How to Bake Challah Bread

Challah bread is a Jewish bread made from egg yeast dough. It's somewhat sweet when baked and is usually served for the Sabbath and other holidays. You braid it before it is baked to create a strand-like appearance. Baking challah bread can be fun, and it's a pretty easy recipe to make. However, you need some specific ingredients and techniques for this recipe.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tsp of salt
• 1/4 cup oil
• 3 to 4 eggs
• 6 to 8 cups of bread flour
• 1.5 tsp of dry yeast
• 1 cup of warm water
• 1/2 cup of honey
• Optional raisins
• Poppy seeds
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Make sure you have all of the ingredients before you start baking. You will also need to keep all of these ingredients at room temperature.

2. Combine sugar, warm water and yeast in a small mixing bowl. Allow each ingredient some time to dissolve and blend together. Stir the mix so that there are no clumps left in the mixture.

3. Sift flour along with the salt and then set it aside. Mix oil and three eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the active yeast mixture.

4. Add the flour little by little to make the dough soft. Take the mix and put it on a cutting board. Knead the dough with your hands for 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Place the dough in a slightly oiled medium bowl and cover it. Let the dough rise for one hour and place it at room temperature. Then take out the dough and press it down, kneading it lightly. Divide the dough into six different amounts and then roll each portion into an 18-inch long piece.

6. Put the six pieces on a board and pinch the ends of the dough strands. Start to braid the pieces and fold the end underneath. Do not pull on the dough too much or else it won't have the braid appearance in the end.

7. Allow the bread to bake for 45 minutes and then use your last egg yolk, salt and water to wash the bread. This wash will give the bread a light bronze look. Bake the bread for 35 to 40 minutes until its turn a nice golden brown color.

Tips & Warnings

• Challah bread is known to symbolize peace, justice and truth.

• Challah bread is served with meals and can sometimes be referred to as egg bread.