Best 4 Andreas Challah Recipes

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**Andreas' Challah: A Journey Through Time and Taste**

Andreas' Challah is not just a bread; it's a culinary masterpiece that has stood the test of time. With its origins in Eastern Europe and perfected over generations by bakers named Andreas, this braided egg bread holds a special place in Jewish cuisine. Soft, golden, and gently sweet, Challah is traditionally served on Shabbat and special occasions, representing both nourishment and joy. This beautifully crafted bread is not just delicious, but also versatile. From the classic plain Challah to variations like chocolate, cinnamon, and even savory herb Challah, Andreas' Challah offers a taste of heaven for every palate. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, Andreas' Challah beckons you to embark on a delightful adventure of flavors and textures. Discover the secrets behind this iconic bread and create your own moments of pure indulgence.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ANDREA'S CHALLAH



Andrea's Challah image

This challah comes from a friend who gave me HER friend's recipe - and I don't even know if she knows how many people it has been given to! WARNING: This recipe makes 8 medium sized loaves, so if you don't a bowl big enough or the freezer space, you might want to reduce it. This challah is sweet, rich and a little dense (not hard, just... weighty), so if you are looking for light as air and fluffy, this is not what you're looking for. It's addictive fresh out of the oven, perfect for french toast, and a wonderful base recipe for yeast cakes such as Chocolate Babka. A note: the recipe says to bake it at 350, but I found that with the high sugar content the challahs browned too quickly so I bake mine at 325. If your oven is more even than mine (likely) feel free to try the higher temperature.

Provided by Kishka

Categories     Yeast Breads

Time 5h

Yield 8 medium loaves

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 1/2 cups warm water (I microwave it for 2 min in a bowl until slightly warmer than body temperature - 105 degrees)
3 tablespoons dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
5 lbs bread flour (high gluten flour)
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 cups canola oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 egg, beaten with a little water to thin

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 325.
  • Mix the warm water, yeast and 1 tablespoons sugar together, set aside in a warm (not hot) place to proof (make sure the yeast is active) until frothy.
  • In a very large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt, then make a well in the center.
  • Into the well, add the oil, 4 beaten eggs and proofed yeast mixture.
  • Mix with a wooden spoon, then knead until dough is stretchy.
  • Let rise, covered, for 1 1/2-3 hours - at least until doubled.
  • Punch down, then shape as you wish.
  • Let shaped loaves rise again for another 30 min or so, brush with egg wash, then bake on a foil-lined, greased baking sheet for 30 min or until a deep golden brown.

MOST AMAZING CHALLAH



Most Amazing Challah image

I made up my own Challah that is amazing! I have tried countless combinations to finally get it right. It uses quick rise yeast to save you a bunch of time. Enjoy!

Provided by Palsar7

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes     Egg     Challah Recipes

Time 2h40m

Yield 32

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 (.25 ounce) packages quick-rise yeast
4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 tablespoons salt
¾ cup white sugar
1 cup pareve margarine, melted
4 eggs
12 cups bread flour, or as needed
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup sesame seeds, divided

Steps:

  • Sprinkle the yeast over the water in a large bowl, and stir gently to moisten the yeast. Stir in salt, sugar, margarine, and 4 eggs, and beat well. Gradually mix in the flour, 1 cup at a time, up to 12 cups, until the dough becomes slightly tacky but not wet. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Grease baking sheets, or line them with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Cut the bread dough into 4 equal-sized pieces (or 2 pieces to make 2 large loaves). Cut each piece into thirds for 3-strand braided loaves. Working on a floured surface, roll the small dough pieces into ropes about the thickness of your thumb and about 12 inches long. Ropes should be fatter in the middle and thinner at the ends. Pinch 3 ropes together at the top and braid them. Starting with the strand to the right, move it to the left over the middle strand (that strand becomes the new middle strand.) Take the strand farthest to the left, and move it over the new middle strand. Continue braiding, alternating sides each time, until the loaf is braided, and pinch the ends together and fold them underneath for a neat look. Repeat for the remaining loaves.
  • Place the loaves onto the prepared baking sheets, and let rise until double in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk 1 egg with vanilla extract in a small bowl, and brush the loaves with the egg wash. Sprinkle each loaf with about 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are shiny and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool before slicing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 274.1 calories, Carbohydrate 42.7 g, Cholesterol 29.1 mg, Fat 7.8 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 7.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 515.2 mg, Sugar 5 g

