Round Rosh Hashanah Challah

Recipe by: Faye Levy | from 1,000 Jewish Recipes

Cookstr

Total Time: Under 4 Hours

Skill Level: Easy

Cost: Inexpensive

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

The traditional challah to celebrate the Jewish New Year is often sweeter than usual and round in shape. Actually, it is a spiral mounded in a dome. The rounded loaves are made plain or with raisins and are popular also for Yom Kippur eve. I like to make this sweeter, stickier dough in a mixer with a dough hook. You can also make it by hand.

Yield: Makes 1 medium loaf

INGREDIENTS

3 large eggs
1/3 cup raisins (optional)
½ cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 envelope dry yeast (¼ ounce or 2½ teaspoons)
About 3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1½ teaspoons salt

Directions

1. Set aside 1 egg for glaze and raisins, if using. Using remaining ingredients above, prepare Basic Challah Dough, Prepared By Mixer.

2. If you’re adding raisins, rinse, drain, and dry them on paper towels. Oil a baking sheet.

3. Knead dough lightly on a floured work surface. Pat dough into about a 9-inch square on work surface. Sprinkle evenly with raisins, if using, and pat them into dough. Roll dough up tightly from one end to the other, lightly flouring work surface if dough begins to stick.

4. Roll dough back and forth on work surface, pressing with your palms, to form a smooth rope about 28 inches long. Wind rope around one of its ends in a spiral. Tuck other end underneath and pinch firmly to attach it to dough. Press whole loaf firmly with your hands to give it an even round shape. Carefully set loaf on oiled baking sheet.

5. Cover shaped loaf with a warm, slightly damp towel. Let rise about 1 hour or until nearly doubled. Preheat oven to 375°F.

6. Beat remaining egg with a pinch of salt. Brush risen loaf gently with egg. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F. Bake about 30 more minutes or until top and bottom of bread are firm and bread sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.

7. Carefully transfer bread to rack and cool.

Notes

To make sure the challah has a light texture, you let the dough rise twice in a bowl and once after shaping the loaf. The challah tastes best on the day it is baked but you can wrap it and keep it 1 day at room temperature, or freeze it.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information is based on 16 servings.

Calories 159kcal (8%)

Calcium 11mg (1%)

Vitamin C 0mg (0%)

Vitamin A 13mcg RAE (0%)

Potassium 66mg

Magnesium 8mg

Protein 4g

Sugar 4g

Fiber 1g