How to Twist Challah Bread

Twist your challah bread to create a classic Jewish dish.

Challah bread is a classic recipe in the Jewish religion. While challah bread can be served any time of the year, it is traditionally served on the Sabbath and around other Jewish holidays. Challah bread dough is often separated into several different pieces and then twisted or braided into different shapes. Create a challah bread loaf for your family and twist it into an attractive shape.

Instructions

Four-Strand Challah

1. Divide the challah bread dough into four equal parts.

2. Knead each dough section into a ball, then roll it out with your hands into a long strand. Make sure each of the four dough ropes is the same size and length.

3. Lay the strands out on a smooth counter top side-by-side and pinch the four ends together.

4. Take the strand on the far left and move it to the right, under the next two strands and then over the next to last strand.

5. Take the strand at the far right and move it underneath the next two strands, then back to the right side, over one strand. You are braiding the challah bread dough strands.

6. Repeat these steps, alternating until you reach the end of the dough strands.

Figure-Eight Challah

1. Knead your challah dough into a ball and then form it into a 12-inch rope. You can do this with an entire challah dough, or split the dough into smaller balls and make single-serve figure-eight rolls.

2. Lay the challah bread strand on your counter top. Make the top two-thirds of the rope shaped like an "S." Pass the remaining end of the challah strand underneath the "S"-shape.

3. Take the short end of the challah strand, the end that you passed beneath the "S" shape, in your left hand. Use your right hand to move the long end of the challah dough strand beneath the short end. This will form an eight shape.

4. Thread the long end of the challah dough through the two loops of the eight shape, from the top to the bottom.

References

• Secret of Challah: Braiding Instructions