Challah Bread 𝜗ৎ

 ♡ Challah Bread ♡

Challah Bread Ingredients...

2 Tablespoons Instant Yeast, 2 Cups Warm Water, 6 Cups All Purpose Flour, 2 Tablespoons Salt, 3 Tablespoons Honey, 3 Beaten Eggs, 1 Egg Yolk, Melted Butter, Poppy Seeds or Dried Onion (Topping)

In a large bowl, stir yeast into the water, and let the mixture stand until a creamy layer forms on top, about 10 minutes. Stir in honey and salt until dissolved, and then add beaten eggs. Mix in the flour, a cupful at a time, until the dough is sticky. Sprinkle the dough with flour and knead until smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a compact round shape, and place into an oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size- 1-2 hours. Punch down the dough, and cut into 3 equal-sized pieces. Working on a floured surface, roll the small dough pieces into ropes about the thickness of your thumb and about 12 inches long- fatter in the middle and thinner at the ends. 

Pinch 3 ropes together at the top and braid them. Place the braided loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and brush the top with beaten egg yolk and melted butter (quarter of the stick.)

Preheat oven to 350F. Bake challah in the preheated oven until the top browns to a rich golden color and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped with a spoon- around 30-35 minutes.