Best Challah Bread Recipe: How to Make Challah Bread for Hanukkah by 30Seconds Food

Challah bread is typically a Jewish holiday bread. The braided bread is made with eggs and is surrounded by much tradition, symbolism and folklore. This easy challah bread recipe is not too difficult to make at home.

To make this homemade challah bread for Hanukkah or for any day, you will need active dry yeast, granulated sugar, olive oil, eggs, salt, flour and sesame seeds. The low-sodium dough does require some rising time, but bakes up in about 40 minutes.

Serve this challah bread with dinner or slice it and make sandwiches or cube it and make bread pudding. Delicious! It's also a fun family activity.

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Cuisine: Jewish
Prep Time: 4 1/2 hours
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours and 10 minutes approximately 
Servings: 20 (makes 2 loaves)

Ingredients 

Bread

• 5 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 3/4 cups warm water
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 5 eggs
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 8 1/2 cups flour (approximately)
• sesame seeds (optional)

Egg Wash

• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water

Helpful Products

• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Whisk
• Rubber Spatula
• Mixing Bowl
• Stand Mixer
• Airtight Containers
• Baking Liners
• Basting Brush
• Kitchen Towels

Recipe Notes

• Here's a video on how to braid challah bread.

• Store the bread in an airtight container.

Here's how to make it: 

1. Put the yeast into a stand mixer bowl with the warm water. Set aside for 5 minutes. After it gets foamy, add the oil, sugar and salt. Mix well. Add the eggs. 
2. Start adding the flour 1 cup at a time until a dough forms. The dough should be a little sticky. 
3. Flour the dough and remove to a floured work surface. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Put the dough into an oiled bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Let it rise for 1 1/2 hours or until it has doubled in size. Punch the dough down and let it rise again for about 1 hour. 
4. Put the dough back onto a floured surface. Cut it into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 12 inches long. Using six pieces of the dough for each loaf, braid the bread and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining six ropes. 
5. Cover the braided loaves and allow them to rise again for about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size. 
6. Brush the loaves with the egg wash. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using. Bake in a preheated 375-degree F oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden. Makes two loaves.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 282

Total Fat: 6.9g

Saturated Fat: 1.2g

Cholesterol: 47mg

Sodium: 19mg

Total Carbohydrate: 47.7g

Dietary Fiber: 1.6g

Total Sugars: 6.9g

Protein: 7.4g

Vitamin D: 4mcg

Calcium: 15mg

Iron: 3mg

Potassium: 94mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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