Description
A soft, sweet, and golden round challah bread infused with honey and golden raisins. This budget-friendly recipe requires no fancy equipment and yields a bakery-style crust perfect for Rosh Hashanah or everyday breakfast.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
- 2 packets (14g) active dry yeast
- 1 cup (240ml) warm water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup (75g) golden raisins
- 1/4 cup (80ml) honey
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Add the egg, oil, and salt to the yeast mixture and stir well.
- Add flour one cup at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon or hands, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Sprinkle golden raisins over the dough and fold them in by hand, ensuring even distribution.
- Form the dough into a tight ball, pinching seams at the bottom to seal. Place seam-side down in a greased Dutch oven or baking dish.
- Cover with cling wrap or a damp towel and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Whisk egg yolk and water together for the egg wash.
- Brush the risen dough with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- While baking, heat honey in the microwave for 10 seconds until runny.
- Once out of the oven, brush the hot crust with warm honey.
- Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Wait at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Ensure water is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast. If raisins are dry, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before adding. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For a vegan version, replace the egg with a flax egg and use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: Jewish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: Rosh Hashanah, round challah, budget-friendly, honey challah, golden raisins, Jewish holiday bread, easy bread recipe, homemade challah