Double Braid Challah Bread With Sesame Seeds Recipes

DOUBLE-BRAID CHALLAH BREAD WITH SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except milk and sesame seeds in a large bowl. The dough will be quite sticky at this point.
• Turn out onto a liberally floured board and have additional flour close at hand. Knead, adding flour as it is absorbed, until the dough is no longer sticky and is smooth and elastic, 5-10 minutes.
• Oil a large bowl and place dough inside, turning to coat dough on all sides. Allow to rise 1-2 hours, or until at least doubled in size.
• Divide dough into three sections. Take a third of each of the original three sections and reserve (there will be two braids; a large one for the bottom, and a smaller one for the top).
• Grease a cookie sheet.
• Roll and stretch the three larger sections of dough into ropes a little shorter than the sheet. Cross the tops of the ropes over one another and braid. Tuck braid ends under.
• Repeat step 6 will smaller dough sections, except braid the ropes on top of the first, larger braid.
• Grease double-braid liberally and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise 1-2 hours, or until at least doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a small bowl, combine milk and sesame seeds. Uncover double-braid. Use a pastry brush to brush mixture, or your hands to rub mixture, over double-braid.
• Bake bread 20-30 minutes, or until deep golden brown.