Hi John from the UK 🇬🇧. I've made this recipe 3 times now for my Jewish boyfriend and it's turned out perfect every time. So easy. Thank you so much. Shalom. X
Classic Ashkenazi challah recipe! Great job on the braiding 😊. If you want to add raisins or cranberries to your challah, roll out each section flat first, place your additions in the center, and then roll it into a strand. Braid as usual, or do a four-strand round one. Also, you can swap sugar with honey, it will taste even richer.
U can add brown sugar mixed with a little butter (little cinnamon option) inside of the flour braids~ roll the braids flat, add your brown sugar mix, then seal, then braid. Also cheese inside of your braids. I eat mostly dairy so butter or cheese only prohibits me when i want to do peanut butter and preserves later with my challah. Otherwise alot of times, I add oregano or Italian seasoning to my dough before my 1st rise. 😇✡️😇
@@Growthisinthedirt I am not kosher, so it’s not an issue for me. But I once caught a lot of grief over mention of challah with butter or milk, mainly from gentiles lol, so I’m careful suggesting it.
@@JuliaARubin wow! Goys complaining..🙃. I bought this week some really expensive preserves on sale so I'm not doing the Italian seasoning. Thinking I may do one loaf with cheese & seasonings and one loaf with out cheese..I'm making loaded tuna and cheesey potato soup. 💞
When my daughter was wee, she loved Challah! When she turned 14 and became vegan, I asked her what food she would miss the most. Without hesitation it was Challah, and once she decided she could live without her favourite bread she never looked back. Thanks John, I will make some when she's not around; I love it too!
that is so damn cringe. turned woke and vegan at the tender age of 14 and instead of guiding her like a parent, you let her do whatever like an enabler. some people just don't deserve children.
@@emperor8716How is she turning woke for choosing what to put into her body?😂 Thank goodness she allowed her daughter to grow on her own instead of coddling her and forcing her to be what she wanted her to be.
@@ahumanbeing5028 its the same way people say chai tea. If someone who didnt speak hindi and you said "chai" they might not know what it is but if you said "chai tea" they would understand. same thing with challah bread
We always made it with a bit of honey and sometimes put in some raisins. It's a great bread for the Shabbat (starts on Friday evening) and then French toast on Saturday morning!
Very nice recipie John! They looks amazing! I think is the same recipie with the Greek "Tsoureki" wen they make them the Easter! Have a nice day and good weekend! Have a good week! 👍👏🍴
Thanks for a really great straight-to-the-point, easy-to-follow informative and enjoyable tutorial. My husband would be so happy if I learned to do this. Bread and I have had a rocky relationship and the idea of braiding dough nearly sends me into a panic attack but you’ve given me the confidence to try it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
John, Thank you so much for this recipe. I have made probably 15+ of your recipes over the last year and they have given me so much confidence as a home baker. Thank you for helping me make amazing treats and breads.
Love your bread and scone recipes, your stories and easy to follow instructions and never fail to reproduce what you show in the video. I have shared your chicken recipe with my adult son and he loves it too and made a delicious roasted chicken.
This looks amazing! I taught myself to make challah from a recipe in the newspaper. I've long since lost the recipe. It had a pinch of saffron which gave the bread a beautiful color.
I just bought a stand up mixer and I LOVE challah. I will try your recipe since you are so detailed in explaining the steps! Looking forward to seeing my result...
Such a great video so clear - long time watcher of your channel, first time making and success! Your 2 tips were game changers 1. don’t cook the yeast 2. Proof in a warm spot. And a bit more sugar as per acomment below.
Thank you for this recipe. In my family they always used butter, but I thought I would try yours as your explanation of why to use oil instead makes a lot of sense. I am 4 strand braid-challenged definitely though! Which is why I always make 3 strand braids! But the taste is magnificent! And the shape is not too bad considering I was a bit lost with that part of the process!!! Thank you again.🙃
You have a wonderful looking kitchen. And that bread looks amazing! I am doing Challah in a bread machine. It's not as good as I the oven, but works out fine for someone very buzy!
If you want to practice with something which might be a similar size; try rolling up kitchen tea towels lengthwise. Put three kitchen towels together and clip with a binder clip.
