challah
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i think i’d like to be a tv mom from the 1950’s. june cleaver meets betty draper. decked out in my poofy dress and pearls. did you ever notice that when these moms made breakfast for their families it was always a bright and sunny morning, even during the week. what time did they get to work and school? it’s dark when i’m forced to be up and cooking for my group. i think i’d be a much better morning person if morning just started a wee bit later. how am i supposed to be chipper about making pancakes or french toast when even the sun is not up yet?
moral of the story is…i am not a morning person. yes, i get up when my alarm goes off. actually, i’m up about 5 minutes before my alarm goes off. that is so annoying. i’ve never been a fan of the snooze, although today i would have done anything to take a personal day. only moms don’t get personal days. we really should. i need one badly.
what does this have to do with challah you ask? not much except that my kids requested french toast for breakfast, and if you are going to make french toast, i am a firm believer that challah is the only way to go.
Ingredients
- 1 envelope active dry yeast – I use Red Star Platinum
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 Tbsp butter, melted
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 1/2 cups flour
Instructions
- in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer whisk together the yeast, honey, butter, and milk
- beat in 2 of the eggs ( one at a time) salt, and then gradually add 3 ups of the flour, adding extra if needed until the dough comes together
- knead – either by hand of with a dough hook, until you have a smooth ball
- place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour
- punch down the dough, cover, and let rise another hour
- to make a three braid loaf, divide the dough into 3 equal pieces, and roll each into a rope (about 12 inches long)
- place the three ropes together, and pinch at the top to hold them together, take the right outer rope and cross over the middle, take the left outer rope and cross the “new” middle rope, continue this way until the end, when all the ropes are braided
- pinch the ends together, and tuck under the loaf
- place loaf on a greased baking sheet, or a sheet lined with a silpat mat
- beat the remaining egg, brush over the loaf, and allow to rise for 1 hour
- heat oven to 375 degrees
- right before baking brush the loaf with the egg wash again
- bake for 35 minutes until golden
- ‘cool on rack
Notes
slightly adapted from Joan Nathan’s challah
challah is, in my humble opinion, the best bread on earth. rich and eggy, slightly sweet, and pretty to look at. i went for a simple three braid, but next time i vow to master the elegant 6 braid. i’m not there yet. there’s a great how-to over at the kitchn if you’re interested.
enjoy!
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Challah is so delicious! I love how beautiful it is and how soft and fluffy the texture is ?
Beautiful recipe and pictures, I am not a baker as I am afraid of baking bread. But your recipe looks fairly easy. Perfect for Easter =)
Stunning bread!! It looks perfect!
Haha! I am more than a morning person! 4am and I’m up and ready!
What a stunning challah you presented here! Bookmarked the recipe as well, can’t wait to try it! thx for sharing.
Have a great weekend ?
http://myhomediaryinturkey.blogspot.com.tr/2015/10/general-tso-chicken.html
I always loved the dresses from the 50’s, and the concept of the TV moms! This bread sounds so yummy!
thanks Marye!
This looks perfect. I can never find challah bread at the store so it’s high time I make some myself at home!
thank you Megan, I always think homemade is so much better than store bought
Look at that glossy loaf…PERFECTION!
thank you so much Dorothy!
Challah is such a lovely bread, and you’ve executed it beautifully. I have never made it before, but I think I may just give it a try now. Thanks.
thank you renee, I don’t try it often, although I am really hoping to perfect my 6 braid
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Hi, Heather,
The recipe I use for challah is very different (my husband prefers bread that isn’t sweet), but this looks amazing! If you want help with the six braid, the technique I use is so simple my five year old can do it on her own and it comes out really beautiful. The pattern is ‘one up, one over and center’, which you can chant over and over when you’re starting out. You take the first strand on the right and push it up and away from the other strands. You take the second strand and put it across all the other strands to the left. Then you take the first strand back and put it in the center. The second strand, which is now all the way on the left, is now the first. You push that one up, you take the the second one on the left across to the right, then you put the first one back in the center. The one you put to the right is now your first… and so on. It’s pretty rhythmic work once you catch on. Good luck!
you make it sound easy enough ? thanks so much. I look forward to trying your method
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