Six Braid Challah Recipes

SIX BRAID CHALLAH

Steps:

• Recipe makes 2 loafs.
• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon (13 grams) sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.
• Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading, but be careful if using a standard size KitchenAid-it's a bit much for it, though it can be done.).
• Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out bowl and grease it, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Dough may also rise in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees then turned off. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.
• At this point, you can knead the raisins into the challah, if you're using them, before forming the loaves. If you've never braided a challah before, you may benefit from watching a video on youtube or facebook or whatever.
• To make a 6-braid challah, either straight or circular, take half the dough and form it into 6 balls.
• With your hands, roll each ball into a strand about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide.
• Place the 6 in a row, parallel to one another.
• Pinch the tops of the strands together.
• Move the outside right strand over 2 strands.
• Then take the second strand from the left and move it to the far right.
• Take the outside left strand and move it over 2.
• Move second strand from the right over to the far left.
• Start over with the outside right strand.
• Continue this until all strands are braided. For a straight loaf, tuck ends underneath.
• For a circular loaf, twist into a circle, pinching ends together. Make a second loaf the same way.
• Place braided loaves on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches in between.
• Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour.
• If baking immediately, preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush loaves again. Sprinkle bread with seeds, if using. If freezing, remove from freezer 5 hours before baking.
• Bake in middle of oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden. (If you have an instant read thermometer, you can take it out when it hits an internal temperature of 190 degrees.) Cool loaves on a rack.
• Note: Any of the three risings can be done in the fridge for a few hours, for more deeply-developed flavor. When you're ready to work with it again, bring it back to room temperature before moving onto the next step.
• Round or straight braid? Raisins or skip them? Straight loaves of braided challah are eaten throughout the year-typically on the Sabbath-round challahs, often studded with raisins, are served for the New Year and the other High Holidays that follow.

BRAIDED ROUND CHALLAH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. In a large bowl, combine honey, butter, eggs, salt, yeast mixture and 2 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into thirds. Roll each portion into an 18-in. rope. Place ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid. Starting at 1 end of braid, loosely wrap dough around itself to form a coil. Tuck ends under; pinch to seal. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°., For egg wash, whisk egg with water; brush over loaf. Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.