This is some very good bread. The first time I had it, it was made with chocolate. I'm not much of a chocolate eater and the chocolate was very light in the bread. That bread was soooo soft but very thick. Thanks for this recipe. I never seen it made regular.
I make this recipe for every Sabbath except the week of unleavened bread. It is so easy but sooooo good. I actually learned how to braid the dough by using a wonderful TH-cam video by a granny lady who made it so easy. I use her braiding method which is much easier. With his method, I forget what step in on. 🤷🤦😂🤣 You get exactly the same results with her method.
When I finish braiding, I'll often undo the starting side and rebraid it to tighten; the braided remainder makes it easier to tweak the end. Just a note: challah wouldn't be made with melted butter. There's a kosher dietary restriction against adding dairy that applies specifically to breads, so a challah in particular would never be made with it.
The only time we spread butter and honey on our warm pareve challah in my kosher kitchen is for a dairy Shavous meal. I bet the mann tasted similar, it's that delicious. Chag Somayach.
The BEST challah I ever had in my life bar none came from Alfred's Delicatessen in Houston, Texas. It was unbelievably delicious. It was so good it was like cake. I would spread some sweet creamy butter on slice after slice and just eat it like that. Sadly, Alfred's eventually went out of business after many years. I only WISH I knew the recipe! I made homemade challah many years ago for Shabbat, but it was not nearly as good as Alfred's challah, and it was a lot of work to make it since I did not have a stand mixer with a dough hook (I was young and ambitious, though! 😄). The only way I would EVER make homemade challah again is if I knew the recipe would produce the same sort of challah that Alfred's made. 😊
This bread turned out amazing, maybe a touch more salt and sugar for flavor but the golden yellow fluffy texture was on point. Finally learned the proper wsy to test the gluten formation while kneading. Challah made by hand 👌 nothing like it.
There are lots of legends about the bread… it was the traditional Sunday bread of Christians in Southern Germany and Austria until the Jews adopted it for Shabbat. The traditional 3 stranded plait represents the Trinity - Father, Son (Mashiach) and Spirit… nothing to do with witches’ hair! Claudia Roden’s classic Jewish cookbook is a great source when looking for origins of both Ashkenazi and Sephardi foods
Also very known in Poland as chałka. Traditionally, it is eaten with sweet ingredients such as strawberry jam, chocolate spread (nutella e.g) or even peanut butter.
John, I'd like to know your source for the story of how the braids got started. As an Observant Jew, that tall tall doesn't come up with any of the reasons I've learned for the braiding. Your braided challah is absolutely beautiful, like all you bake.
I'm Jewish and your Challah recipe is fantastic!! I use Oregano or Italian seasoning to jazz challah up to another level. The braids representing witch braids isn't true tho.🙃😆 I'm going to try cooking your cheddar biscuits and french Onion soup for Shabbos on Friday. Of course I'll use Kosher Osem beef flavored broth. Thanks for all your hard work that makes our cooking so much fun!! ❤✡️❤️
Thank you for your Challah bread recipe. I made chaloths for over more then 20 years. Instead of oil I use fresh butter. The rest is almost the same. IT IS wonderfull shabbat( feast) bread. My grandchildren love it. The 3 strengths is not from a German (Pagan) history. The 3 represents Adonai his might and holiness. The Father- The Messiah- The Spirit. Together the power and love in the bread ( Yahshua) for mankind in sweet bread...given on the 7 th day for menkind. Shalom from The Netherlands.
@@ziendee7320 I was forgotten I had written to you. It is an old recipe But on 500 gram plain flour 50 grams of soft unsalted fresh butter I hope to hear from you. Greetings from The netherlands.
