Challah Bread

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2-2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour or 2 1/2-2 3/4 cups bread flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast or 2 1/2 teaspoons quick active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• vegetable oil
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• poppy seed

Recipe

• 1 mix 1 1/4 cups of the flour, the yeast, sugar, and salt in large bowl.
• 2 heat water and 1 tablespoon oil until very warm (120 to 130).
• 3 add water mixture to flour mixture.
• 4 beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently.
• 5 beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently.
• 6 beat in 1 egg until smooth.
• 7 stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
• 8 turn dough onto lightly floured surface.
• 9 knead about 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
• 10 place in greased bowl and turn greased side up.
• 11 cover and let rise in warm place 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until double.
• 12 dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
• 13 lightly grease cookie sheet with shortening.
• 14 punch down dough and divide into 3 equal parts.
• 15 roll each part into a rope, 14 inches long.
• 16 place ropes close together on cookie sheet.
• 17 braid ropes gently and loosely--do not stretch.
• 18 fasten ends and tuck ends under braid securely.
• 19 brush with oil.
• 20 cover and let rise in warm place 40 to 50 minutes or until double.
• 21 heat oven to 375.
• 22 mix egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water and brush over braid. sprinkle with poppy seed.
• 23 bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• 24 check bread at 15 minutes and tent with aluminum foil if it seems to be browning too quickly.
• 25 remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool.