How to Make Challah Bread | Challah Bread Recipe
Learn how to make the best challah bread at home. This homemade challah bread is soft and light. If you are not familiar with challah bread, it’s a traditional Jewish braided bread that is made without dairy and served for Shabbat (Saturday) dinner. This recipe teaches you how to braid challah from 3 strands and make it look amazing.
How to Make Challah Bread | Challah Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3½ cups 500g Flour
- 1 tablespoon 10g Instant dry yeast
- 3½ tablespoons 42g White sugar
- 2 eggs one for the dough and one for brushing
- ¼ cup 50g Canola oil
- â…” cup + 2 tablespoons 200ml Warm water
- 1 tsp 6g salt
*The measurements are in metric cups
Instructions
- DIRECTIONS
- To a large mixing bowl sift all-purpose flour, add yeast, sugar and mix. Add 1 egg, warm water and oil.
- With a dough hook attachment, knead the dough on low speed for 2 minutes, then add the salt and knead 5-6 minutes more.
- Shape a ball from the dough and place in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise about an hour (until double in size) in a warm place.
- Cut the dough in half and each half cut into 3 (if you want 2 medium challahs) or just cut all the dough into 3 pieces (if you want 1 large challah).
- Roll each piece of dough into a long rope roughly 1-inch thick and start braid the dough as described in the video.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and put the loaf on top, cover with towel and let rise about an hour or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 350F (180C).
- Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional).
- Bake 20-30 minutes until the top browns to a rich golden color (depends on loaf size).
- Let cool at least 30 minutes.
HOW TO BRAID 3 STRAND CHALLAH BREAD?
In this recipe I’m showing to you how to braid and bake 3 strand challah. At the beginning it might look difficult, but if you follow the instructions and watch the video, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to make this bread.
HOW TO BRIAD 4 STRAND CHALLAH BREAD?
While the process of braiding a 4 strand is a bit different of braiding a 3 strand challah, the recipe is exactly the same. The ingredients and the method is remains unchanged. The only thing you need to change is dividing the dough into 4 pieces instead of 3 and then braid according to instructs here: Â 4 strand challah bread.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF CHALLAH BREAD:
The recipe above is a classic challah bread recipe, while this traditional version is most popular, it’s always fun to try new versions. Here are 2 recipes that I have created, and I loved them. They are very unique and delicious:
WHAT RECIPES CAN WE MAKE WITH LEFTOVER CHALLAH?
Challah is a perfect bread by itself, you can serve it for your dinner, lunch, holidays or other occasions, but if you have some leftover challah bread, here are some ideas for you:
Bread Pudding
Check out the recipe here
French Toast
Check out the recipe here
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Check out the recipe here
Video
A question on the eggs, is the egg added to the dough, one of the separated ones?
The egg used to brush the loaf is also separated?
Why is the egg separated but the yolk and white still go into the dough?
The video and YouTube says 1 cup but here says 2/3 cup . Which is the correct measurement?
Best challah bread recipe ever. Thank you.