3/4 cup warm water 110-120F 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast 1/4 cup granulated sugar 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/3 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 egg yolk reserve white 1 teaspoon salt Parchment paper
Water Yeast Sugar Stir wait 5 mins Flour Veg oil Reserve 1/2 cup flour Eggs Flour Salt Elastic not sticky add small flour amounts until right Lightly oiled bowl let it rise Warm cozy high 70s Wait until 2x size
I've been making Challah for many years now, and I have a few tips: - Traditionally we don't use eggs at all! Try dumping them out of the recipe and see that it's fluffier and works better. Bonus: it's now vegan - If you find braiding too hard, try just using 2 strands and winding them among each other. I've done 3, 4, 5 way braids and actually find the 2way braids the nicest looking. You also usually get more than 1 challah that way - When rolling the dough into the strands, I normally apply more pressure when I'm rolling through the center, and lower the pressure gradually until my hands reach the end of each side of the strand - that way you get it to be even in size all throughout! - Sesame seeds on top make a world of difference in presentation, texture, and flavor
@@marykyle6611 I’ve never heard of it without egg but I haven’t made it in years. Traditionally, though, you need to check your eggs for blood (which is very rare) as blood is not kosher.
@@somewhatrepresentable5207 yeah, John always checks for shells, I check for both, but for different reasons. I have had some bloody eggs, that's why Observant Jews crack open eggs individually into a clear container to check for blood before using.
@@melissav5736 I make them using that Tefal breakfast device for waffer (with tiny checker) - it squeezes slices a little and makes them pleasantly dense so they are crunchy on the outside but they still absorb a little soup without getting soggy. Just perfect for me :D
Egg wash during your second proofing and then Egg wash again after second proofing is done and add sesame seeds on top and put in oven! It gives it an amazing amazing golden brown color! So double egg wash. Another tip- use cane sugar instead of regular sugar and just a small touch honey. Or just use 1/4 cup of cane sugar by itself. Everyone is always asking me how I make my challah because there’s something special they can’t put their fingers on. Well I’m telling ya’ll I use non gmo cane sugar. My family has always used cane sugar. I make this every Shabbat and of course we do round challah for Rosh Hoshanna. And is ch (like your clearing something out the back of your throat) allah. Not, H-allah, when pronouncing it. But your recipe was on point for sure. Looks great 👍 and your braiding was really good. You had nothing to worry about. You can also do a rope braid or a regular three strand braid too. It doesn’t have to be a 6 strand braid. Or you can do three 2 strand rope braids (which is just simple twisting of them around each other opposite directions so they stay that way) and then do a 3 strand braid with the 3 rope braids. Happy Challah eating ya’ll! We traditionally only eat this for Shabbat and for the feasts of the Bible and special days. But it is amazing to use the left over bread for French toast in the morning.
Hi John from the UK 🇬🇧. I've made this recipe 3 times now for my Jewish boyfriend and it's turned out perfect every time. So easy. Thank you so much. Shalom. X
I will attempt to do it for the very first time for Rosh Hashanah next week. Fingers crossed 🙈
Classic Ashkenazi challah recipe! Great job on the braiding 😊. If you want to add raisins or cranberries to your challah, roll out each section flat first, place your additions in the center, and then roll it into a strand. Braid as usual, or do a four-strand round one. Also, you can swap sugar with honey, it will taste even richer.
U can add brown sugar mixed with a little butter (little cinnamon option) inside of the flour braids~ roll the braids flat, add your brown sugar mix, then seal, then braid. Also cheese inside of your braids. I eat mostly dairy so butter or cheese only prohibits me when i want to do peanut butter and preserves later with my challah. Otherwise alot of times, I add oregano or Italian seasoning to my dough before my 1st rise. 😇✡️😇
@@Growthisinthedirt I am not kosher, so it’s not an issue for me. But I once caught a lot of grief over mention of challah with butter or milk, mainly from gentiles lol, so I’m careful suggesting it.
@@JuliaARubin wow! Goys complaining..🙃. I bought this week some really expensive preserves on sale so I'm not doing the Italian seasoning. Thinking I may do one loaf with cheese & seasonings and one loaf with out cheese..I'm making loaded tuna and cheesey potato soup. 💞
@@Growthisinthedirt nu! The chutzpah! Enjoy your soup and challah, and git shabbos!
@@JuliaARubin U2. Yeah one with seasonings and cheese and one plain.
