Challah

Equipment Needed:

• Dough Mixer
• Pizza Peel
• Pizza Stone
• Pastry brush

I use 2 Pizza Stones for this recipe because both loaves won’t fit on one stone. You can also use one stone and bake one loaf while other loaf rises a little more.

Directions:

• Place the water in a medium bowl and warm to 80°F add 1 teaspoon of the sugar and whisk it. While still whisking, add the yeast.
• Let sit for 10 minutes. It should be foamy. If not, the yeast was old or dead, or the water was too hot. In either case, you’ll need to start over with fresh water, sugar and yeast.
• Place butter in a large glass bowl and microwave until just melted (not hot).
• Add milk, sugar, salt and honey. Whisk until dissolved. Warm in microwave for a few seconds if necessary to keep mixture warm enough so butter stays liquid.
• Whisk in the yeast/water mixture and the eggs.
• Pour into the dough mixer and set on low and add the flour.
• Once it combines increase speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough can be windowpaned (usually about 10 minutes)
• Dump the dough into a 6+ quart plastic tub with a lid and leave it at room temperature ovenight.
• Stretch dough out into an elongated blob and fold in half. Rotate 90° and repeat until you have done this 4 times.
• Let it rise until dough has doubled again and repeat the above step

Two hours before baking:

• Put the pizza stone(s) in the oven(s) and preheat to 350°F (325°F in a convection oven)
• Dump dough out on to a lightly floured surface stretching into an elongated shape.
• Cut in half length-wise. Cut each half in thirds length-wise
• Stretch each piece into a rope about 16 inches long; it should be a little thicker in the center and tapered at the ends.
• Align the ropes vertically, side by side, and start braiding, twisting the left and middle, then the right and middle. Repeat until you reach the other end.
• Pinch the three strands on then end together to seal the end and tuck under the loaf. Do the same thing on the other end of the loaf.
• Liberally sprinkle cornmeal on a Pizza Peel (paddle) and place the braided dough on it.
• Do the same with the other three pieces of dough.
• Cover with a warm, damp towel and let rise at room temperature for about two hours, or until soft, puffy, and almost doubled.

The Glaze & Topping

Whisk these together in a small bowl :

• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon cold water

Baking :

• Glaze the dough with the beaten egg mixture, then sprinkle with kosher salt, and the sesame or poppy seeds if you’re using them.
• Slide the dough from the peel onto the preheated baking stone(s) in the oven.
• Bake for 20 minutes. The loaves will expand and expose some of the inner, uncooked, unglazed dough.
• Brush the newly exposed dough with the reserved glaze
• Sprinkle with new area with seeds if you’re using them.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when thumped on the bottom, with an internal temperature of 195°F-200°F