MY FAVORITE CHALLAH



My Favorite Challah image

Provided by Joan Nathan

Categories     project, side dish

Time 1m

Yield 2 challahs

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 1/2 packages active dry yeast (1 1/2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil, more for greasing bowl
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon salt
8 to 8 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.
  • Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading.)
  • Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out bowl and grease it, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Dough may also rise in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees then turned off. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.
  • To make a 6-braid challah, either straight or circular, take half the dough and form it into 6 balls. With your hands, roll each ball into a strand about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place the 6 in a row, parallel to one another. Pinch the tops of the strands together. Move the outside right strand over 2 strands. Then take the second strand from the left and move it to the far right. Take the outside left strand and move it over 2. Move second strand from the right over to the far left. Start over with what is now the outside right strand. Continue this until all strands are braided. For a straight loaf, tuck ends underneath. For a circular loaf, twist into a circle, pinching ends together. Make a second loaf the same way. Place braided loaves on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches in between.
  • Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour in refrigerator if preferred.
  • To bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush loaves again. (If freezing, remove from freezer 5 hours before baking.) Then dip your index finger in the egg wash, then into poppy or sesame seeds and then onto a mound of bread. Continue until bread is decorated with seeds.
  • Bake in middle of oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Cool loaves on a rack.

MY FAVORITE CHALLAH



My Favorite Challah image

The word challah originally meant only the small portion of dough that was put in the oven when baking bread as a reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. It has evolved into the twisted, sweet, almost brioche-like bread that was brought to America by immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe. Although straight loaves of braided challah are eaten throughout the year, round challahs, often studded with raisins, are served for Rosh Hashana, and also for Yom Kippur and Sukkot, the holidays celebrating the New Year and the fall harvest. Throughout the years, I have picked up tips from challah bakers throughout this country and in Europe and Israel. For example: Several risings make a better loaf, and if you want an especially brioche-like texture, let the dough rise slowly in the refrigerator for one of the three risings. The secret to a glossy loaf is to brush with an egg wash twice, once just after braiding and then again just before baking.

Provided by Joan Nathan

Categories     project, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 2 challahs

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 1/2 packages active dry yeast (about 3 1/2 teaspoons)
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil, more for greasing bowl
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon salt
8 to 8 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.
  • Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading.)
  • Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out bowl and grease it, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Dough may also rise in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees then turned off. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.
  • To make a 6-braid challah, either straight or circular, take half the dough and form it into 6 balls. With your hands, roll each ball into a strand about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place the 6 in a row, parallel to one another. Pinch the tops of the strands together. Move the outside right strand over 2 strands. Then take the second strand from the left and move it to the far right. Take the outside left strand and move it over 2. Move second strand from the right over to the far left. Start over with the outside right strand. Continue this until all strands are braided. For a straight loaf, tuck ends underneath. For a circular loaf, twist into a circle, pinching ends together. Make a second loaf the same way. Place braided loaves on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches in between.
  • Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour.
  • If baking immediately, preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush loaves again. If freezing, remove from freezer 5 hours before baking. Then dip your index finger in the egg wash, then into poppy or sesame seeds and then onto a mound of bread. Continue until bread is decorated with seeds.
  • Bake in middle of oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Cool loaves on a rack.

Tips:

  • Use a kitchen scale to accurately measure ingredients. Baking, especially bread making, is a science and precision is key.
  • Activate the yeast properly. Proof the yeast in warm water with a pinch of sugar before adding it to the dough. This will ensure that the yeast is active and will help the dough to rise properly.
  • Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. This will help to develop the gluten in the flour, which will give the bread its structure and chewiness.
  • Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. This will allow the yeast to produce carbon dioxide gas, which will cause the dough to rise.
  • Bake the bread in a preheated oven. This will help to create a crispy crust and a fluffy crumb.

Conclusion:

This classic egg bread, or challah, is a delicious and versatile bread that can be used for a variety of purposes. Its soft and fluffy texture and delicate sweetness make it a great choice for sandwiches, toast, or even French toast. With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can create a beautiful and tasty challah bread that will be a hit with your family and friends.

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