💗✡️💗
Baking and history - you are the best cooking channel on TH-cam - thanks for being both educational and entertaining
That’s true, when I feel like baking a good cake I go to your videos, you are the BEST! ❤
I made this today and it came out sooo good. I just did a regular braid tho🫣❤️
When my daughter was wee, she loved Challah! When she turned 14 and became vegan, I asked her what food she would miss the most. Without hesitation it was Challah, and once she decided she could live without her favourite bread she never looked back. Thanks John, I will make some when she's not around; I love it too!
You can make water challah! No egg needed.
that is so damn cringe. turned woke and vegan at the tender age of 14 and instead of guiding her like a parent, you let her do whatever like an enabler. some people just don't deserve children.
@@emperor8716 no, some people definitely don't. I really hope you don't have any.
@@emperor8716How is she turning woke for choosing what to put into her body?😂 Thank goodness she allowed her daughter to grow on her own instead of coddling her and forcing her to be what she wanted her to be.
@@emperor8716Bro you are so fucking cringe 😂
I never made Challah bread. I can't wait to try this recipe. Thank you for doing such a good job at explaining the process.❤️
saying challah bread is like saying bread bread btw
Yes indeed! My chef instructors way is so confusing. Yours is better!!!
@@ahumanbeing5028 its the same way people say chai tea. If someone who didnt speak hindi and you said "chai" they might not know what it is but if you said "chai tea" they would understand. same thing with challah bread
Props to the one who edited this with the Missy Elliott reference. I love it when someone else is as weird as I am 😂
Lmaooo
That part scared the sh!t out of me
Classic !
Don't we all?
We always made it with a bit of honey and sometimes put in some raisins. It's a great bread for the Shabbat (starts on Friday evening) and then French toast on Saturday morning!
I made many challah over the years. I tried your recipes and it turned fantastic👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Very nice recipie John! They looks amazing! I think is the same recipie with the Greek "Tsoureki" wen they make them the Easter! Have a nice day and good weekend! Have a good week! 👍👏🍴
Always love the bits of history from these videos, never stop
Yessssssssss!!! Best french toast EVER is made with challah bread!!! Yummmmm😋😋😋
saying challah bread is like saying bread bread btw
Thanks for a really great straight-to-the-point, easy-to-follow informative and enjoyable tutorial. My husband would be so happy if I learned to do this. Bread and I have had a rocky relationship and the idea of braiding dough nearly sends me into a panic attack but you’ve given me the confidence to try it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
This recipe has a great success and it's fun to make it with kids.
John,
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have made probably 15+ of your recipes over the last year and they have given me so much confidence as a home baker. Thank you for helping me make amazing treats and breads.
Hey John, this looks so delicious and u make it so easy to bake. Thanks a million ...you are my hero❤
I use this recipe every Friday. It’s excellent.
Love your bread and scone recipes, your stories and easy to follow instructions and never fail to reproduce what you show in the video. I have shared your chicken recipe with my adult son and he loves it too and made a delicious roasted chicken.
Did this as a youth in Pennsylvania growing up! Thanks - I loved it, now to the kitchen! DDK - Erie, PA
Just what I needed!! It’s a cold day in San Diego and this recipe is perfect for today!! Love it❤ thank you!
This is a far superior recipe and technique.
Thanks much.
Reminds me of when I used to make challah with my grandma during Friday before Shabbat ❤ may she be of blessed memory!
John, I'm making this as I watch your video! Love challah - makes the best French toast! Thanks!
Keep us updated on how yours turned out please. I want to make it today too!
@@giselsilva It turned out perfectly.....just like John's! Good luck! It is delicious!
@@jmpond4217 mine too! Delicious!❣️
This looks amazing! I taught myself to make challah from a recipe in the newspaper. I've long since lost the recipe. It had a pinch of saffron which gave the bread a beautiful color.
I enjoy so much watching your videos. Thank you.
Made this amazing bread today it turned out perfectly well
You are an absolute gentleman - thanks for the recipe. Cheers from Ireland
I just bought a stand up mixer and I LOVE challah. I will try your recipe since you are so detailed in explaining the steps! Looking forward to seeing my result...
I have to make this. You always make all your food look so delicious. Thanks so much.
