Sweet Challah Bread

Cooking in Israel - Sweet ChallahBread

cooking in israel, challah bread

Ingredients

1 kg flour (2.2 lb)

2 Tbs. dry yeast

2 Tbs. sugar

1 Tbs. salt

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup silan (dates honey) or honey

1/4 cup honey

21/4 cups water (as needed)

 
For the coating:

Before baking: 1 egg , ½ cup sesame / poppy seeds

When ready: 2 Tbs. honey diluted with water (option)

 
Instructions
  1. Put the flour in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Create a hole in the center and add into the flour the salt, honey, silan & oil.
  3. Spread around the hole the sugar & yeast. (yeast must not touch salt)
  4. Start mixing on low speed and add slowly the water while increasing the speed.
  5. Stop mixing (10 min) when dough is soft separates from bowl sides.
cooking in Israel, challah bread
6.Cover the bowl and let rise 2 hours until double. You do not want to wait too long: 

cooking in Israel, Challah bread

  7. Divide the dough into 3-4 portions and each portion divide into 3 balls. Let rise another 15 min.
  8. Take out the air of the balls and make the shape of the Challah. Place in a baking pan on top of floury baking sheet.
cooking in Israel, challh breadcooking in Israel, challah bread
 
cooking in Israel, challah bread cooking in Israel, challah bread

cooking in Israel, challah bread

 
  9. Brush the Challah with the egg and spread the sesame seeds.
  10. Leave in baking pan to rise again around 2 hours.
cooking in Israel, challah bread cooking in Israel, challah bread
   11. Place at the bottom of the oven a baking pan with water. Bake in a hot 2200C (4500F) oven 5 min then lower Tem. to 1700C (3400F) and continue baking 25 min.  

                              cooking in israel, challah bread

   12. Spread the diluted honey over the hot challah.
 
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