Classic challah is almost as sacred as Shabbat itself, and we know how gratifying and delicious it is to prepare homemade challah at home. If you have always feared this task, we promise: it is easier than you think.
Watch below for step-by-step directions on how to make Claudia Roden’s classic challah recipe. And don’t forget to check out our video for mastering a 3-braid, 6-braid or even round braided challah.
Note: This recipe can easily be doubled to make four loaves instead of two.
Classic Challah
Knowing how to make the perfect challah is a life skill.
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 loaves
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ cups lukewarm water
- 1 Tbs dry yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten, plus 1 whole egg for glazing
- ½ Tbs salt
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- poppy or sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Dissolve the yeast in the water with 1 tsp of the sugar. Beat well and leave 10 minutes, until it froths.
- In a very large bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Then add the salt, sugar and oil and beat again. Add the frothy yeast mixture and beat well. Now add the flour gradually, and just enough to make a soft dough that holds together, mixing well, first with a large spoon, then working it in with your hands.
- Knead vigorously for about 15 minutes, until it is very smooth and elastic, adding flour if the dough is too sticky.
- Pour a little oil in the bowl and turn the dough, so that it is greased all over.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and put it in a warm place to rise for 2‑3 hours, or until it has doubled in bulk. Punch the dough down and knead again, then divide into 2 pieces to make 2 loaves.
- Braid challah into desired shape and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, leaving plenty of room for them to expand. Allow them to rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.
- Now brush gently with the beaten egg, or if you want to sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds, brush first with the whole beaten egg.(The seeds stick better if the white is there too.)
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until the loaves are beautifully golden-brown. They are done if they sound hollow when you tap the bottoms.
Notes
This recipe can easily be doubled to make 4 loaves instead of 2.
- Prep Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Shabbat
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This Challah is probably what my Grandma Sophie made when she was the wife of Grandpa Harry Rothschild who was the Rabbi in Jersey City NJ back in 1930s and 1940s.
I am not an expert in Challah baking, but following this recipe was easy and Great Success!!. Thank you
Sometimes my challah does not hold its shape – any suggestions ?
It could be a few things. You might need to use more flour if the dough seems too loose. If the dough seems firm when shaping/braiding, then you may be over-proofing the braided dough, meaning, letting it sit too long and then it deflates. Try just a 30 minutes second rise after it is braided.
I followed the exact recipe, but for some reason it came out dry. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Challah dough should be a bit sticky when its ready to rise. Sometimes it can be easy to add more flour when kneading to take the stickiness out, but resist the urge. You can always try adding a bit more water to the dough if you aren’t adding any additional flour. Also keep in mind that dough is different throughout the year depending on the temperature and humidity, so learning what your ideal dough should feel like and adjust accordingly.
My brother recommended I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
May I use walnut oil when making a challah?
We have never tried it, but I would do some googling to see if there are recipes made with peanut oils or other nut oils. Good luck and let us know if it works!
Love this recipe! Have you ever tried a slow/cool rise with this recipe? I.e. braiding and then putting in fridge overnight? Any make-ahead tips?
You could definitely try a slow rise in the fridge. Here are some tips about make-ahead and freezing challah!
Can I halve the recipe to make only one loaf?
Yes, absolutely you can.
This bread was absolutely delightful thank you rabbi and Harry Rothschild
This challah is the challah of my childhood. Thank you!
Can this be made using a Kitchen Aid mixer? I can no longer knead because of a shoulder injury. Thank you.
Shalom
Iam a Beginner when it comes to Baking and Baked Goods Recipes, But this Challah Recipe is simple, easy to follow and Delicious. Todâh. Thank you so much!
This is my go-to recipe. Everyone thinks I’m a genius baker but I just follow the recipe and it works every time.
This was the PERFECT recipe for a rainy day! My boys hate being stuck at home all day but had a wonderful time both preparing the dough and also transforming it into soft pretzels. Because they’re toddlers, I had to do all the real work myself but they enjoyed simply helping to measure and pour ingredients. And I enjoyed it, too, even though it took longer than doing it myself because the real purpose was entertaining the kiddos while we were all stuck at home. I sometimes have moments of slight frustration because having them in the kitchen while I cook isn’t really productive until I remind myself that forming a bond with them that will last a lifetime is the MOST productive thing. Slow living is so important when it comes to young children. 🥰
I reduced the sugar and increased the salt due to the fact that we prefer a saltier bread (especially for pretzels!). As well, I don’t personally believe in feeding my little ones excess sugar so a little less was just right! Additionally, I used avocado oil instead of vegetable oil.
The result was delicious! The kiddos always want extra treats and I LOVE that this one is tasty but not too indulgent – no sugar crash! And the carbs in just one pretzel aren’t too much for a balanced diet. BTW, making challah dough into pretzels is super easy (you can skip the egg wash!).