Indulge in the festive flavors of Christmas with our delightful Almond-Filled Challah. This traditional Jewish bread takes on a unique twist with a sweet almond filling, making it an irresistible treat for any occasion. Discover the magic of this delectable bread with our easy-to-follow recipe, which includes step-by-step instructions and helpful tips for achieving the perfect golden-brown crust and fluffy, flavorful interior.
Immerse yourself in the aroma of freshly baked bread as you explore our collection of Challah recipes. From the classic Plain Challah to the savory Garlic and Herb Challah, each recipe offers a distinct taste experience. Elevate your brunch spread with our French Toast Challah recipe, or surprise your loved ones with the delectable Nutella-Filled Challah. And for those with a sweet tooth, our Orange and Poppy Seed Challah is a delightful treat that combines citrusy flavors with a crunchy topping.
HONEY CHALLAH
I use these shiny beautiful loaves as the centerpiece of my spread. I love the taste of honey, but you can also add chocolate chips, cinnamon, orange zest or almonds. Leftover slices of this sweet challah recipe work well in bread pudding or for French toast. -Jennifer Newfield, Los Angeles, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h15m
Yield 2 loaves (24 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 cup warm water. Separate two eggs; refrigerate two egg whites. Place remaining egg yolks and eggs in a large bowl. Add 2/3 cup honey, oil, salt, yeast mixture, 3 cups flour and remaining warm water; beat on medium speed 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Pour boiling water over raisins in a small bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Knead in raisins. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 1-1/2 hours., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Divide one portion into six pieces. Roll each into a 16-in. rope. Place ropes parallel on a greased baking sheet; pinch ropes together at the top. , To braid, take the rope on the right and carry it over the two ropes beside it, then slip it under the middle rope and carry it over the last two ropes. Lay the rope down parallel to the other ropes; it is now on the far left side. Repeat these steps until you reach the end. As the braid moves to the left, you can pick up the loaf and re-center it on your work surface as needed. Pinch ends to seal and tuck under. For a fuller loaf, using your hands, push the ends of the loaf closer together. Repeat process with remaining dough. Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, whisk remaining egg whites and honey with water; brush over loaves. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to a wire rack to cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 125 calories, Fat 3g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 107mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.
AUNT JUDY'S CHRISTMAS BREAD
A braided yeast bread filled with almond, pastry cream, and walnut fillings. This is a recipe that my aunt used to make every year for Christmas morning when the entire family would gather at her house. Now I make it for my family. It takes awhile to make and uses an insane amount of dishes, but it's worth it. So delicious!
Provided by Kathy Ellis
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes
Time 3h30m
Yield 28
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Mix water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar together in a small bowl until yeast is raised and bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Cream butter and 1 cup sugar together in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Pour in warm milk and add yeast mixture, eggs, and salt; mix together. Mix in flour until just incorporated; do not knead dough.
- Move dough to a large bowl and cover with a towel. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch dough down and let rise for another 45 minutes.
- While dough is rising, heat milk for pastry filling in a medium saucepan until warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in 3 tablespoons flour gradually. Beat egg yolk in a separate bowl and add a little of the warm milk mixture to temper it; whisk yolk mixture into milk mixture. Mix in sugar and salt. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes.
- Let cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes. Cover the top with plastic wrap, touching the filling, to prevent skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make almond filling by mixing butter, sugar, and almond extract together in a bowl until blended. Set aside.
- Make nut crumb filling by crumbling flour, sugar, walnuts, and butter together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 half sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Divide the dough and fillings in 1/2 for 2 loaves. Set aside a small amount of nut filling to sprinkle on top of loaves.
- Roll out 1/2 of the dough onto 1 of the prepared pans into a rectangle that fills the pan. Spread cream filling lengthwise down the middle 1/3 of the dough, leaving about 1 inch free on each short end. Sprinkle almond filling on top of cream, followed by nut crumb filling.
- Make diagonal cuts into the dough on either side of the filling down each side, about 2 inches apart; don't cut too close to filling or it will leak out. Fold dough strips across the top of the filling, alternating each side, to make a braid. Tuck the 2 short ends into the braid to prevent leaking. Brush with reserved egg white and sprinkle with 1/2 of the reserved nut crumb filling. Repeat for second loaf.
- Bake loaves in the preheated oven until golden, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 20 minutes. Slice and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 376 calories, Carbohydrate 50.8 g, Cholesterol 54.5 mg, Fat 17.2 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 5.7 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 236.4 mg, Sugar 25.7 g
Tips:
- Using fresh, high-quality ingredients is key to ensuring the best flavor and texture for your Christmas Almond-Filled Challah. Choose top-quality almonds for the filling, and make sure the yeast is active and fresh.
- To ensure the challah dough rises properly, follow the instructions carefully and allow it to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. This may take longer or shorter depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
- Be patient when shaping the challah. It may take a few tries to get the desired shape, so don't worry if it doesn't look perfect the first time.
- To prevent the challah from drying out, brush it with an egg wash before baking. This will help create a golden crust and keep the bread moist.
- Keep an eye on the challah while it's baking, and adjust the baking time if necessary. The bread is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 190°F (88°C).
Conclusion:
With its rich flavor and festive presentation, this Christmas Almond-Filled Challah is sure to be a hit at your holiday table. Whether you're serving it for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this delicious bread is a perfect way to celebrate the season. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake this delightful holiday treat!
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