Brittany's Famous Challah Bread

This is my family's favorite recipe and every bite melts in your mouth. We have people stop by just to get a bite on Sabbath and we usually have to make more than our expected guests/family will eat! Any bread placed on the table definitely won't last! We hope this recipe becomes an enrichment on your Sabbath just as it has for ours.

Time: ~ 4hrs

Makes: 2 Loaves

Type: Parve

Ingredients / Shopping List

• 5 cups of bread flour

• ¾ cup white sugar

• 2 tsp salt (pink salt is best)

• ⅓ cup olive oil + some to coat

• 5 tsp instant dry yeast

Instructions

1. Grease the bowl of a stand mixer and dough hook with olive oil

Combine the following into the standing mixer:

• 5 cups of bread flour

• ¾ cup white sugar

• 2 tsp salt

• 5 tsp instant dry yeast

• ⅓ cup olive oil

• 1 ½ cups of warm water

2. Let it sit unmixed for about 5 minutes.

3. Use the bread hook to knead the dough on low/medium speed.

4. Cover with seran wrap and set in a warm place. Let dough rise until it doubles in size. Depending on the temperature, humidity, and altitude, this can take 3-5 hours. Just watch for the doubling in size! You'll notice it.

Tip: If you live in a cold climate, you can set your oven to 200 °F, and then turn it off and place the dough inside the oven. Be sure to turn off the oven before you put the dough in to rise!

5. Remove the dough and divide it in half. Take one half and braid it on a floured surface. Repeat with 2nd half of the dough. This will create 2 loaves.

Tip: You can also divide it into 4 parts instead of two for four mini-loaves.

6. Place both braided loaves on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and cover with seran wrap. Let both rise until they double in size again. This will take approximately 30-90min but will vary depending on home temperature, humidity, and altitude.

Tip: Electric ovens have a tendency to make the bottom of the challah hard. You can avoid this by stacking two baking sheets together.

7. Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush the loaves with olive oil and bake until it is golden brown, approximately 30 minutes total cooking time.

Tip: 10 minutes before it is done cooking, brush with olive oil once again for a beautiful brown look.

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Comment & Rate Below!

Let us know what you do to improve the recipe, or tips and tricks you find along the way. Have allergies or intolerances? What do you use to substitute? Tell us in the comments, your insight could help others!