Challah Bread (bread Machine)

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1 pinch saffron thread
• 1 tablespoon water, boiling
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2/3 cup hot water (100f-105f)
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 1 egg, beaten for brushing over

Recipe

• 1 in a small bowl, soak the saffron threads in the 1 tablespoon of boiling water for 10 minutes.
• 2 in the meantime, place the beaten eggs, honey, hot water and melted butter in a bowl. mix well.
• 3 add the saffron threads with the soaking water, stir and pour the mixture into the baking pan of your bread machine.
• 4 mix the salt into the flour and add to the baking pan and spoon the yeast on top.
• 5 set the program to 'dough.'.
• 6 when the dough is ready (mine takes 90 minutes), transfer it to a lightly floured surface and knead it for 2-3 minutes. (the dough will feel quite soft and silky.).
• 7 shape the dough into 3 equal-sized pieces, then roll each piece into a sausage shape measuring approximately 12 inches in length.
• 8 pinch the top end of each length of dough together, then weave the pieces into a braid/plait.
• 9 pinch the bottom ends together, then tuck both ends under the dough to form a neatly braided loaf.
• 10 place the dough on a greased baking sheet, brush with oil, cover with plastic wrap/cling film and leave it to rise/prove in a warm place.
• 11 preheat the oven 220c/425°f.
• 12 when the dough has nearly doubled in size, remove the plastic wrap and lightly brush the top of the loaf with the beaten egg.
• 13 bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• 14 transfer the loaf to a wire rack and leave it to cool before serving.