Best Easy Challah Bread From Cooks Illustrated Recipes

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CHALLAH(COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)



Challah(Cook's Illustrated) image

We prefer to knead this dough in a standing mixer, but a food processor or your hands can do the job. If using a food processor, place the flour mixture in a processor fitted with the dough blade. Mix together the eggs, yolk, butter, and water in a large measuring cup and, with the processor running, add the egg mixture in a steady stream. Process until a ball of dough forms, about 1 minute. Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for an additional minute, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Alternatively, you can mix the dough by hand in a large bowl with a wooden spoon, until the dough comes together. Then transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until the dough forms a smooth ball. If the dough remains tacky, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time. This method will take longer than using a standing mixer, but you will get the same results.

Provided by Coppercloud

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 3h57m

Yield 1 loaf, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 -3 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting work surface (15-16 1/4 ounces)
1/4 cup sugar (1 3/4 ounces)
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (1 envelope)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water (about 110 degrees)
1 large egg white (for wash)
1 teaspoon poppy seeds (optional) or 1 teaspoon sesame (optional)

Steps:

  • Whisk together 3 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in medium bowl; set aside. Mix together 2 eggs, egg yolk, melted butter, and 1/2 cup of water in bowl of standing mixer fitted with dough hook. Add flour mixture to wet mixture; knead at low speed until dough ball forms, about 5 minutes, adding remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed to prevent dough from sticking. Whisk reserved egg white with remaining 1 tablespoon water in small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
  • 2. Transfer dough to very lightly oiled large bowl, turning dough over to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Gently press dough to deflate, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled in size again, 40 to 60 minutes.
  • 3. Lightly grease large baking sheet and set aside. Transfer dough to lightly floured work surface. Divide dough into 2 pieces, one roughly half size of other. (Small piece will weigh about 9 ounces, larger piece about 18 ounces.) Divide large piece into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 16-inch-long rope, about 1 inch in diameter. Line up ropes of dough side by side and pinch ends together. Take dough rope on bottom and lay it over center rope. Take dough rope on top and lay it over center rope. Repeat until ropes of dough are entirely braided, then pinch ends together. Place braid on baking sheet. Divide smaller piece of dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 16-inch-long rope, about 1/2 inch in diameter. Braid together, pinching ends to seal. Brush some of egg wash on top of large loaf and place small braid on larger braid. Loosely drape loaf with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until loaf becomes puffy and increases in size by a third, 30 to 45 minutes.
  • 4. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Brush loaf with remaining egg wash and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds, if using. Bake until loaf is golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted into side of loaf reads 190 degrees, 30 to 40 minutes. Place baking sheet on wire rack. Cool loaf completely before slicing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 368.3, Fat 10.8, SaturatedFat 5.8, Cholesterol 113.1, Sodium 522.4, Carbohydrate 56.9, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 8.6, Protein 10.3

EASY CHALLAH BREAD



Easy Challah Bread image

A six-ingredient, simple recipe for Challah bread.

Provided by copetenn

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes     Egg     Challah Recipes

Time 2h40m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (100 degrees F/40 degrees C)
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
3 beaten eggs
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
1 beaten egg yolk, or more if needed
1 tablespoon melted butter

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, stir the yeast into the water, and let the mixture stand until a creamy layer forms on top, about 10 minutes. Stir in honey and salt until dissolved, and add the beaten eggs. Mix in the flour, a cupful at a time, until the dough is sticky. Sprinkle the dough with flour, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
  • Form the dough into a compact round shape, and place in an oiled bowl. Turn the dough over several times in the bowl to oil the surface of the dough, cover the bowl with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Punch down the dough, and cut it into 3 equal-sized pieces. Working on a floured surface, roll the small dough pieces into ropes about the thickness of your thumb and about 12 inches long. Ropes should be fatter in the middle and thinner at the ends. Pinch 3 ropes together at the top and braid them. Starting with the strand to the right, move it to the left over the middle strand (that strand becomes the new middle strand.) Take the strand farthest to the left, and move it over the new middle strand. Continue braiding, alternating sides each time, until the loaf is braided, and pinch the ends together and fold them underneath for a neat look.
  • Place the braided loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and brush the top with beaten egg yolk. (For a softer crust, brush with melted butter instead.)
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Bake the challah in the preheated oven until the top browns to a rich golden color and the loaf sounds hollow when you tap it with a spoon, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 211 calories, Carbohydrate 37.3 g, Cholesterol 79.3 mg, Fat 3.5 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 7 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 264.6 mg, Sugar 3.7 g

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