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Julian's Challah

Servings 2 loaves

Equipment

  • Two baking sheets
  • Parchment paper

Ingredients

For challah

  • 1¾ cups lukewarm water
  • ½ cup honey, or a tablespoon or two more if you like sweeter challah
  • 1 heaping tablespoon instant yeast
  • ½ cup vegetable oil, plus more for greasing bowl
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 3 eggs plus two yolks
  • 8½ cups unbleached flour, plus more for kneading

For egg wash

  • 1 egg, gently beaten

Instructions

Prepare dough

  • In a large bowl, gently whisk together lukewarm water, honey, and yeast.
  • After combining, stir in oil and salt.
  • Whisk in eggs and yolks, one at a time.
  • Add flour incrementallly, stirring between additions, until you have a sticky dough.

Knead and first rising

  • Turn dough out onto a floured surface.
  • Knead well, adding flour as needed until the dough is mildly sticky, smooth, and elastic.
  • Place dough in greased bowl and cover with clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap.
  • Let rise in a warm place for one hour.

Punch down and second rising

  • Punch down the dough. Cover it back up. Let it rise for 30 minutes more.

Braid

  • Turn dough out onto a clean surface.
  • Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Use one portion now, to make the first loaf. Repeat braiding steps below for second loaf.
  • Braid, following the video or the written instructions below.
  • Divide dough into 6 equal portions. Form into balls and set aside, covered.
  • With your hands, roll each ball into a strand 12 inches long and 1 ½ inches wide.
  • Place the 6 strands in a row, parallel to each other.
  • Pinch the tops of the strands together.
  • Move outside right strand over 2 strands.
  • Move second strand from the left to far right.
  • Move outside left strand over 2 strands.
  • Move second strand from right over to far left.
  • Start over with outside right strand.
  • Continue until all strands are braided.
  • Tuck ends underneath.
  • Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and place one braided loaf on each baking sheet.

Brush and third rising

  • Brush each loaf with ¼ of the egg wash.
  • Let rise in a warm place for one more hour.

Bake

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
  • Place loaves in oven and bake.
  • After about 15 minutes, take loaves out, brush each with ½ or remaining egg wash, and return laoves to oven.
  • Bake until the loaves are golden brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.