Thousands of women swear by this challah recipe and make it for Shabbat every week. It’s just the right amount of sweetness, a soft and doughy consistency, with a rich flavor. The dough rises well and is easy to work with, not too sticky to braid. The recipe is very versatile and you can easily adapt it to your own taste and it will still come out great. Yields 6 medium challahs For more great ideas with Esty, watch Easy Does It!

Directions

Prepare the Challah

Instructions on making this recipe with a Bosch follow

1. Combine dry yeast, warm water and two tablespoons sugar in a glass bowl and set aside to proof 10 minutes.

2. In a very large bowl, combine almost all of the flour with remaining sugar and salt. Add the eggs, honey and oil. Mix well.

3. Once the yeast is proofed, add to the flour mixture and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. Transfer dough to working surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed.

4. Return the dough to the large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Set aside to rise for an hour and a half in a warm, draft-free spot.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Uncover the dough and “take challah” (read more on hafrashat challah here) then portion and braid your challahs. Allow to rise 10 minutes then egg wash, sprinkle toppings and bake about 45 minutes. Allow to cool completely before storing.

Tips: Use leftover challah dough – or set some aside – to make cinnamon buns!

Notes: Allow to cool completely before storing. Subscribe to our email list for more great recipes, straight to your inbox! <Click Here to get our newsletter!>

Bosch Instructions

1. In the plastic bowl of your Bosch mixer, add the warm water, yeast, and two tablespoons sugar. Allow to proof, then add remaining sugar, eggs, oil and honey. Mix.

2. Add half of the flour and the salt and mix on speed 1 until combined. Add more flour, place the lid on top and mix on speed 2 until the sides of the bowl are clean. If the dough is too wet, add a bit more flour.

3. Turn off the mixer and allow to rest for 3 full minutes. Turn the mixer on again to speed 2 and allow to knead for 3 full minutes.

4. Remove the dough to a large bowl, cover and rise. Proceed with baking directions as above.

Credits

Photography and Styling by Esty Wolbe

Recipe tags

Basic Challah Challah dough Cooking with Tantrums Cookingwithtantrums Easy does it Esty Wolbe Jewish cuisine Jewish food Shabbos Traditional Traditional Jewish food Yeast Yeast dough

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Ruthie

2 months ago

really just the best challah eveeeeer!!!!!!!!!😓🫢😯😑😑🤭😫🥺😍😊😂🤣🤣😍😙☺️🥹🙂🤓🤓😒🤩🤩🥰😅😀😁🥲🙂🙂😍😍😙🥹😃😄😇🙂🥰😋🤨🤨😎😞😔

Miriam Escovitz

2 months ago

How would this recipe be made in a bread machine?

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Raquel Admin

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Reply to Miriam Escovitz

2 months ago

My bread machine only holds 5 cups, I haven’t seen one that can hold more but if you have one that can handle 5-lbs you could make it. I always like to start off with liquids then add sugars and then flour and year is last on top. If you’re looking for a great bread machine recipe I made this one weekly and it’s a favorite! https://www.kosher.com/recipe/the-best-bread-machine-challah-14689

miriam Pluthok

3 months ago

i love this challah . by the way I was so excited that you teach how make challah . i never made challah right . until you really taught me how. thank you so much

Sara Hes

3 months ago

How can I make this less sweet? Should I skip all the honey? Didnt try making it yet but scared it will be so sweet.

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SANDY LINN

7 months ago

Chaya Rosenberg

7 months ago

I would love a change & that’s why I am asking so many questions. I want to get it right! I let my dough rise on a plastic tablecloth on my granite counter, but I put a tablecloth under it so it will stay warmish. Is it better to rise in a bowl?

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Goldy Admin

Admin

Reply to Chaya Rosenberg

7 months ago

That’s fine if that works for you! You can try a bowl once and see if it makes any difference!

Chaya Rosenberg

7 months ago

I use 6 lb flour bags. Please tweak the ingredients for that amount of flour for me. I use a Bosch. I NEVER used the Bosch plastic bowl! I’ve been using the metal bowl for years not knowing that plastic is better! I use fresh yeast. Is dry yeast better?

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Goldy Admin

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Reply to Chaya Rosenberg

7 months ago

This recipe is not for 6 lb, if you specifically use 6 lb of flour, this recipe probably is not for you.

Chava

7 months ago

Thank You once again for this recipe and for doing a show!!!!! 6 braid looks easy here…

QUESTION:
Can I use White SPELT flour???
How much FRESH yeast should I use??

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Goldy Admin

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Reply to Chava

7 months ago

You can try this recipe with spelt flour, but it might change the texture…

Chava

Reply to Chava

7 months ago

what about fresh yeast????

7 months ago

2,I also put them into a cold oven, but add a pan with boiling water onto the floor of the oven. I put the oven onto 200 F for 15 min, so the challah is in a warm steamy environment so it can rise a bit more. Then I crank up the heat and bake

7 months ago

This is very similar to the recipe I use. There are a couple of things I do to get my challos super fluffy. 1. After braiding them I cover the challos with a disposable plastic tablecloth (so they should not dry out) and allow them to rise for a full hour