Bread Machine Challah

By commercecook

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 3 1/2 tablespoons oil
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons bread flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast (1 package)
• 1 egg for brushing on before cooking

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

1. Place all ingredients in the bread machine in the order required by your machine.(See note below.) Add yeast to the dispenser and set for the dough cycle.
NOTE: I whisked together all the dry ingredients and put in the bread maker. Then, I whisked together all the wet ingredients and poured on top.

2. After the dough cycle finishes, take out the dough and divide into 4 pieces.

3. Divide each piece into 3-6 ropes (I did 3) and braid to make 4 challahs.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

5. Place challahs on a lined baking sheet (I used Silpats), cover and let rise for 30 minutes. I preheated my oven on warm, turned it off, and put the bread in with the oven door ajar.

6. After rising, brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds, if desired.

7. Bake for 30 minutes or until they should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. (Mine cooked for 25 minutes.)