No-Knead Challah

By Late2Serenity

Hands-on time:
20 mins. to 30 mins.

Baking time:
30 mins. to 35 mins.

Total time:
16 hrs 20 mins. to 4 days 16 hrs 20 mins.

Yield:
Three 9" challah rounds; made individually, or all at once

Ingredients

• DOUGH
• 6 3/4 cups or 7 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour*
• 1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons instant yeast
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
• *See step #1, below.
• TOPPING
• 1 egg (any size) beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
• 2 to 3 tablespoons sesame seeds or poppy seeds, optional

Details

Adapted from kingarthurflour.com

Preparation

Step 1

1) The flour/liquid ratio is important in this recipe. If you measure flour by sprinkling it into your measuring cup, then gently sweeping off the excess, use 7 3/4 cups. If you measure flour by dipping your cup into the canister, then sweeping off the excess, use 6 3/4 cups. Most accurate of all, and guaranteed to give you the best results, if you measure flour by weight, use 33 ounces.

2) To make the dough: Combine all of the dough ingredients, in the order written, in a very large bowl (at least 6 quarts). Stir to make a sticky dough. You can do this in a stand mixer and then transfer to a larger bowl; or simply use a big bowl and spoon (or dough whisk).

3) Cover the bowl, and let the dough rise for 2 hours at cool room temperature.

4) Refrigerate the dough for at least several hours, to chill it and make it easier to work with. It can be refrigerated for up to 4 days before using.

5) When you're ready to make challah, remove the dough from the refrigerator, and scoop out about one-third of the dough (about 21 ounces). Transfer it to a floured work surface; a silicone mat works well here.

6) Divide the dough into three pieces, and shape each piece into a log about 24" long.

7) Braid the logs, pinching the strands together at each end.

8) Lightly grease an 8" x 2" round cake pan. It's important that the pan is at least 2" deep. If it's not use, a 9" round pan. Coil the braid into the pan.

9) Cover the pan, and allow the braid to rise for about 90 minutes, till it's quite puffy. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.

10) Uncover the challah, and brush it with the egg/water mixture. Sprinkle with seeds, if desired.

11) Bake the challah for 30 to 35 minutes, till it's golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers at least 190°F.

12) Remove from the oven, and carefully turn out of the pan onto a rack to cool.