Two Tone Challah Bread Recipes

EASY CHALLAH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir the 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 add the 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, about 5 minutes.
• Form the dough into a compact round shape, and place in an oiled bowl. Turn the dough over several times in the bowl to oil the surface of the dough, cover the bowl with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough, and cut it 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. Ropes should be fatter in the middle and thinner at the ends. Pinch 3 ropes together at the top and braid them. Starting with the strand to the right, move it to the left over the middle strand (that strand becomes the new middle strand.) Take the strand farthest to the left, and move it over the new middle strand. Continue braiding, alternating sides each time, until the loaf is braided, and pinch the ends together and fold them underneath for a neat look.
• Place the braided loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and brush the top with beaten egg yolk. (For a softer crust, brush with melted butter instead.)
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake the challah in the preheated oven until the top browns to a rich golden color and the loaf sounds hollow when you tap it with a spoon, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

BREAD MACHINE CHALLAH II

Steps:

• Place warm water, sugar, honey, vegetable oil, salt, 2 eggs, flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle; press Start.
• After the machine is done, take the dough out, and place it on a very lightly floured board, punch the dough down, and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Divide the dough in half. Then divide into 3 equal pieces, roll into ropes about 12 to 14 inches, and braid into a loaf. Do the same with the remaining other half. Gently put the loaves on a greased cookie sheet, mist with water, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm, draft free place, until double in size.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water.
• Brush risen loaves with egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. If it begins to brown too soon, cover with foil.

TWO-TONE YEAST BREAD

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add warm milk and shortening, beat until smooth.
• Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dought (dough will be sticky).
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
• Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• For molasses dough, in a large mixing bowl combine all-purpose flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
• Add the warm milk, molasses and shortening; beat until smooth.
• Stir in enough whole wheat flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
• Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch down doughs, divide each dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of each dough into a 12 inch x 8 inch rectangle.
• Place the rectangle of molasses dough on the rectangle of plan dough.
• Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; pinch seam to seal and tuck ends under. Place seam side down in an 8 inch x 4 inch x 2 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. repeat with remaining dough.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes or until browned. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.