Challah

Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 7/8 cup warm water
• 2/3 cup honey (local honey is best)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter or 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 whole eggs
• 4 -4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
• 1 egg yolk

Recipe

• 1 put the 1st 5 ingredients in the bread machine.
• 2 layer on 4 cups of the flour.
• 3 add the yeast on top.
• 4 start the bread machine on the dough only setting.
• 5 after the machine starts to mix the dough, check the dough to see if it is sticky; if so sprinkle on additional flour (up to 1/2 cup).
• 6 when the dough cycle is over, divide the dough into two equal parts; divide each 1/2 into three equal parts; roll the thirds out and then braid; repeat with the other 1/2.
• 7 place your braided loaves on a greased backing sheet and allow to rise for 45 minutes in a warm, draft free place (your oven works well).
• 8 remove the risen loaves from the oven.
• 9 preheat the oven to 325 degrees f.
• 10 mix the egg yolk with a few drops of water and glaze the loaves; if you want you can add sesame or poppy seeds to the top of the bread.
• 11 return the loaves to the oven and bake for 25 minutes; the loaves will be golden brown.
• 12 remove the loaves from the oven and cool on a wire rack before serving.
• 13 you may also divide the dough into halves and form into loaves to bake in a traditional loaf pan; you can also choose to glaze or not; same cooking time; remove from loaf pans before cooling.