Easy Challah

I have finally come across an easy and delicious challah recipe! And I am super excited to share it with you.

It comes from @splashofsherri. She created this recipe so that baking a challah would be easy for everyone to create at home. She was right. It was so easy to come together, had a good amount of rise, but most importantly, it tasted amazing!

This challah recipe is worth gossiping about every. single. shabbat.

Easy Challah

Yield: 2 medium challahs

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup warm water
1 pkg or 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/3 cup sugar plus a pinch for the yeast
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
2½ teaspoons fine kosher salt
Egg Wash
1 egg, beaten
Splash of water
Pinch of salt
Pinch of sugar

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer with the hook attachment, add 1 cup warm water and yeast plus a pinch of sugar and stir. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes or until it bubbles.
2. Add the sugar, eggs, oil and salt and mix. Gradually add the flour 1 cup at a time and mix after each addition, if using stand mixer. If mixing by hand, and it’s too tough to mix with a spoon, you can use your hand until the flour has fully incorporated into the dough. When the dough comes away from the sides and is no longer sticky, it has enough flour.
3. Knead the dough for 5 minutes or until the dough springs back when touched.
4. Add a little oil around the sides of the bowl and rub a little on the dough, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise for at least one hour or until doubled in size.
5. Punch down the dough to get the air bubbles out and divide into 2 pieces. Divide each piece into 3 pieces (you will have 6 pieces total) roll each piece into a snake-like shape. Braid 3 strands together to make one loaf and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
6. Cover with towel and let rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
7. Brush each challah with egg wash, leave plain or sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds.
8. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

*** Recipe slightly adapted from @splashofsherri