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Challah

Challah is a traditional Jewish bread, close to a brioche, that is often braided. It is prepared for Shabbath and Jewish holidays.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Rest Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
Servings: 4 large loaves
Course: Bread
Cuisine: German , Israeli

Ingredients

  • 8 cups all-purpose flour , sifted
  • 2½ tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 4 tablespoons sugar (+ 2 tablespoons for a sweeter taste)
  • 5 tablespoons sunflower oil
  • 1 tablespoon golden sesame seeds
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 eggs + 1 egg white , beaten
  • 2 cups warm water (more or less depending on the flour used)
For the top
  • 2 teaspoons water
  • 2 egg yolks
  • white sesame (and/or poppy seeds)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix all the ingredients in the large bowl of a stand mixer, except the water and salt. Stir in water slowly while kneading.
  2. Add salt and knead the dough for 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes with a stand-in mixer. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky.
  3. Place dough in a large airtight container or a container covered with a clean cloth. Let rise in a warm, area, draft-free area for 60 to 90 minutes, until double in size.
  4. Place the dough on a work surface and divide into several pieces that will be used as strands.
  5. Flatten each piece of dough with a rolling pin to degas the dough and form strands.
  6. Form braided breads. For medium size breads, each strand must weigh about 3 oz (80 g). For large loaves, each strand will weigh 4 oz (120 g).
  7. Place each challah on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm) apart, to give them room to rise a second time, as well as during baking.
  8. Cover the loaves with a clean cloth and let them rise again for about 30 minutes in a dry and draft-free place.
  9. Preheat oven to 350 F / 180 C.
  10. In a small bowl, combine water and egg yolks. Beat well. Brush this mixture on each challah. Sprinkle sesame and / or poppy seeds.
  11. Bake for roughly 20 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown.