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We’re baking up a traditional challah bread recipe with eggs and honey. This bread is healthy, gorgeous, and absolutely delicious!
Traditional Jewish challah bread is one of my favorite breads to make. This braided loaf is beautiful and the rich, sweet flavor is incredible! It makes a lovely gift or special occasion treat.
I’ve heard this recipe called Jewish egg bread or honey challah bread (or one of many other names). I just call it amazing! 🙂
This version of a classic challah includes eggs, honey and freshly milled whole grain flour for the most delicious bread possible. It comes together in no time and looks like a masterpiece that took days to complete. If you’re looking to impress, you must give challah bread a try!
Table of contents
Get the Cookbook!
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Fresh Milled Flour is Best
Everyone wants to know the secret to the best homemade breads. In my opinion, it’s all about the flour. I freshly mill all of my flour from wheat berries. You can learn more about the benefits of freshly milled flour here or in my cookbook.
In a nutshell: you get the absolute best nutrition and flavor within the first hours and days after milling your grains. You also get to customize your flour texture and grain blends while saving money. Plus, it’s an easy-peasy process that takes very little time. Totally worth the small amount of effort it requires!
Jewish Challah Bread Recipe Supplies and Ingredients
Traditional Challah Bread Recipe Supplies
- Stand mixer with a dough hook attachment or large mixing bowl and spoon
- Full size baking sheet
Traditional Challan Bread Recipe Ingredients
- 3/4 cup hot water
- ½ cup cold milk
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoons instant yeast
- 4 cups (530 grams) of freshly milled whole wheat flour
How to Make Homemade Challah Bread
Making the Dough
In a large bowl or mixer bowl, mix together the hot water, milk, oil, honey, eggs and salt.
Add about half the flour to this mixture, sprinkle the yeast on top and mix together for a thick batter. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
Add the rest of the flour about a half of a cup at a time, until your dough pulls away from the sides and forms a soft dough.
Knead dough until it is smooth and elastic, at least 5 minutes.
First Rise
Oil your bowl, roll your dough ball into the oil, and cover with plastic wrap, a reusable bowl cover or a moist tea towel.
Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled. This usually takes about 45 minutes with the instant yeast.
Braiding the Dough
Prepare a full size sheet pan by spraying with non-stick spray or lining with parchment paper.
Dump your dough onto a slightly wet, oiled, or floured surface.
Divide dough into thirds, and flatten each portion out into a rectangle. Roll each piece into a log or snake shape, about an inch and a half thick. The most important thing is to get them the same size.
Pinch the top ends of the strands together at the top, and begin braiding the dough until you get to the end. Watch some YouTube videos if you need help, or want more creative ideas for braiding bread.
When you get to the end, pinch and seam them together. Cover and let rise again, until almost double.
Baking Instructions
When your loaf is almost done rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. If desired, make an egg wash to brush over the top, using egg white and water. You can sprinkle sesame seeds or poppy seeds over the top.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Let cool completely before slicing into the bread. Enjoy your work of art!
Storing Challah Bread
You can wrap challah bread leftovers in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for a few days. For longer storage, place wrapped bread in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator. You can even freeze your bread in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to a few weeks.
Printable Challah Bread Recipe Card
Traditional Challah Bread Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup hot water
- ½ cup cold milk
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 4 cups (530 grams) of freshly milled whole wheat flour
Instructions
Making the Dough
- In a large bowl or mixer bowl, mix together the hot water, milk, oil, honey, eggs and salt.
- Add about half the flour to this mixture, sprinkle the yeast on top and mix together for a thick batter. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the flour about a half of a cup at a time, until your dough pulls away from the sides and forms a soft, manageable dough.
- Knead dough until it is smooth and elastic, at least 5 minutes.
First Rise
- Oil your bowl, roll your dough ball into the oil, and cover with plastic wrap or a moist tea towel.
- Let the dough rise until doubled. This usually takes about 45 minutes with the instant yeast.
Braiding the Dough
- Prepare a full-size sheet pan by spraying with non-stick spray or lining with parchment paper. Dump your dough onto a slightly wet, oiled, or floured surface.
- Divide the dough into thirds and flatten each portion out into a rectangle. Roll each piece into a log or snake shape, about an inch and a half thick. The most important thing is to get them the same size.
- Pinch the top ends of each strip together at the top and begin braiding the dough until you get to the end. Watch some YouTube videos if you need help or want more creative ideas for braiding bread.
- When you get to the end, pinch and seam them together. Cover and let rise again, until almost double.
Baking Instructions
- When your loaf is almost done rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. If desired, make an egg wash to brush over the top, using egg white and water. You can sprinkle sesame seeds or poppy seeds over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Let cool completely before slicing into the bread. Enjoy your work of art!
Jewish Challah Bread Serving Suggestions
Challah bread is delicious any way you serve it. Because it’s made with an enriched dough, challah is fluffy, rich and slightly sweet. A slice of challah bread is wonderful with butter and jam, toasted with garlic butter, or dipped in soup. Challah bread also makes the best French toast!
Where to Buy Bread Making Supplies
Need an easy way to get all your bread baking supplies and ingredients without spending hours researching? I’ve done all the trial and error for you and put together the TIDBITS & Company Bread Making Supplies Moonsift page. Here you’ll find all of my favorite bread making items along with links and product descriptions. Check it out!
More Bread Recipes to Try
That’s all folks! A traditional Jewish challah bread recipe. Beautiful and delicious!
I love this challah recipe and I’m confident that you will too. Print the recipe card and save it for your next baking day. And be sure to enjoy a slice for me! 🙂
Try one of these great recipes next:
- Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls with Fresh Milled Flour
- Potato Bread Dinner Rolls with Fresh Milled Flour
- Artisan Bread Recipe with Yeast and Fresh Milled Flour
- Brioche Bread Recipe Made with Fresh Milled Flour
- Whole Wheat Honey Oat Bread with Fresh Milled Flour
- Easy Naan Flatbread Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour
- Healthy Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls
I would love to make this bread but I can’t get fresh mill flour, I live in Puerto Rico so I can’t find it here so what other flour can I use?
Thanks ????
That makes me sad! But this recipe will work with all-purpose flour or if your store carries whole wheat flour, give it a try!