How to Make Perfect Challah Bread with a Beautiful Beginner-Friendly 4-Strand Braid

Beautiful Challah Bread with an Easy 4-Strand Braid

Gorgeous and so fun to make! See my video for the braiding. Not difficult at all and gives you a beautiful presentation. Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water (250mL) warmed to 110-115 degrees Fahrenheit

• 2 1/2 teaspoons (12.5 grams)of Active Dry Yeast

• 4 1/2 cups (560 grams) of bread flour (you can use all purpose but bread flour will make it fluffier!

• 1 whole egg and one egg yolk, and one additional egg for egg wash)

• 1 tablesoon of Kosher Salt

• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup of vegetable or neutral oil

Add the yeast to the cup of warm water and allow it to bloom for about 5 minutes.

While the yeast is activating, add the flour, salt, and sugar to your mixing bowl. Whisk everything together until it's well incorporated.

In the center of your flour mixture, make a well. Drop in the eggs, and oil. Mix together until you have a course texture. While mixing, gradually add in the water and yeast mixture.

Once everything is mixed together, you can begin kneading the dough. If you have a stand mixer, you can attach the bowl and the dough hook and allow it to knead for about 6 minutes until you have a very smooth dough. This may take a little bit longer if mixing by hand but you will get a great arm workout.

Braiding:

Using a food scale (or you best guess) weigh the dough and divide the total weight by 4. Measure out 4 individual balls. Roll each ball into an even strand about 16-18 inches long. This takes a little but of muscle and patience. Dust your work surface with some flour. Lay out the strands next to each other. Attach all four strands at the top. Take the outside strands and cross them over in the middle. Repeat over and over until you reach end. See the video below!

Once the loaf is braided, brush with egg wash (1 tbsp of water to one whole egg) and allow it to rise for about an hour longer.

Preheat your oven the 350 degrees in the last 30 minutes of rising to ensure the oven is up to temperature.

Bake for approximately 35 minutes until the top is a nice golden brown color sometimes referred to as "rose". Allow it to rest for about an hour before slicing. Enjoy!