Challah Bread (6 Braid Tutorial)

published Sep 28, 2022

5 from 2 votes

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Challah is sweet, fluffy, and rich! It’s a simple bread recipe that gets its sweetness from honey. It’s typically braided to form a beautiful-looking loaf and is served for the Sabbath and other Jewish holidays.

There are so many different types of bread out there. It’s something I’ve gotten pretty into over the years, and I love to whip up a loaf of my own at home every now and again. If you’ve been following along, you probably remember my recipes for simit (Turkish sesame bread), garlic naan, barbari bread, and Armenia flatbread (lavash). So many countries along the Silk Road have their own particular bread recipes. There’s so much more out there than the white and wheat sandwich bread we’re all used to!

I’ve eaten challah on several different occasions: when friends have me over for Friday Sabbath dinners and at a Hannukah party or two. The first time I tried it I was blown away by its subtle sweetness and light and fluffy texture. I knew I had to try to recreate it myself — and now I want to share my findings with you.

This article also features a handy challah bread recipe braiding tutorial video. The braiding really makes this recipe stand out. You’ll be impressed at how professional-looking the final results will be!

INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Bread Flour – I definitely recommend that you use bread flour instead of all-purpose for this challah bread recipe.
Eggs – Challah is sometimes also referred to as “egg bread” as it features 2 full eggs and 4 egg yolks in the dough, as well as an egg wash.
Honey – This is where the signature sweetness of this bread comes from!
Yeast – Opt for instant yeast.
Water – Use warm water in the dough batter and cool water for the egg wash.
Salt – Most bread recipes call for a bit of salt to round out the other ingredients.
Vegetable Oil – The oil helps to enhance the texture and flavor of this challah bread recipe.
Sesame Seeds – To sprinkle on top!

HOW TO MAKE CHALLAH

Create The Dough. Mix the instant yeast with warm water (it should be 95°F in temperature) in a small bowl and allow to rest for 5-8 Minutes. Then, using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, place the bread flour and salt into the bowl. With the mixer on low, add the yeast mixture, honey, 2 whole eggs, 4 egg yolks, and vegetable oil. Mix the dough on medium-low — making sure to scrape the sides if needed — for 4-6 minutes.
Allow To Rise. Grease a medium-sized bowl. Remove the dough from the stand mixer bowl and shape it into a ball. Place it in the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Leave it somewhere warm for 1 hour.
Knead The Dough Again. Uncover your dough. Take the far side and pull it upward and toward yourself (staying inside the bowl) while pressing it down. Turn the bowl and repeat: pull and fold a total of 4 times. Flip the dough over so it lies seam-side down. Cover the bowl again and let it rest for 1 more hour.
Divide It Up. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Shape each one into a rough rectangle (mine usually look like a hot dog bun), cover, and then allow them to rest for 15 minutes.
Create 6 “Ropes.” Sprinkle a clean workspace with flour and roll out your dough to create six ropes. Start from the middle and work your way out in order to taper off the edges. They should be 18-inches long. If you find that the ropes shrink when rolling them, let them rest (covered) for 5 minutes to relax the gluten. Follow the braiding instructions below.
Apply The Egg Wash. Place your braided loaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Apply half of the egg wash all over and set the bread aside in a draft-free area to allow it to proof and rise.
Bake. Preheat your oven to 375°F and apply the remaining egg wash. Add the sesame seeds on top and place the loaf in the oven. Turn down the heat to 325°F and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until it turns a golden brown. Allow to cool before slicing and enjoy!

Braiding 6 Strand Challah (watch video for details)

Step 1: Lay out the 6 ropes and pinch them together firmly to join the strands together at one end. Separate the ropes into 3 sets of 2 so that you can braid them. Move 2 to the left, keep 2 in the center, and move 2 to the right.

Step 2: Going from left to right, move rope 4 up and over rope 3 in the center.

Step 3: Place rope 3 up and over ropes 5 and 5 to the right, and place ropes 5 and 6 to the center. Rope 3 should now be on the outside to the right.

Step 4: Move rope 4 under ropes 1 and 2 to the left and move ropes 1 and 2 to the center. Now, rope 4 should be on the outside to the left.

Step 5: Next, move the second set of two ropes in the center up and over the first set of two in the center.

Step 6: At this point, you should have one rope on the left, two sets of two in the center, and one rope on the right. Lift the single rope to the left over the set of two topes in the center, moving the left set of two ropes to the far left.

Step 7: Now, lift the right set of two ropes up and over the single rope to the right, pulling it down to the center and over the other single center rope.

Step 8: Continue in the same pattern until the entire loaf is braided. When you’re done, pinch all of the edges together and push them underneath the loaf.erdtyrfyubn

What Makes Challah Different From Bread?

Challah is often compared to brioche as both are slightly sweeter than traditional loaves. That said, in terms of sweet bread, the biggest difference between the two is that brioche is made with butter instead of oil.

What Does Challah Taste Like?

Again, this challah bread recipe is very similar to brioche. It’s sweet and fluffy, and the texture is almost spongey — thanks to all of those eggs.

How Do You Eat Challah Traditionally?

As mentioned, Challah is a Jewish bread that is typically enjoyed for the Sabbath and other major holidays. Sometimes it’s served with honey or jam as a sweet treat. You can also simply slice it and toast it as you would a normal loaf of bread!

I like to use this day old bread for a twist on a breakfast classic, too. Be on the lookout for my Challah French Toast recipe coming up!

Still Hungry?