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Recipe by Chumi Borenstein

Perfect Whole-Wheat Challah

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Parve Parve
Easy Easy
8 Servings
Allergens
4 Hours, 30 Minutes
Diets

This is the perfect whole-wheat challah recipe that’s not too healthy, neither heavy nor grainy, and most importantly – FREEZABLE, duh! (I adapted my regular amazing challah recipe to create this perfect one!) If you have any questions about the recipe, please comment! My kids loved it, which is a score in my books because it’s brown. I really hope you enjoy it too.   Watch Chumi and Naomi make this delicious challah here!   Yield: 4 challahs

Ingredients

Dough

  • 4 eggs

  • 20 fluid ounces warm water

  • 1/2 cup oil

For Egg Wash

  • 1 egg

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • topping/s of choice

Directions

Prepare the Whole-Wheat Challah

1.

Put all the dough ingredients in a bowl.

2.

Knead well. You may need to add up to one cup of additional flour to get a smooth, non-sticky dough. Cover and rise for three to five hours (in a warm area, or overnight in the fridge).

3.

Shape and cover to rise for another 30–60 minutes.

4.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

5.

In a cup beat the egg and water. Brush over the challah and sprinkle with your choice of toppings. (I use everything spice from Trader Joe’s). Bake for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Notes:

I like my challah to be on the sweeter side especially if it’s whole-wheat. But feel free to halve the amount of honey if it’s too sweet for you.
Perfect Whole-Wheat Challah

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Tziporah Brieger
Tziporah Brieger
1 year ago

how many cups/kilo how many cups/kilo would this be? i live in israel
thanks

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Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  Tziporah Brieger
1 year ago

3lb of flour is about 1.36 kilo.

En}o}wah
En}o}wah
Reply to  Raquel
1 year ago

There are 7 – 8 cups in a kilo. Open a bag and measure it. That is what I do.

En}o}wah
En}o}wah
Reply to  En}o}wah
1 year ago

I also live in Israel. I buy the pre-sifted flour and I think it varies a bit because it is already sifted. I forgot to mention this.

caroline
caroline
3 years ago

instant yeast? can I use avocado oil?
and what is instant yeast I went to my store they didn’t have… they had quick rise is that the same?

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Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  caroline
3 years ago

Yes, you can use avocado oil and you can use quick rise or active dry yeast instead of instant yeast- they are all very similar.

M S
M S
4 years ago

Flour Can I use spelt flour for this recipe?

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Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  M S
4 years ago

Hi, I am not sure, I’ve never tried it. I would recommend trying one of our spelt challah recipes though https://www.kosher.com/search/recipes?k=spelt%20challah&nd=on

M S
M S
4 years ago

Salt Can I use fine sea salt instead of kosher salt?

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Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  M S
4 years ago

yes

Fay Friedman
Fay Friedman
4 years ago

Perfect whole wheat challah Can you use white whole wheat challah flour for this recipe and if I want to use 5 lbs of flour what would be the amounts

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Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  Fay Friedman
4 years ago

Yes. If you want to make 5lbs, I would recommend making 2 batches of this challah (that would be 6 lbs) but it’s the safest way. Many times if you play around with the measurements of doughs the challah won’t turn out as good.

aviva
aviva
4 years ago

Chumi’s Challah Can you use regular whole wheat flour (not ultra fine?) Don’t know if my store carries Shibolim.
Can you do hafrasha with this amount?

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Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  aviva
4 years ago

If you can’t find extra fine, I would recommend using whole wheat pastry flour (almost all supermarkets carry this) and it is similar to extra fine. Ask you Rav.

Janine Orenstein
Janine Orenstein
4 years ago

Perfect Whole-Wheat Challah how can I make this in a bread machine?

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Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  Janine Orenstein
4 years ago

I’ve never tried this recipe in a bread machine, however, I am assuming it would be the same. I would recommend putting all the wet ingredients first and then the dry ingredients on top and putting your machine on the dough kneading cycle.

Schwartz Renee
2 years ago

This was tasty, if less sweet than the usual challah (but I’m not complaining!). It came out very nice, and to the previous reviewer’s comment about the dough rising, I found that it took longer than I was expecting, but the dough did rise for me.

Leah
Leah
3 years ago

Can you use spelt for this challah?

Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  Leah
3 years ago

Hi, I have never tried it with this recipe. We do have challah recipes that specifically call for spelt https://www.kosher.com/search/recipes?k=spelt%20challah&nd=on

Nechama R
Nechama R
3 years ago

Delicious but… Taste is great but it didn’t rise nicely. Was much more dense than shown.

Gittel
Gittel
2024 years ago

Excellent recipe Very easy and comes out perfect every time

Elisheva Weil
Elisheva Weil
4 years ago

yumm Firt of all, i am so happy that finally a bracha was made on kosher.com!!! it is so lovely to see Jewish women in the kitchen and make brachos! also i made it with mishpacha white whole wheat flour and it was yummm!

Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  Elisheva Weil
4 years ago

We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed this!

ricky liber
ricky liber
2024 years ago

100% Whole Wheat verses Blended Flour I am not usually one to write reviews but I feel like I had to post this for all of you who wish to make this recipe.
The recipe calls for “3 pounds Shibolim Extra Fine Whole Wheat Flour”. HOWEVER…. in the video she uses “BLENDED” flour. There is very big difference between the two. I bought as per the ingredient list above, the 100% Extra Fine WW Flour. My dough was very dense (hard to knead) and pretty dark brown, unlike the dough shown in the video.
My challah B”H came out delicious and beautiful but it is much darker and denser than shown. For those with “picky eaters” stick with the Blended Flour if you want a whiter color challah.
I also suggest reducing the 100% WW Flour by at least 1 cup, in order to lighten the dough.
Thanks!!

Raquel
Raquel
Reply to  ricky liber
4 years ago

Thank you for pointing this out! We will change the recipe so that the correct flour is mentioned.