A food product is prepared by completely baking a base and spreading a separately sautéed topping mixture thereover just prior to serving. The base or “crust” includes a bread dough on which oil is drizzled and cheese fragments are spread prior to baking to a preparation completion point. Concurrent with baking of the base, a topping mixture is sautéed, preferably timed to be completed at the same time as the base is fully baked, and is spread on the completely baked base. After optionally being garnished, the resulting food product is promptly served.

A shelf-stable ready-to-eat packaged focaccia, is described having appearance and organoleptic qualities comparable to those of a fresh focaccia, which has a relative humidity comprised between 25 and 32%, preferably 27% and water activity (a.sub.w) comprised between 0.85 and 0.92, preferably 0.89, and blind holes on its surface having depth of at least 50% of the thickness of the focaccia. A process for the production of a ready-to-eat shelf-stable packaged focaccia is also described which comprises the steps of: a) preparing a dough for focaccia comprising, by weight based on the total weight of the dough, 40-60% flour, 20-35% water, 7-16% vegetable oils and/or fats and/or fractions thereof, of which 1-6% extra virgin olive oil, 0.5-4% yeast, 0.1-3% salt, 0-15% at least one organoleptically characterising ingredient; 0-0.1% at least one baking processing aid, 0-0.8% at least one emulsifier and 0-1.5% dietary fibres; b) extrusion of the dough thus prepared thus obtaining a plurality of sheets of extruded raw dough for focaccia, and subsequent lamination of the plurality of sheets of raw dough for focaccia thus obtaining a layer of laminated raw dough for focaccia; c) first leavening of the layer of laminated raw dough for focaccia thus obtained at a temperature comprised between 20 and 30° C.; d) shaping of the layer of leavened raw dough for focaccia thus obtained forming a plurality of blind holes on the surface of the dough and filling of the holes with a saline solution; e) second leavening of the raw dough thus obtained at a temperature comprised between 30 and 37° C.; f) oiling of the upper surface of the dough thus obtained with filling with the oil of said holes; g) baking of the raw dough thus obtained in an oven at a temperature comprised between 210 and 240° C.; and h) packaging of the focaccia thus obtained.

A shelf-stable ready-to-eat packaged focaccia, is described having appearance and organoleptic qualities comparable to those of a fresh focaccia, which has a relative humidity comprised between 25 and 32%, preferably 27% and water activity (a.sub.w) comprised between 0.85 and 0.92, preferably 0.89, and blind holes on its surface having depth of at least 50% of the thickness of the focaccia. A process for the production of a ready-to-eat shelf-stable packaged focaccia is also described which comprises the steps of: a) preparing a dough for focaccia comprising, by weight based on the total weight of the dough, 40-60% flour, 20-35% water, 7-16% vegetable oils and/or fats and/or fractions thereof, of which 1-6% extra virgin olive oil, 0.5-4% yeast, 0.1-3% salt, 0-15% at least one organoleptically characterising ingredient; 0-0.1% at least one baking processing aid, 0-0.8% at least one emulsifier and 0-1.5% dietary fibres; b) extrusion of the dough thus prepared thus obtaining a plurality of sheets of extruded raw dough for focaccia, and subsequent lamination of the plurality of sheets of raw dough for focaccia thus obtaining a layer of laminated raw dough for focaccia; c) first leavening of the layer of laminated raw dough for focaccia thus obtained at a temperature comprised between 20 and 30° C.; d) shaping of the layer of leavened raw dough for focaccia thus obtained forming a plurality of blind holes on the surface of the dough and filling of the holes with a saline solution; e) second leavening of the raw dough thus obtained at a temperature comprised between 30 and 37° C.; f) oiling of the upper surface of the dough thus obtained with filling with the oil of said holes; g) baking of the raw dough thus obtained in an oven at a temperature comprised between 210 and 240° C.; and h) packaging of the focaccia thus obtained.

A proofed frozen dough includes a dough mixture of flour, water, and optionally additives; gas bubbles dispersed throughout the dough matrix; a spent yeast component; and a preserved yeast component. According to some aspects, the preserved yeast component includes encapsulated yeast, fat-coated yeast, non-hydrated active dry yeast, non-hydrated instant yeast, non-hydrated semi-dry yeast, non-hydrated frozen yeast, or a combination thereof. A frozen dough product can be prepared by mixing dough ingredients to produce a dough composition, where the dough ingredients include water, flour, a first yeast, and a second yeast; proofing the dough, where during proofing the first yeast is spent and the second yeast is preserved; and freezing the dough after proofing.

A proofed frozen dough includes a dough mixture of flour, water, and optionally additives; gas bubbles dispersed throughout the dough matrix; a spent yeast component; and a preserved yeast component. According to some aspects, the preserved yeast component includes encapsulated yeast, fat-coated yeast, non-hydrated active dry yeast, non-hydrated instant yeast, non-hydrated semi-dry yeast, non-hydrated frozen yeast, or a combination thereof. A frozen dough product can be prepared by mixing dough ingredients to produce a dough composition, where the dough ingredients include water, flour, a first yeast, and a second yeast; proofing the dough, where during proofing the first yeast is spent and the second yeast is preserved; and freezing the dough after proofing.

A shaped snack product having a substantially uniform thickness and an exposed surface area that is capable of receiving seasoning. Processes for making a shaped snack product include forming a shaped dough piece followed by intermediary steps that allow for slicing of the subsequently formed baked shaped piece producing at least two sliced pieces.

A proofed frozen dough includes a dough mixture of flour, water, and optionally additives; gas bubbles dispersed throughout the dough matrix; a spent yeast component; and a preserved yeast component. According to some aspects, the preserved yeast component includes encapsulated yeast, fat-coated yeast, non-hydrated active dry yeast, non-hydrated instant yeast, non-hydrated semi-dry yeast, non-hydrated frozen yeast, or a combination thereof. A frozen dough product can be prepared by mixing dough ingredients to produce a dough composition, where the dough ingredients include water, flour, a first yeast, and a second yeast; proofing the dough, where during proofing the first yeast is spent and the second yeast is preserved; and freezing the dough after proofing.

A proofed frozen dough includes a dough mixture of flour, water, and optionally additives; gas bubbles dispersed throughout the dough matrix; a spent yeast component; and a preserved yeast component. According to some aspects, the preserved yeast component includes encapsulated yeast, fat-coated yeast, non-hydrated active dry yeast, non-hydrated instant yeast, non-hydrated semi-dry yeast, non-hydrated frozen yeast, or a combination thereof. A frozen dough product can be prepared by mixing dough ingredients to produce a dough composition, where the dough ingredients include water, flour, a first yeast, and a second yeast; proofing the dough, where during proofing the first yeast is spent and the second yeast is preserved; and freezing the dough after proofing.

A food product is coated by applying a first coating to an exterior of the food product with a first depositor. Next, the food product is located in a dough proofer. Then, a second coating is applied to the exterior of the food product with a second depositor. Afterwards, the food product is baked in an oven. Optionally, prior to applying the first coating, a tacking agent is applied to the exterior of the food product with a third depositor. In a preferred embodiment, multiple coatings of a combination sugar and cinnamon are applied to filled dough products.

A food product is coated by applying a first coating to an exterior of the food product with a first depositor. Next, the food product is located in a dough proofer. Then, a second coating is applied to the exterior of the food product with a second depositor. Afterwards, the food product is baked in an oven. Optionally, prior to applying the first coating, a tacking agent is applied to the exterior of the food product with a third depositor. In a preferred embodiment, multiple coatings of a combination sugar and cinnamon are applied to filled dough products.