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    Sweet Challah Bread

    Published: Jan 2, 2018 · Modified: Sep 14, 2022 · by Renana · I may get commission for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you.

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    Home » Recipes » Bread and Pastry » Sweet Challah Bread

    Traditional Jewish bread for Kiddush - Friday night evening dinners. Braided bread with fluffy inside and delicious taste.

    What is Challah bread?

    Challah bread is traditional bread that’s whipped up for Friday evening dinners in the Jewish religion. You know the one; it looks like a braid and is fluffy on the inside. Or in other words, it’s a slice of heaven.

    All you need are two pieces of bread (and for those who are religious, Jewish, then be sure to bless it). The bread itself is sometimes sweeter and gives a fun, tasty start for the heavy meal that comes straight after.

    2 challah bread loaves on a baking tray

    Challah Bread Recipe

    This specific recipe I actually learned from my sister, as she is the one in charge of making Challah in our family for Friday dinner. I’m usually the one who makes the dessert 😉

    The recipe requires rising time for the dough so if you are in a hurry, this is not the bread for you. If you have time and patience, then you will have super delicious and yummy bread to munch on!

    This recipe I'm sharing here is my simple, sweet Challah and if you need other Challah recipes then here are a few more options:

    Whole wheat challah
    Sweet potato challah
    Vegan challah (Water Challah)
    Beet challah
    Apple Cinnamon Rosh Hashanah Challah
    Rainbow challah

    Need an idea for leftover Challah bread? I have the perfect French toast recipe, check it out!

    2 challah bread loaves on a baking tray

    Sweet Challah Bread

    Traditional Jewish bread for Friday night evening dinners. Braided and with fluffy inside.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Resting time 2 hrs
    Course bread
    Cuisine Jewish
    Servings 2 challah loaves

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups (500 grams) flour
    • 1½ tablespoon dry yeast
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1¼ cups lukewarm water
    • 1 egg
    • ⅓ cup any vegetable oil - I like to use olive oil

    For garnish:

    • 1 egg beaten - egg wash
    • 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
    • 2 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
    • 2 tablespoon poppy seeds

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all of the dry ingredients, except for the salt, in the stand mixer bowl.
    • Attach the kneading hook and mix on slow speed.
    • Gradually add oil, water, and egg while mixing.
    • Add salt and knead for 4 minutes until dough is unified.
    • Form the dough into a ball shape and let this rise in a greased bowl for an hour.
    • Divide the dough into 2 pieces and let this rise again for half an hour.
    • Divide each pieces to smaller pieces and create strands to braid the challah.
    • Braid the strands to challahs. (In the pictures I made round challahs from 4 strands each. Watch the video below to see how to braid a 4 strands round challah)
    • Heat the oven to 160°C / 325°F degrees with no fan - upper and lower heat.
    • Brush the 2 braided challahs with the egg wash and let this rise again for another half an hour - if you are in a hurry, you can skip this step.
    • Make another layer of egg wash and sprinkle all of the garnish seeds.
    • Bake for 40-50 minutes –but pay attention after 40 minutes if the bread looks very golden then take them out of the oven!
    • Serve and Shabbat Shalom!

    Video

    More Bread and Pastry Recipes

    • Beer bread loaf on a cutting board
      Easy Homemade Beer Bread
    • Parve Chocolate Babka
      Parve Chocolate Babka
    • Parve Rugelach on a plate
      Parve Rugelach
    • Rainbow challah on a baking pan before baking
      Rainbow Challah - Natural Colors

    Filed Under: Bread and Pastry, Dinner, Holidays

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    Renana Spiegel Levkovich

    Hello!

    I'm Renana and I share kosher recipes for Shabbat, yummy parve desserts, and Jewish holiday recipes - and so much more. I share easy kosher recipes for the whole family, along with some pretty great photographs, and easy-to-follow instructions. Enjoy!

    Contact me for any question →


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