Challah! Truly my favorite bread. I love how it is sweet, soft and filling. Nothing is better than warm challah right out of the oven. If you are unfamiliar with challah it is a rich bread aided by the eggs that are added to its dough. It has a characteristic yellow color and it is oh so soft and pull apart-able with your hands. For toppings who can resist challah with nutella, jelly or butter?
Challah Bread
Servings: 2 loaves, approximately 14 1 inch slices Time: 30 minutes to assemble, 1.5 hours to rise and 30-33 minutes to cook. Source: Slightly adapted from What Jew Wanna Eat's recipe for Challah
Ingredients
1 envelope instant yeast
3/4 cup warm water (at about 100 degrees)
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, plus 1 extra for glazing
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
3 and 3/4 cups bread flour
Step 1
Prepare the yeast by mixing it with the warm water and one tablespoon sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes for the yeast to puff up.
Step 2
In a separate bowl add 2 eggs, remaining sugar, oil and salt. Pour yeast mixture over. Mix briefly and gently until just incorporated. Add the bread flour. Mix with hands until the dough forms a thick ball. Dough should not be too wet. Mix with hands for about 2 minutes, until dough is totally incorporated.
Step 3
Cover and let rise for at least 1 hour or up to 2 hours.
Step 4
At the end of rising uncover and divide dough into 2 chunks. Then divide each chunk into 3. Roll the 3 pieces from the 2 chunks out as if you were trying to make a snake with play doh. Braid each 3 pieces as if you were braiding hair. When done tuck the ends underneath. Lay the 2 loaves onto an ungreased baking sheet or casserole.
Step 5
Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. I do this by letting it rise covered in my oven while it is off.
Step 6
Uncover and glaze with last egg.
Step 7
Bake at 375 for 30-33 minutes, or until cooked through to your liking.
1 envelope instant yeast
3/4 cup warm water (at about 100 degrees)
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, plus 1 extra for glazing
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
3 and 3/4 cups bread flour
Step 1
Prepare the yeast by mixing it with the warm water and one tablespoon sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes for the yeast to puff up.
Step 2
In a separate bowl add 2 eggs, remaining sugar, oil and salt. Pour yeast mixture over. Mix briefly and gently until just incorporated. Add the bread flour. Mix with hands until the dough forms a thick ball. Dough should not be too wet. Mix with hands for about 2 minutes, until dough is totally incorporated.
Step 3
Cover and let rise for at least 1 hour or up to 2 hours.
Step 4
At the end of rising uncover and divide dough into 2 chunks. Then divide each chunk into 3. Roll the 3 pieces from the 2 chunks out as if you were trying to make a snake with play doh. Braid each 3 pieces as if you were braiding hair. When done tuck the ends underneath. Lay the 2 loaves onto an ungreased baking sheet or casserole.
Step 5
Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. I do this by letting it rise covered in my oven while it is off.
Step 6
Uncover and glaze with last egg.
Step 7
Bake at 375 for 30-33 minutes, or until cooked through to your liking.
Buen Provecho
