A Basket Full of Challah

 

Every Friday when we sit around the table , we enjoy this scrumptious bread that is lovingly prepared !

The Challah's have an irresistible pillowy texture that no one can resist !

Challah is a soft braided bread that’s slightly sweet and tastes similar to dinner rolls. It’s enriched with eggs and is traditionally dairy-free, which means you use oil instead of butter and water instead of milk, although we like the taste of butter better !

                                    

Ingredients

• 1 kg ( 8 cups ) of high quality all purpose flour or spelt flour
• 15 grams ( 1 1/2 TB) dry yeast
• 4 TB sugar
• 4 ts. seasalt
• 4 eggs
• 150 gram unsalted butter, melted 
• 400 ml ( 1 1/2 cups ) lukewarm water

     

  1.  In a bowl, combine flour and yeast.
            Add a little water to get the yeast started.

  2. Now add the eggs and stir some into the yeast mixture.

 

   

    3. In this stage add the sugar and salt.

4. Add the melted butter and the rest of the water and start stirring with a spatula or a spoon until nicely combined.
   

      5. Add almost all water and stir until nicely combined.

  

      

    

  6. Start kneading with your hands on a lightly floured surface.

      

 7. After 10 minutes you should have a smooth dough.

       

8. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover.
           Let rest in a warm place for 1-2 hours.

 

       

 9. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

           When the dough has risen, divide in 16 equal pieces.

        ↓Watch this helpful video on how to braid the Challah ! ↓

                                                   

 

       10.Place the challah's on prepared baking sheets.

            Cover loosely with a damp tea towel and let rise for 30 min.

       11. Preheat oven to 390F/200C

       12. Brush the Challah's with egg wash or some melted butter.

             Sprinkle some sesame or poppy seeds on top.

       13. Bake the challah's for about 24 minutes ( two at the time).

             Once done let them cool completly on a wire rack. 

             And then... ATTACK !!! ;)  

Here a little variation you can make with the Challah dough ! 

For a special Challah I made a Gingerbread Cookie and a Chocolate one and they are sooo yummy ! 

You just use crumbled gingerbread cookies and add them to a part of the Challah before you braid them.

 

Do the same with a tablet of Chocolate ! Just grate and add !!! 

I really hope you will give this recipe a try and let me know how it worked out for you by writing in the comment section ! ;) 

I hope this is an encouragement for you to start making your own delicious Challah bread !!!

Love and Blessings , 

Three Little Women