I'm going to attempt to make this bread. ❤ Looks delicious 😋
Kudos to you for making a bread that is braided, John, we all know how challenging it is for you 😮❤🎉😊
Glad for this recipe.I love this bread and my City Walmart don’t sell it anymore. 🙏
YT ‘s overdoing it on the pre ads John .. love Ur tutorial recipes ,) Bravo
👑♥️👁..
Such a great video so clear - long time watcher of your channel, first time making and success! Your 2 tips were game changers 1. don’t cook the yeast 2. Proof in a warm spot. And a bit more sugar as per acomment below.
Thank you for this recipe. In my family they always used butter, but I thought I would try yours as your explanation of why to use oil instead makes a lot of sense. I am 4 strand braid-challenged definitely though! Which is why I always make 3 strand braids! But the taste is magnificent! And the shape is not too bad considering I was a bit lost with that part of the process!!! Thank you again.🙃
You have a wonderful looking kitchen. And that bread looks amazing! I am doing Challah in a bread machine. It's not as good as I the oven, but works out fine for someone very buzy!
my most favourite bread to eat and make , with mine i replace the sugar with honey , its amazing
I love challah bread, Thank you for the recipe!
saying challah bread is like saying bread bread btw
If you want to practice with something which might be a similar size; try rolling up kitchen tea towels lengthwise. Put three kitchen towels together and clip with a binder clip.
That loaf was just beautiful. I can almost taste it. Thank you.
Thank you, John, for such a beautiful presentation! I can't wait to try this recipe. Well done!
The BEST John thank you much appreciated i made the I made the one with egg nd butter it was Shoo be bless nd your family
This is some very good bread. The first time I had it, it was made with chocolate. I'm not much of a chocolate eater and the chocolate was very light in the bread. That bread was soooo soft but very thick. Thanks for this recipe. I never seen it made regular.
Amazing that you shared a Kosher classic! Great video 🤗
Made, it turned out great. The braiding was not as perfect. Working on it for future breads. Thank you 👍🏿
Oh, I am so excited. Let's see if John is successful in teaching me how to bake this!
I will have to try this. I make mine with honey though and braiding is the best part. There are so many different combinations of braiding ;)
Beautiful braid! Wow!
Thanks for sharing the recipe chef god god bless❤️❤️
I make this recipe for every Sabbath except the week of unleavened bread. It is so easy but sooooo good. I actually learned how to braid the dough by using a wonderful TH-cam video by a granny lady who made it so easy. I use her braiding method which is much easier. With his method, I forget what step in on. 🤷🤦😂🤣 You get exactly the same results with her method.
I'm not Jewish - may I ask, is this recipe Kosher?
What’s her TH-cam name?
Challah Atcha Girl is excellent too
Thanks for this great recipe! Always enjoy your content!🤩🤩
that looks amazingly delicious. I never made bread before, but it looks fun.
My uncle got your cook book he loves cooking my grandmother says.
When I finish braiding, I'll often undo the starting side and rebraid it to tighten; the braided remainder makes it easier to tweak the end.
Just a note: challah wouldn't be made with melted butter. There's a kosher dietary restriction against adding dairy that applies specifically to breads, so a challah in particular would never be made with it.
The only time we spread butter and honey on our warm pareve challah in my kosher kitchen is for a dairy Shavous meal. I bet the mann tasted similar, it's that delicious.
Chag Somayach.
John’s recipe actually did not contain butter, but rather vegetable oil.
@@alanhirschman1320 Yes, but in the video he notes that you can use melted butter instead.
Right. Let’s give him props for saying he went to Shabbat dinner and ate challah.
The BEST challah I ever had in my life bar none came from Alfred's Delicatessen in Houston, Texas. It was unbelievably delicious. It was so good it was like cake. I would spread some sweet creamy butter on slice after slice and just eat it like that. Sadly, Alfred's eventually went out of business after many years. I only WISH I knew the recipe!
I made homemade challah many years ago for Shabbat, but it was not nearly as good as Alfred's challah, and it was a lot of work to make it since I did not have a stand mixer with a dough hook (I was young and ambitious, though! 😄).
