Happy Hanukkah to all my wonderful readers and friends!
I’m not Jewish but I have a couple of friends and got to learn a little about this winter holiday.
Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday, also know as the Festival of lights. It starts on the 25th day of Jewish month of Kislev, which can be anytime form late November until late December.
The holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E.
There are lots of traditions that come with this Holiday, but most common are lighting the hanukkiyah, spinning the dreidel and eating fried foods like potato pancakes also known as latkes, jam-filled doughnuts and a festive braided bread called challah.
Challah is a festive bread with a brown crust and a soft white crumb. It is made for most of the Jewish Holidays and while it is most often seen braided (three, six or twelve strands of dough), it can be shaped into spirals or wreaths or baked into a pan.
I’ve read a lot of different recipes for challah, some of them were using dairy, some not. Some called for raisins or sultanas. Some used sugar, some honey. There are lots of variations.
My version is somehow close to what I found more often. The dough is made using eggs and vegetable oil, giving the bread a soft texture, somewhere between brioche and a soft white loaf.
To sweeten it I used a little bit of honey. No dairy was used.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water
- 2 tsp dry yeast
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 2 eggs
- pinch of salt
- 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 6 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 egg for brushing
- poppy seeds for sprinkling on top (optional)
Instructions
- In your mixing bowl add the lukewarm water, 1/4 cup flour and the dry yeast. Stir and let the yeast proof. When the yeast bubbled add the honey, lightly beaten eggs and the salt. With the paddle attachment on mix everything slowly adding 1 more cup of flour.
- Now change the paddle attachment with the dough hook. On the lowest speed mix the dough slowly adding the rest of the flour until the dough comes clean from the sides of the bowl.
- Take the dough out of the bowl and place it on a flat clean surface. Have near a bowl with 6 tbsp of oil in it. Slowly pour some oil (about 1/2 tbsp to 1 tbsp) on top of the dough and knead by hand until the oil is incorporated. Pour few more drops and knead again. Repeat until all the oil is incorporated. It should take anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes.
- Do not take shortcuts and use the stand-up mixer. It's NOT gonna work!
- Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic foil and leave at room temperature until it doubles in volume.
- When risen, punch down the dough, cover again and let it for a second rise. This way all the flavors are developing and you get the softest crumb!
- After the second rise take the dough out and divide it into 2 smaller balls. Divide each ball into 3 or 6 strands. If you'd like your bread to be braided in three, braided it like you'd do someone's hair. If you'd like a 6 braided bread, this is where the things get a little complicated.
- I tried to take step by step photos at this stage, but the best way to get it is by seeing this clip.
- How to braid a 6 stands Challah Bread
- After braiding your breads, place them on a baking sheet, cover and let rise again.
- Meanwhile heat the oven to 375F.
- When the breads are nice and risen, blush them with egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water) and sprinkle some poppy seeds on top if using.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 35 to 40 minutes. Since I don't like a dark brown bread, I usually cover them with aluminum foil the last 10 minutes while still baking.
- Let cool slightly and enjoy!
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Happy Hanukkah to hose of you who celebrate!
Roxana
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
wonderful Bake Roxana. It is so golden and I love the crust.
That Challah looks wonderful! I love the eggy rich bread. Braiding 6 scares me, but yours looks amazing.
Look absolutely delicious!! gloria
merry Christmas
looks gorgeous!
This is a great recipe for Challah, can't wait to try it!
Oh my gosh! Your Challah looks spectacular!
Aww so sweet of you and such a beautiful challah!! Happy Holidays and the best of 2012 has to offer!!
This is a perfect challah. I would love to try it right now. I wish you happy holidays, Roxana. xo
That is a beautiful challah. I have never made one that looked that good.
As a point of information since you did such a beautiful job talking about Chanukah – we serve two challahs, each Friday night which is the beginning of our Sabbath. As you say, we have challah on holidays and for the Jewish New Year, they are usually round.
You did a beautiful job in baking and informing.
That is one magnificent Challah bread, Roxana!
Love the braiding!
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!
Hugs,
Awesome Challah Roxana! Love the way the bread is shining. Happy holidays dear.
Hi Roxana, your challah bread looks delicious and beautiful golden color too. Merry Christmas to you and family. Have a nice holiday.
Your Challah looks amazing and delicious. You do have a talent for all things bread!
