Challah Bread for the Bread Machine
Several people have asked for this recipe, so I figured it's easier to post it here than to send it out in email.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup plus one tablespoon water
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, softened
3 1/4 cup bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except egg yolk, cold water and poppy seeds in bread machine pan in the order listed above. Select dough/manual cycle. Check the dough after the first cycle to see if it's too wet (on rainy days it often is) and add a bit of flour until it gets to the right consistency. It should be dry enough that it doesn't stick to your fingers. If you don't do this and the dough is a bit wet, it doesn't really matter, the bread still comes out yummy, it's just harder to braid and the braid is less distinct & pretty.
After the dough cycle is over, divide dough into three equal pieces, roll each piece into a 12-inch rope. Place ropes together on nonstick or slightly greased cookie sheet. Braid gently and loosely, pinch ends to seal, tuck ends under the braid. Cover with a dishcloth and let rise in warm place about 45 minutes or until double.
Heat oven to 375. Mix egg yolk and cold water, brush over the braid. Sprinkle with poppy seeds (or sesame seeds, if you prefer). Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with good, soft butter.
If you're trying to feed a lot of people, let it cool and preslice it before serving, as I've found if you let people slice their own, they make really big slices and not everyone gets some. If it's just four or six of you, though, just rip into it. :)
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
3/4 cup plus one tablespoon water
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, softened
3 1/4 cup bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except egg yolk, cold water and poppy seeds in bread machine pan in the order listed above. Select dough/manual cycle. Check the dough after the first cycle to see if it's too wet (on rainy days it often is) and add a bit of flour until it gets to the right consistency. It should be dry enough that it doesn't stick to your fingers. If you don't do this and the dough is a bit wet, it doesn't really matter, the bread still comes out yummy, it's just harder to braid and the braid is less distinct & pretty.
After the dough cycle is over, divide dough into three equal pieces, roll each piece into a 12-inch rope. Place ropes together on nonstick or slightly greased cookie sheet. Braid gently and loosely, pinch ends to seal, tuck ends under the braid. Cover with a dishcloth and let rise in warm place about 45 minutes or until double.
Heat oven to 375. Mix egg yolk and cold water, brush over the braid. Sprinkle with poppy seeds (or sesame seeds, if you prefer). Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with good, soft butter.
If you're trying to feed a lot of people, let it cool and preslice it before serving, as I've found if you let people slice their own, they make really big slices and not everyone gets some. If it's just four or six of you, though, just rip into it. :)
Enjoy!