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Incredible Braided Challah

Breakfast 🍳Side Dish 🥗Snack 🍿 Israeli 🇮🇱Jewish 🇮🇱 Low-SodiumVegetarian 🥦Halal 🕌Kosher ✡️Comfort-FoodPescatarian 🐟

Incredible Braided Challah bakes up tender and airy with a gentle sweetness and rich, eggy crumb, finished with a shiny crust and a sprinkle of sesame. The quick-rise yeast brings impressive lift and a soft interior without sacrificing flavor. Serve it warm for Shabbat, holiday gatherings, or as the centerpiece of a special brunch.

  • Prep40 mins
  • Cook30 mins
  • Serves32
  • DifficultyMedium
Incredible Braided Challah
  1. 1

    Sprinkle yeast over the water in a large bowl and stir gently to moisten the yeast. Stir in the salt, sugar, margarine, and 4 eggs; beat well. Gradually add the flour, 1 cup at a time, up to 12 cups, until the dough is slightly tacky but not wet. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes.

  2. 2

    Grease baking sheets, or line them with parchment paper, and set aside.

  3. 3

    Cut the dough into four equal pieces (or into 2 pieces for 2 large loaves). Cut each piece into thirds for 3-strand braided loaves.

  4. 4

    On a floured surface, roll the small dough pieces into ropes about thumb-thick and about 12 inches long. Make the ropes thicker in the middle and thinner at the ends.

  5. 5

    Pinch 3 ropes together at the top and braid them. Starting with the right strand, move it to the left over the middle strand (that strand becomes the new middle). Take the far-left strand and move it over the new middle strand. Continue braiding, alternating sides each time, until the loaf is braided; pinch the ends together and fold them underneath for a neat finish. Repeat for the remaining loaves.

  6. 6

    Place the loaves on the prepared baking sheets; let rise until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

  7. 7

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk 1 egg with vanilla extract in a small bowl; brush the loaves with the egg wash. Sprinkle each loaf with about 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds.

  8. 8

    Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are shiny and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool before slicing.