Challah Bread Recipe

First thing is that you need to dissolve the yeast into a large mixing bowl with some warm, NOT hot, water and let it stand for about 10 minutes. Bubbles will begin forming at this point.

After yeast has dissolved, add some warm milk, honey, salt, oil, and eggs, mixing together all of the ingredients until everything is mixed together really well.

Make sure to reserve 2 tablespoons of the eggs for the glazing after the bread has finished baking.

Add the flour very slowly. Then, place the dough onto a clean, dry, flat surface that is sprinkled with flour and begin kneading the dough for 10 minutes or until the dough is a smooth and elastic texture.

Place the dough you just finished kneading into a big bowl that is lightly oiled and cover it with a damp cloth and place the bowl into a warm area where the dough can rise for 2 hours or until it's 2 times the initial size.

After rising, put the dough on a flat, dry, clean, floured surface and punch it down (great therapy if I do say so myself) and let it rest for a few minutes. Then, very gently knead the dough again for a couple minutes and then put it back into the bowl again and let it rise in a warm area to double in size, which should take about an hour.

Remove the dough from the bowl once again and punch it down. This is great if you are having an aggravating day! Once it's flexible and easy to work with, you are going to break it into two even pieces.

Divide both loafs into 3 smaller pieces. This will be the braid. You need to roll all 6 pieces into a rope that are about 15 inches long each. Place all the pieces next to each other and seal the individual strands by pinching the ends together, begin to braid them, forming a long loaf of bread. Make sure to do this with both loafs.

Set each braided loaf onto a greased baking sheet 6 inches apart and Cover them with a piece of cloth. Then place the loaves and baking sheet in a warm area to allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size once again.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a small bowl, combine remaining 2 tablespoons of egg, mix together, and brush over the loaves.

Sprinkle poppy or sesame seeds on top

bake loaves for 40 minutes and/or until golden brown.

When the loaves are baked, remove them from oven and place on a cooling rack.