Challah

Ingredients

  • 17 Grams Active dry yeast
  • 250 Grams Bottled water (Evian, Poland Springs, etc.)
  • 75 Grams Sugar
  • 1 Stick (4 ounces or 113 grams) Unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 250 Grams Whole milk
  • 1 Tablespoon Mild honey
  • 22 Grams Kosher Salt
  • 4 Large Eggs
  • 1 kg High-gluten flour, bread flour
  • Optional Sesame or poppy seeds
  • Corn Meal
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon cold water

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 5 quart plastic tub with a lid and leave it somewhere warm (about 80°F) for about an hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
  • 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
  • An hour before baking:
  • Put the pizza stone(s) in the oven(s) and preheat to 365°F (330°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 an hour, or until soft, puffy, and almost doubled.
  • 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 the seeds (optional)
  • Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when thumped on the bottom.