MARIA'S COOKBOOK
Bread

Pompe à l’Huile (Provençal Christmas Olive Oil Bread)

Maria's Cookbook KitchenUpdated November 1, 2026
Pompe à l’Huile (Provençal Christmas Olive Oil Bread)
Prep30 min
Cook25 min
Total2 hr 55 min
Servings2 loaves (8 servings)
Calories310 kcal
CuisineFrench
CourseBread

Pompe à l’huile is a sweet, olive oil flatbread from Provence that is part of the traditional thirteen desserts served after the Christmas Eve meal. The dough is scented with orange flower water and orange zest, and the loaf is baked flat and slashed so it opens into a lattice.

Tradition holds that the bread is broken by hand rather than cut with a knife. It is typically served with the other desserts, which include dried fruit, nuts, nougat and fresh fruit, and is often paired with sweet wine. See our Christopsomo (recipe on the site) for another festive Mediterranean bread.

Pompe à l’Huile Recipe

What you need

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups (440 g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/3 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing
  • 1/2 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons orange flower water
  • Zest of 1 orange
Cook along

Instructions

  1. Whisk the flour, yeast, 1/3 cup sugar, salt and orange zest in a large bowl.
  2. Add the olive oil, water, egg and orange flower water. Mix to a shaggy dough, then knead 8 to 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and slightly tacky.
  3. Place in an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
  4. Heat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  5. Divide the dough in two and roll each piece into an oval about 1/2 inch thick. Place on the sheet.
  6. Cut a row of short slashes through each oval and gently stretch the dough so the slits open. Cover and let rest 30 minutes.
  7. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
  8. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden. Cool on a rack and serve warm or at room temperature, broken by hand.
WhatsApp Channel
Healthy Mediterranean recipes, straight to your phone
No groups, no clutter — just healthy Mediterranean recipes, sent as soon as they're ready. Follow the channel and never miss the next one.
Follow the Channel

Enjoy our recipes? Add Maria’s Cookbook as a preferred source on Google to see more of our content in your search results.

Add as Preferred Source

Cook this next