If the imminent return of The Great British Bake Off has got you keen to flex your mixing and kneading muscles, why not prepare for a new series of bawdy baking innuendos by making this beautiful seasonal Italian bread? Floral focaccia, which uses vegetables and herbs to create intricate, decorative patterns on top of the bubbly bread dough, took over our feeds during lockdown with thousands of people posting their #focacciaart on Instagram.

Pro home baker Alice Mellor started creating floral focaccia last year, sharing her progress online in viral social media videos. Here, she shares her tried, tested and perfected recipe along with insider tips for creating dazzling seasonal designs. “Solid vegetables work better [than fresh herbs] because you need something that can withstand the heat of the oven,” Alice explains. “Something that has got structure and won’t disintegrate will work best.” Follow this guide, and you’ll soon have a showstopper on your hands.