The only way I would EVER make homemade challah again is if I knew the recipe would produce the same sort of challah that Alfred's made. 😊
This bread turned out amazing, maybe a touch more salt and sugar for flavor but the golden yellow fluffy texture was on point. Finally learned the proper wsy to test the gluten formation while kneading. Challah made by hand 👌 nothing like it.
Shabbat Shalom John!
1:40 had me dying 😆😆
I've never had challah, but now I def want to try making it!
There are lots of legends about the bread… it was the traditional Sunday bread of Christians in Southern Germany and Austria until the Jews adopted it for Shabbat. The traditional 3 stranded plait represents the Trinity - Father, Son (Mashiach) and Spirit… nothing to do with witches’ hair! Claudia Roden’s classic Jewish cookbook is a great source when looking for origins of both Ashkenazi and Sephardi foods
Also very known in Poland as chałka. Traditionally, it is eaten with sweet ingredients such as strawberry jam, chocolate spread (nutella e.g) or even peanut butter.
YUMMY! 😋
COOKING IS ART
AMAZING!❤🤩👨🍳
Challah Bread is delicious because of a work setting I am in.
Bring me a challah bread
- Knuckles
Greetings from Paraguay and God bless
I love slicing challah into thick slices and frying in salted butter.
I ain't no challah back girl, I ain't no challah back!
Beautiful 😍😍 tempting 🤤🤤😋😋 nice recipe 🤤🤤😋😋
John, I'd like to know your source for the story of how the braids got started. As an Observant Jew, that tall tall doesn't come up with any of the reasons I've learned for the braiding.
Your braided challah is absolutely beautiful, like all you bake.
i loved it😋 it looks tasty👌👍
Thank you!
Really amazing, delicious n superb!! 🙂😊😋.
love it
I'm Jewish and your Challah recipe is fantastic!! I use Oregano or Italian seasoning to jazz challah up to another level. The braids representing witch braids isn't true tho.🙃😆 I'm going to try cooking your cheddar biscuits and french Onion soup for Shabbos on Friday. Of course I'll use Kosher Osem beef flavored broth. Thanks for all your hard work that makes our cooking so much fun!! ❤✡️❤️
I love challa bread for french toast ❤❤❤thanks Kevin for sharing this recipe with us God/Jesus Bless you and your family
challah comes from old testement bible. not anything with jesus. just saying
saying challah bread is like saying bread bread btw
Sounds Amazing
The braids in challah are symbolic of the braids that God did in Eve's hair in the Garden of Eden when preparing to present her to Adam.
Making this now! Looks amazing 😊
Ohhhhhhh beautiful yum 🙌🙌🙌🤗
Thnk you so much Karina!!!
I love your cooking videos! I actually used your cookies videos before
Beautiful
In Hungary, we prepare this regularly at Easter or just like that! The Hungarian name: Fonott kalács
Looks delicious 😍😍
Hello, I just made your Artisan bread and it's amazing, how can I store the fresh bread to keep the crust crispy and the inside soft?
on shabbat u can put a aluminum tin turned over put the challah ontop leave there for an hour till crisp u will have the most amazing challah
I was actually going to make this soon and then turn it into bread pudding 😋
Makes amazing French Toast as well.
@@user-pd7il3xz5j thats great to know. thank you
This looks so good! I wonder if you can use gluten free flour to make it?
I heard challah makes the best french toast, if there are any leftovers 😊
Challah mmmm 😋❤. I like to make mine with sugar or honey to make is have some sweetness
Thank you for your Challah bread recipe. I made chaloths for over more then 20 years. Instead of oil I use fresh butter. The rest is almost the same. IT IS wonderfull shabbat( feast) bread. My grandchildren love it. The 3 strengths is not from a German (Pagan) history. The 3 represents Adonai his might and holiness. The Father- The Messiah- The Spirit. Together the power and love in the bread ( Yahshua) for mankind in sweet bread...given on the 7 th day for menkind. Shalom from The Netherlands.
How much butter do you use just stead with the same amount of ingredients?
@@ziendee7320 I was forgotten I had written to you. It is an old recipe But on 500 gram plain flour 50 grams of soft unsalted fresh butter I hope to hear from you. Greetings from The netherlands.
