Bake a beautiful and fragrant Spiced Challah Bread, perfect for your holiday table. This recipe guides you through creating a soft, slightly sweet loaf infused with warm spices.
Author:Chloe Thompson
Prep Time:25 minutes
Cook Time:30 minutes
Total Time:2 hours 30 minutes
Yield:1 loaf
Category:Bread
Method:Baking
Cuisine:Jewish
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup warm water (105-115°F)
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons honey
2 large eggs, lightly beaten, plus 1 for egg wash
¼ cup vegetable oil
4 to 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Sesame seeds or poppy seeds, for topping (optional)
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
Stir in salt, honey, beaten eggs, and vegetable oil.
Gradually add 4 cups of flour, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as needed.
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
Punch down dough and divide into three equal portions.
Roll each portion into a rope about 15 inches long.
Pinch the ends of the ropes together and braid them.
Place the braided challah on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for another 30-45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Brush the top of the challah with the egg wash and sprinkle with seeds, if using.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
Let cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
Adjust spices to your preference.
For a richer flavor, you can use milk instead of water.