Description
I made up my own Challah that is amazing! I have tried countless combinations to finally get it right. It uses quick rise yeast to save you a bunch of time. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 4 (.25 ounce) packages quick-rise yeast
- 4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 2 tablespoons salt
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 1 cup pareve margarine, melted
- 4 eggs
- 12 cups bread flour, or as needed
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sesame seeds, divided
Instructions
- Sprinkle yeast over water in a large bowl and stir gently to moisten yeast. Stir in salt
- sugar
- margarine
- and 4 eggs; beat well. Gradually mix in flour
- 1 cup at a time
- up to 12 cups
- until dough becomes slightly tacky but not wet. Turn dough out onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic
- 8 to 10 minutes.
- Grease baking sheets
- or line them with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cut dough into four equal-sized pieces (or 2 pieces to make 2 large loaves). Cut each piece into thirds for 3-strand braided loaves. Working on a floured surface
- roll small dough pieces into ropes about the thickness of your thumb and about 12 inches long. Ropes should be fatter in the middle and thinner at the ends. Pinch 3 ropes together at the top and braid them. Starting with the strand to the right
- move it to the left over the middle strand (that strand becomes the new middle strand.) Take the strand farthest to the left
- and move it over the new middle strand. Continue braiding
- alternating sides each time
- until loaf is braided; pinch ends together and fold them underneath for a neat look. Repeat for remaining loaves.
- Place loaves onto the prepared baking sheets; let rise until double in size
- 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk 1 egg with vanilla extract in a small bowl; brush loaves with egg wash. Sprinkle each loaf with about 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds.
- Bake in the preheated oven until tops are shiny and golden brown
- about 30 minutes. Let cool before slicing.
Prep Time: 40 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins
Servings: 32