Best 4 Cinnamon N Cranberry Challah Recipes

CINNAMON AND CRANBERRY CHALLAH

Steps:

• Stir warm water, yeast and sugar together in a small mixing bowl; let stand 10 minutes, until mixture foams.
• Whisk together 3 eggs, 1 egg white (reserve yolk), oil, salt, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Stir in yeast mixture and 5 1/4 cups flour until soft dough forms. Add sweetened dried cranberries and with floured hands, knead dough. Gradually add remaining 3/4 cup flour, knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Lightly grease a large mixing bowl. Place dough in bowl and roll around so that it is lightly coated with oil. Cover bowl with a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Punch down dough; divide in half. Each half will make one braided loaf. To make a single braid; divide half into 3 equal pieces. Roll each into a 14-inch rope. Braid dough and pinch ends to seal. Place on a greased baking sheet. Repeat steps with remaining dough.
• Cover shaped loaves and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Beat reserved egg yolk with 1 teaspoons water; brush loaves. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Place foil on tops of loaves if tops brown too quickly. Remove loaves to a wire rack and cool completely.

UPSIDE-DOWN APPLE FRENCH TOAST WITH CRANBERRIES AND PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a flat dish, crack eggs and add milk, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Whisk until well combined then lay challah slices in mixture to coat and absorb it all, turning occasionally.
• Set a 10-inch skillet, seasoned cast iron if you have, over medium heat. Add the butter and 1 cup sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar has melted and caramelized, about 8 minutes. While the sugar is melting, peel apples, core and cut into halves. Remove from heat and gently whisk in the heavy cream. Sprinkle in the pecans, dried cranberries and gently press in the apple halves so there is a flat surface. Lay soaked slices of challah over the top so it is completely covered - you should be able to arrange the large slices and small slices so there are no gaps. Sprinkle the top with some brown sugar and place into the preheated oven. Bake in the middle of the oven for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is golden and puffy.
• When done, allow to cool for 2 to 3 minutes then invert onto a large plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired, and serve.

MY FAVORITE CHALLAH

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.

CINNAMON N' CRANBERRY CHALLAH

Steps:

• 1. Stir warm water, yeast and sugar, together in a small mixing bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Mixture will foam. Whisk together 3 eggs, 1 egg white (reserve yolk), oil, salt and cinnamon, in a large mixing bowl. Stir in yeast mixture and 5-1/4 cups flour until soft dough forms. Add dried cranberries and with floured hands, knead dough. Gradually add remaining 3/4 cup flour, until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Lightly grease a large mixing bowl. Place dough in bowl and roll around so that it is lightly coated with grease. Place bowl with dough in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours. Punch down dough; divide in half. Each half will make one braided loaf. To make a single braid: divide half into 3 equal pieces. Roll each into 14-inch rope. Braid dough and pinch ends to seal. Place on greased baking sheet. Repeat steps with remaining dough. Cover shaped loaves and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Beat reserved yolk with water; brush loaves. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Place foil on tops of loaves if tops brown to quickly. Remove loaves to wire rack and cool completely. Makes 2 loaves. Hint: To freeze, wrap in plastic wrap and place in a sealed freezer storage bag.