

Stretch the dough to fit. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise a second time for 30 minutes.

Step 10

While the dough rises, move your oven rack to the lower third of your oven and preheat it to 425°

Step 11

After the dough has risen, use your knuckle to make divots into the dough and spread 1/2 cup (more or less to your preference) pizza sauce over top of the focaccia.

Step 12

Top with cheese and any desired toppings.

Step 13

Bake the pizza on the middle to lower-third rack in your preheated oven for 9 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 375° and bake for 9 more minutes or until the cheese has melted and is golden brown in spots.

Step 14

Once baked, allow the pizza to cool in the pan for a few minutes before using a spatula to carefully lift and slide it out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Use a pizza cutter and cut into 8 large pieces before serving.