I add more flour if it’s humid, and less when it’s dry.
I love that you made chalah 🤍 next time try with raisins or chocolate chips… and from your kind Jewish friend never cut it with a knife
For those of us on statins for control of cholesterol, can you use olive oil in preference to vegetable oil?
Great video John😊😊
Would coconut oil work the same way as vegetable oil?
Love the witch story-sounds like a bubble meise to me 😂
The way I cackled when I heard HOLLLLLLAAAA 😂
I like the fact you did not put the flour quantity to be fixed, we always add more flour to our doughts
3/4 cup warm water 110-120F
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 egg yolk reserve white
1 teaspoon salt
Parchment paper
Water
Yeast
Sugar
Stir wait 5 mins
Flour
Veg oil
Reserve 1/2 cup flour
Eggs
Flour
Salt
Elastic not sticky add small flour amounts until right
Lightly oiled bowl let it rise
Warm cozy high 70s
Wait until 2x size
I've been making Challah for many years now, and I have a few tips:
- Traditionally we don't use eggs at all! Try dumping them out of the recipe and see that it's fluffier and works better. Bonus: it's now vegan
- If you find braiding too hard, try just using 2 strands and winding them among each other. I've done 3, 4, 5 way braids and actually find the 2way braids the nicest looking. You also usually get more than 1 challah that way
- When rolling the dough into the strands, I normally apply more pressure when I'm rolling through the center, and lower the pressure gradually until my hands reach the end of each side of the strand - that way you get it to be even in size all throughout!
- Sesame seeds on top make a world of difference in presentation, texture, and flavor
I've been baking challah for 35 years, my recipe, and the best ones I've had at other homes on Shabbos all use eggs. I guess it's a matter of taste.
I thought Challah was traditionally an "Egg Bread". Was I & many, many others wrong???
@@marykyle6611 I’ve never heard of it without egg but I haven’t made it in years. Traditionally, though, you need to check your eggs for blood (which is very rare) as blood is not kosher.
@@somewhatrepresentable5207 yeah, John always checks for shells, I check for both, but for different reasons.
I have had some bloody eggs, that's why Observant Jews crack open eggs individually into a clear container to check for blood before using.
@@marykyle6611 Some people like eggless challah, which around my town is called water challah.
For the braiding impaired, will this work in a standard bread loaf pan?
Gorgeous
You reminded me of Bob Ross when you were brushing the egg wash onto the bread! 😆
Chałka
(we often make cinnamon butter toasts for apple soup from chałka
@@Lola_in_the_Black Oooh, that sounds delicious! I'll have to bake it and check the toast version!
@@melissav5736 I make them using that Tefal breakfast device for waffer (with tiny checker) - it squeezes slices a little and makes them pleasantly dense so they are crunchy on the outside but they still absorb a little soup without getting soggy. Just perfect for me :D
Egg wash during your second proofing and then Egg wash again after second proofing is done and add sesame seeds on top and put in oven! It gives it an amazing amazing golden brown color! So double egg wash.
Another tip- use cane sugar instead of regular sugar and just a small touch honey. Or just use 1/4 cup of cane sugar by itself. Everyone is always asking me how I make my challah because there’s something special they can’t put their fingers on. Well I’m telling ya’ll I use non gmo cane sugar. My family has always used cane sugar.
I make this every Shabbat and of course we do round challah for Rosh Hoshanna.
And is ch (like your clearing something out the back of your throat) allah. Not, H-allah, when pronouncing it.
But your recipe was on point for sure. Looks great 👍 and your braiding was really good. You had nothing to worry about. You can also do a rope braid or a regular three strand braid too. It doesn’t have to be a 6 strand braid. Or you can do three 2 strand rope braids (which is just simple twisting of them around each other opposite directions so they stay that way) and then do a 3 strand braid with the 3 rope braids.
Happy Challah eating ya’ll! We traditionally only eat this for Shabbat and for the feasts of the Bible and special days. But it is amazing to use the left over bread for French toast in the morning.
Chag Somayach...it's almost Shavous!!!
@@user-pd7il3xz5j Chag Sameach from the UK ..
@@user-pd7il3xz5j We say Shavuot..