Honey Challah Bread Recipe

How to make Challah Bread

There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked homemade bread as it comes out of the oven.

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*Post updated February 2023

When asked to make a recipe that called for Challah bread I was on a mission to find it and buy a loaf.

But after a trip to pretty much every supermarket, I gave up and decided the only way I was going to get my hands on challah bread was to get busy and make it myself! 😉

So, what is challah bread?

Challah is a yeast bread that is enriched with eggs, similar to brioche. The biggest difference between the two is brioche contains a lot of butter whilst challah bread contains oil.

From Wikipedia - Challah, plural: challot or challos is a special Jewish bread, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Sabbath and major Jewish holidays.

I used a recipe based on one from Tesco Real Food website and I must point out I needed a lot more water than they suggested.

Ingredients

• 1 kg strong bread flour

• 1 ½ tsp easy-bake active yeast

• 250ml lukewarm water - I needed 350ml

• 2 medium eggs - free range

• 2 medium eggs (yolks only)

• 30ml olive oil

• 3 tbsp runny honey

• 1 tsp salt

You will also need

• 1 medium egg white - free-range

• a small handful of sesame seeds

How to make challah bread

As most people know I don't do baking simply because I'm not very good at it and I can't be doing with all the exact measurements that baking involves!

However, with that said considering this was my first attempt I was pretty pleased with myself 😊

I didn't take a proper picture of it being made since I had little faith that it would turn out any good so the only one I have is a phone camera pic which I posted on my Instagram.

Challah bread is enriched with eggs and this recipe has honey in it which gives it a really lovely taste.

Anyway bread makers out there possibly may not be too amazed or impressed with my Challah bread but I am!

So there you have it, if I can make challah bread anyone can!

Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe card below!

challah bread recipe, how to make challah bread, honey challah bread

Bread, Baking,

Jewish

Yield: 1 large loaf

Author: Jan Bennett

Challah Bread Recipe

Challah is a special Jewish bread, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Sabbath and major Jewish holidays.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 40 MinInactive time: 1 H & 15 MTotal time: 2 H & 10 M

Ingredients

• 1 kg strong bread flour
• 1 ½ tsp easy-bake active yeast
• 250ml lukewarm water - I needed 350ml
• 2 medium eggs - free range
• 2 medium eggs (yolks only)
• 30ml olive oil
• 3 tbsp runny honey
• 1 tsp salt

You will also need

• 1 medium egg white - free-range
• a small handful of sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Put the water, eggs and the egg yolks, olive oil, and honey in a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix until well combined, then add just half of the flour, the yeast, and salt.
3. Mix together until nice and smooth and well combined then leave to prove for 15 minutes.
4. Add the remaining flour in 4 batches and combine until you have a dough. You may well need a bit more water - I found another 100ml did the trick.
5. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface until you have a soft, elastic dough, using a little extra flour if the dough is too sticky.
6. Once smooth and elastic, lightly oil a large bowl and place, the dough in it.
7. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size; roughly an hour.
8. Remove the dough from the bowl after proving and cut it into three.
9. Roll out into even-shaped sausages. Connect the three pieces of sausage-shaped dough at one end.
10. Braid the dough by bringing the right side across the middle piece of dough so that it now sits in the middle.
11. Next, bring the left piece of dough across the middle piece so that it sits in the middle.
12. Continue in this fashion until you have to pinch the ends of the dough together and tuck them neatly under.
13. Carefully lift onto a lined baking tray. Whisk the egg whites until frothy then brush the bread all over with it.
14. Cover the braided dough again and allow it to prove for another hour or until doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F or Gas 6

1. Remove the cover then brush again with the egg white, sprinkle the sesame seeds on top and bake for 20 minutes.
2. Turn the bread around, reduce the oven to 180°C, and bake for a further 20 minutes until golden brown in colour all over.
3. Remove and allow to cool a little before serving.

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