I wish you and your family the best this holiday season. Enjoy!
I have not heard about Hanukkah but sure learn something new today and thanks for the explanation for this. This challah looks very tasty and love the finishing with the shiny color.
What a beautiful Challah Roxana!
Happy Holidays, wishing you a most beautiful one…hugs
The bread looks amazing Roxana!
Tq for sharing the story of Hanukah and about the challah
Love this!;)
Looks beautiful and golden and I'm always impressed by the braiding. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Everytime I read Challah, I have to sing it, it is such a fun word:-) Wow, your bread looks so gorgeous!!! I keep saying I need to try to make it, maybe it is finally time:-) Have a very Merry Christmas, Hugs, Terra
The Challah looks spectacular, you are the best on this.
Have a Happy Holidays and enjoy it with you family.
After I started to blog this year I learned about Challah and I'm very fascinated by this beautiful bread. I've never bought one before or had one that someone made. I think it's one of the beautiful bread and I was so happy to find it on your blog Roxana! Happy Holidays to you and your family. Your holiday dinner must be amazing…
This is beautiful! I am not Jewish but I really love Challah bread. Pretty much any Jewish foods I try I end up really enjoying.
Un pan delicioso y bello me encanta,su preparación luce perfecta,abrazos y feliz navidad.
Oh this challah is stunning. I have a lot to learn about other winter holidays myself and could use a refresher course.
We will chat soon in the new year!
Absolutely, positively picture perfect!
BEAUTIFUL!!! I love challah and your braiding is perfection!!!! I've never done the 6 strand braid, but now I want to try
Merry Christmas, my friend! xoxo
I love this.. I think I would struggle big time with I six string braid..
Absolutely stunning bread! I could eat the whole loaf!
Yummy Roxana! Have you ever tried to make it gluten free? I'm thinking of giving it a go.
Have a wonderful holiday my friend!
This sounds very similar to my recipe. I used to photograph my challah because it was so pretty, way before I actually entered the food industry. Yours is absolutely gorgeous…great job! Happy Holidays!
You did incredible job sweetie..Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!
Such a wonderful post honoring Hanukkah. This challah looks wonderful & you seem to be a pro all ready! Happy Holidays!
this bread looks AMAZING. this is bakery perfect roxana!!!
I got to try fresh made challah at a friend's house once, and loved it. I've never dared make my own, but I'll have to give this a try
Great job wished I saw this post before I bought it! What talent you have…I am your newest follower…. thank you and Happy holidays….. Claudia @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine
Wow your challah looks beyond gorgeous!! Challah is my absolute favorite bread. I wish I had a slice right now.
First time here..Glad I reached here..Following you right away…This looks delicious.…Totally yummy..Thanks for sharing it dear…Should try it soon…If you have time do check my blog too…
Aarthi
http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/
Gorgeous and stunning! hope you had a happy Hanukkah!
lovely !! Happy Hanukkah!!
wow – just found this. It's beautiful Roxan. That video makes it looks so easy too ! Got to try it !
Happy New Year
This does look lovely and delicious! I may just try it, to try and impress my family.
Challah looks so scrumptious thank-you so much for sharing. Just a question, I would love to bake bread at home as my family loves breads. But I never get the texture right. I don’t have any machine but only use my hands. I think I don’t knead the dough well enough.
I read your recipe and felt that I should attempt baking Challah. Then whilst reading the instructions you said that we have to knead the dough in a mixture. I am having second thoughts of not attempting this lovely recipe. Will wait for your response. Pls help me. Thanking you in advance.
Hi Norin,
Thanks for stopping by.
Indeed, the dough is formed in a stand-up mixing bowl and finished my hand.
Since you’re doing everything by hand I suggest using a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients at the beginning and when the dough starts to form to use your hands to finish kneading the dough.
I prefer to use the stand-up mixer since it’s a little faster.
Let me know if you give it a try and how it turns out
Have a wonderful rest of the week
Thank-you very much for your response. Greatly appreciated. I will definitely give it a go and let you know of the outcome. Have a great weekend. Thanks for sharing your recipes too. Keep blessed.
I make Challah bread on a regular basis, as its a family favorite and people order it from me all the time…I have to tell you that your youtube video on how to make a 6 braid loaf was the best one I’ve seen!!! You make it seem so simple!!! Thank YOU so much for that!!!
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