Real Heimish Challah

Updated at: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:19:27 GMT

Step 1

Pour 1 glass of lukewarm water into separate bowl. Break apart yeast & crumble into water. Sprinkle in a teaspoon sugar to activate. Stir together lightly to incorporate. (need at least 6-10 minutes to activate)

Step 2

Sift flour.

Step 3

Add eggs, salt and oil to mixing bowl. Add 2 cups lukewarm water and 6 cups of flour. Mix on 1 for 2 minutes. Make sure lid is covered.

Step 4

Add 1 cup lukewarm water and 4 cups of flour. Mix another 2 minutes on 1.

Step 5

Add 1 cup lukewarm water, rest of flour, sugar and yeast. Mix minimum 5-7 minutes.

Step 6

Dough should mix a total of 10-12 minutes. Transfer right away to large mixing bowl. (You can turn over the bowl and let the dough fall out on its own into the large bowl)

Step 7

Cover bowl with towel. Let dough rise 45 minutes. Punch down for a minute and knead slightly.

Step 8

Cover bowl again. Let dough rise another 30 minutes. Do not punch it down.

Step 9

Take Challah. להפריש תרומת חלה מן העיסה

Step 10

Spray 10" medium challah pans with baking spray.

Step 11

Flour surface and turn bowl onto it.

Step 12

Cut dough into 8 parts. Cut each ball into 6. Roll out strands. Braid challahs.

Step 13

Let rise in pan around 30 minutes, covered. Brush challahs with eggs mixed with a bit of water. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or any desired challah toppings.

Step 14

Place pans into cold oven, not preheated. Set to 425. 20 minutes later, turn down to 350. 15 minutes later, remove challah from pans and return to oven. Bake another 10 minutes.

Step 15

Wait 2-3 hours before freezing.

Step 16

Note: I gave instructions above for 8 medium size challah loaves. To make small round challahs: Take one of the 8 balls and divide it into 3 parts. Cut each ball into 4. Roll out strands and braid. To make mini round challahs: Divide one of the 8 balls into 9 parts. Roll out strands and form a knot with each strand to form a mini challah. In summary when dividing dough into 8- 1 ball will form either- 1 medium loaf/ 3 small round challahs/ 9 mini round challahs

Step 17

Note about Electric Convection Oven: I recently switched from a gas oven to an electric convection and it took some figuring out to get it right. I now bake it at 25 degrees lower (400 instead of 425 and 325 instead of 350) and when I turn it down to 325, I switch the pans on the upper rack with the pans on the lower rack.

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