6 Braid Challah Loaf

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I love making challah bread.  It is a traditional Jewish Sabbath bread that is braided.  I like to make it for special occasions and as a treat, my family loves it.  A couple of years ago I learned how to make a 6 braid challah loaf.  I think they are much prettier than the 3 braid.  I made some this afternoon and took some pictures to try and show how it is done.. I hope it makes sense!! 



Challah
Crystal Miller 


1/3 cup warm water
2 T yeast
1 ½ cups warm water
¼ cup butter
¼ cup olive oil
1 T salt
½ cup cane juice crystals
4 eggs
5 to 6 cups whole wheat flour
2 to 3 cups white flour

In a small measuring cup combine the 1/3 cup warm water and 2T yeast. Let that sit to foam up a little. In a large mixer bowl combine 1 ½ cups warm water, butter, olive oil, salt and cane juice crystals. Mix for a few minutes. Add eggs and mix well. Add yeast and water mixture.

Add flour wheat and white flours starting with the smallest measurements. Mix until well combined. Add more flour (a little at a time) if needed so there is no dough sticking to the sides of mixer bowl and the dough is not sticky, but not too stiff.

Knead for 7 to 10 minutes in a Kitchen Aid or 4 to 5 minutes in a Bosch. Let the dough rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes to an hour.


Punch down and divide into 3 pieces.


 

To make challah loaves you can do a 3 braid or a 6 braid. Three braid challah is easy.. Roll one of the loaves of dough into three ropes and lay them out side by side. Pinch the ends at the top and then braid (just like hair! ~smile~) and pinch at the bottom.

To make a 6 braid challah is a bit more tricky to try and explain but is my most favorite way to do it. If my directions make no sense then maybe next time I will have to have one my daughters do a quick video of me doing it and show you that way!!

Make a log from one of the loaves of dough. 


 



 


Divide into 6 pieces.


 



 


Roll each piece into a long rope. Lay them side by side.


 



 


Bring all 6 pieces together at the top and pinch the dough to hold it altogether.


 




Now.. take the rope on the very right side and lay it across and over the top to the other side..


 




Now take the left piece and lay it across and over the loaf so it is on the other side..


 




This leaves you with 4 pieces in the middle. Take the piece of dough that you first crossed over (this would be the one that is now on the left) and bring it down in between the 4 ropes.


 




Now take the rope that is on the right side and cross it over as you did before leaving 4 ropes in the center again.


 



 





Now take the rope on the right side and bring it down in between the 4 ropes in the center.


 



 




Take the rope on the left and cross it over to the right.


 



 





Bring the rope on the left in between the center 4 ropes and just repeat this process until you to the end of your dough ropes. Pinch the ends together. I tuck in the pinched ends of the loaf so they don’t show.. just makes it looks nicer!


 




Lay the loaf on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non stick spray and finish the other two loaves..


 




Let them rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes to an hour. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.


 


Comments

  1. chellaApril 19, 2009 at 1:41 PM

    Thank you for the pictures, I could never do the 6 braids, I just do the 3 braids because, I could never figure it out.


    Thank you so much!

    Have a blessed week

    Chella

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 19, 2009 at 2:27 PM

    Those look fantastic!


    Erica

    ReplyDelete
  3. LillyandGishApril 19, 2009 at 8:31 PM

    Your bread is lovely! Well done! What a wonderful skill to have.

    ReplyDelete
  4. HSBFrontPorchApril 20, 2009 at 4:17 AM

    What beautiful bread! You did a tremendous job!

    I love a beautiful loaf of bread. :)



    Blessings,

    Chasity L. Burrell

    Senior Editor Homesteadblogger

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 20, 2009 at 4:23 AM

    That is just beautiful!!! WOW! I am going to have to try this! You made it look so easy with your instructions. Thank you!


    Angie


    http://www.5kidsmyhusbandandme.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. seventhheavenApril 20, 2009 at 4:23 AM

    Thank you for the step by step picts..... This will def. be a must to try !

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 20, 2009 at 7:47 AM

    That looks soooo yummy and beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial!

    -Roxie

    ReplyDelete
  8. madiantin.blogspot.comApril 20, 2009 at 7:54 AM

    Oh my goodness, that's beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousApril 20, 2009 at 7:59 AM

    I'm Barbara, and wanted to leave a note. I am so thrilled that I've got three loaves of six braid Challah rising right now and they are gorgeous! Oh what a blessing, thank you Crystal, so much for your tutorial. The first one took forever to get right but I finally got it. I kept getting messed up by not realizing whether the cross over ropes were from the far sides or the middle four ropes. You should have seen me running back and forth from the kitchen to the computer to see the pictures over again. Many thanks and blessings for sharing such a wonderful thing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. gilsanlaApril 20, 2009 at 10:33 AM

    They're gorgeous. I'm going to have to try your recipe. Bread is one thing I haven't perfected yet.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 9:40 AM

    Crystal,

    The Challa bread is beautiful how could it not taste super yummy! I am going to make this one. Thank you for sharing with us. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    Sorry! That was me, Dalyn *U*

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    gorgeous! I only do 3 braids. I'm going to try this this week!

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 23, 2009 at 10:59 PM

    Thankyou for the instructions. Your bread looks wonderful and I am looking forward to trying this out soon. Angela

    ReplyDelete
  15. mamato8May 2, 2009 at 3:12 AM

    That looks beautiful! I've only done it with 3 strands of dough before.

    ReplyDelete
  16. CardamomMay 25, 2009 at 2:47 PM

    Wow - that is so pretty! I love uniquely shaped bread - I'm always experimenting. This is on my to-do list. Thank you for posting it!

    ReplyDelete

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All messages are moderated. After approval your message will be posted. Thank you for your comments!! Crystal :)

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