Cheese & Chive Challah

By cborrelli

The traditional yeasted egg bread is enriched even more by adding cheese to the dough. We love the flavor of fontina, but Gruyère or another Swiss cheese would also work.

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm 2% reduced-fat milk (100° to 110°)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 5 large egg yolks
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) aged fontina cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup fresh chives, finely chopped
• 10 7/10 ounces bread flour (about 2 1/4 cups)
• 13 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour, divided (about 3 cups)
• Cooking spray
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

Details

Servings 24
Adapted from myrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes or until bubbly. Stir in butter, salt, 5 egg yolks, and 3 eggs. Stir in fontina and chives.

Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add 10.7 ounces bread flour (about 2 1/4 cups) and 12.4 ounces (about 2 3/4 cups) all-purpose flour to yeast mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms (dough will be sticky).

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding remaining 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. Punch down dough; cover and let rise 50 minutes or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.)

Divide dough into 6 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Roll each ball into a rope about 15 inches long. Place 3 ropes parallel to one another; braid ropes. Pinch ends together, and tuck under loaf. Repeat procedure with remaining 3 ropes. Place loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Combine 1 egg and 2 tablespoons water, stirring well with a whisk. Brush loaves gently with egg mixture. Sprinkle loaves evenly with Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes or until golden. Remove from baking sheet; cool on a wire rack.