Easy Homemade Challah Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (100 degrees F/40 degrees C)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 beaten eggs
• 3.5 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
• 1 beaten egg yolk, or more if needed

Instructions

1. Gather all of the necessary ingredients.
2. In a large bowl, combine water and yeast. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes, or until a creamy layer appears on top. Stir in honey and salt until dissolved, then add the beaten eggs.
3. Gradually mix in the flour, one cup at a time, until the dough becomes sticky. Sprinkle the dough with flour and knead for about 5 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
4. Shape the dough into a compact round and place it in an oiled bowl. Turn the dough several times to coat the surface with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
5. Punch down the dough and divide it into 3 equal pieces.
6. On a floured surface, roll each piece of dough into a rope about the thickness of your thumb and approximately 12 inches long. The ropes should be thicker in the middle and thinner at the ends.
7. Pinch the 3 ropes together at the top and begin braiding. Start with the strand on the right, move it over the middle strand (this strand becomes the new middle strand).
8. Now, take the strand farthest to the left and move it over the new middle strand.
9. Continue braiding, alternating sides each time, until the entire loaf is braided. Pinch the ends together and fold them underneath the loaf for a clean finish.
10. Place the braided loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the top with beaten egg yolk. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
11. Bake the challah in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is a rich golden brown color and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped with a spoon. Let it cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

Nutrition

• Calories: 211 kcal
• Fat Content: 4 g
• Fiber Content: 1 g
• Sugar Content: 4 g
• Sodium Content: 265 mg
• Protein Content: 7 g
• Cholesterol Content: 79 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 37 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g