Our Favorite Challah (5 lb)

DifficultyAdvanced

We love Fleishman’s Instant Yeast for its ease of use and convenience, no need to activate—simply add to the flour.

[cooked-sharing]
Yields1 Serving
Prep Time1 hr 45 minsCook Time1 hrTotal Time2 hrs 45 mins
 5 lbs hi gluten flour, bakery flour or bread flour
 3 heaping tbsp instant yeast
 ¾ cup sugar
 5 cups hot tap water
 4 large eggs
 ¾ cup canola oil
 3 tbsp kosher salt
 2 eggs, beaten
 sesame seeds or poppy seeds
1

Sift the flour into your mixer bowl. Add the instant yeast and sugar. Stir to combine. Add eggs and oil. Add the water and add the salt last. Mix at medium speed for 10 to 12 Minutes.

2

Remove dough from the mixer bowl and allow to proof (rise) in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap for 45 Minutes. Take “challah.”

3

Divide dough into 5 equal parts. To be really precise, you can weigh each piece on a scale and check that they are equal.

4

Using one of the 5 pieces, divide it into 6 equal pieces. Knead each piece lightly and roll into a strand approximately 6 inches long. Place all 6 strands on Silpat or lightly floured counter top. Pinch all the strands together at the top. Use our easy to follow braiding method to braid six strands.

5

Divide dough into 5 equal parts. Working with one part, divide it into 6 equal pieces, rolling out each into an 8-10 inch strand. Place two strands 2 inches apart, side by side horizontally across your work surface. Place the second two strands lengthwise over the first two, approximately 2 inches apart.

6

Next, place the fifth strand in the width, over all the previously placed pieces, centered between strands 1 and 2. Place the last strand vertically on top of and perpendicular to the fifth, centered between the third and fourth strands. It should look like a plus sign lying on top of a tic-tac-toe grid.

7

Starting with any corner, lift 3 strands without stretching the dough, and braid 3-4 times until you reach the end of the strands. For example: braid strands 5, 1, and 3 in the upper left corner. Move to the next closest three strands and braid once again. Repeat with the next three strands and again with the remaining three strands. Tuck the ends of each braid underneath the challah.

8

Grease and flour a 3" deep by 7"round baking pan. Place challah in the pan and repeat braiding instructions for each of the remaining 4 pieces of dough.

9

Allow to rise 30 Minutes and brush lightly with egg wash. Sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds to your taste. Turn on your oven to 450 degrees F and immediately place the challahs inside. During the time that it takes the oven to warm the challah will continue to rise. After 15 Minutes, lower temperature to 350 degrees F and bake 45 Minutes Longer.

10

If you are baking in advance always store your challahs in an airtight bag before freezing. We like 2 gallon zipper bags or freezer bags. Shopping bags, even doubled, will not prevent freezer burn or odors from being absorbed by the challah. To reheat frozen challah heat the oven to 350 degrees F, turn off the oven and place the challahs inside. They'll defrost and warm in about 30 Minutes without drying out. Storing the challah in paper bags on Shabbos will keep the crusts crispy until the last piece is eaten.

Category,

Ingredients

 5 lbs hi gluten flour, bakery flour or bread flour
 3 heaping tbsp instant yeast
 ¾ cup sugar
 5 cups hot tap water
 4 large eggs
 ¾ cup canola oil
 3 tbsp kosher salt
 2 eggs, beaten
 sesame seeds or poppy seeds

Directions

1

Sift the flour into your mixer bowl. Add the instant yeast and sugar. Stir to combine. Add eggs and oil. Add the water and add the salt last. Mix at medium speed for 10 to 12 Minutes.

2

Remove dough from the mixer bowl and allow to proof (rise) in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap for 45 Minutes. Take “challah.”

3

Divide dough into 5 equal parts. To be really precise, you can weigh each piece on a scale and check that they are equal.

4

Using one of the 5 pieces, divide it into 6 equal pieces. Knead each piece lightly and roll into a strand approximately 6 inches long. Place all 6 strands on Silpat or lightly floured counter top. Pinch all the strands together at the top. Use our easy to follow braiding method to braid six strands.

5

Divide dough into 5 equal parts. Working with one part, divide it into 6 equal pieces, rolling out each into an 8-10 inch strand. Place two strands 2 inches apart, side by side horizontally across your work surface. Place the second two strands lengthwise over the first two, approximately 2 inches apart.

6

Next, place the fifth strand in the width, over all the previously placed pieces, centered between strands 1 and 2. Place the last strand vertically on top of and perpendicular to the fifth, centered between the third and fourth strands. It should look like a plus sign lying on top of a tic-tac-toe grid.

7

Starting with any corner, lift 3 strands without stretching the dough, and braid 3-4 times until you reach the end of the strands. For example: braid strands 5, 1, and 3 in the upper left corner. Move to the next closest three strands and braid once again. Repeat with the next three strands and again with the remaining three strands. Tuck the ends of each braid underneath the challah.

8

Grease and flour a 3" deep by 7"round baking pan. Place challah in the pan and repeat braiding instructions for each of the remaining 4 pieces of dough.

9

Allow to rise 30 Minutes and brush lightly with egg wash. Sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds to your taste. Turn on your oven to 450 degrees F and immediately place the challahs inside. During the time that it takes the oven to warm the challah will continue to rise. After 15 Minutes, lower temperature to 350 degrees F and bake 45 Minutes Longer.

10

If you are baking in advance always store your challahs in an airtight bag before freezing. We like 2 gallon zipper bags or freezer bags. Shopping bags, even doubled, will not prevent freezer burn or odors from being absorbed by the challah. To reheat frozen challah heat the oven to 350 degrees F, turn off the oven and place the challahs inside. They'll defrost and warm in about 30 Minutes without drying out. Storing the challah in paper bags on Shabbos will keep the crusts crispy until the last piece is eaten.

Our Favorite Challah (5 lb)

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