I see recipes all over the web that call for leftover or day old bread. Bread pudding, French toast, homemade croutons… I bookmark these recipes, thinking someday I’ll make them.
The problem is my family doesn’t seem to know what leftover bread or day old bread is. It doesn’t exist. I make bread, I serve bread, we eat bread until it is all gone. Homemade bread isn’t something that we savor or get the luxury of enjoying day after day. My family is a bunch of bread eating crazies…we love our bread. Sometimes I pull it out of the oven, it cools for a few minutes and it is gone before I can serve it with dinner. It’s drastic around here, seriously.
Challah is one of my favorite breads to make and to eat. This slightly sweet bread with a tender, crispy outer crust doesn’t last long in our house. I imagine Challah does go perfectly in bread pudding or French toast. I hear it also makes some pretty darn tasty homemade croutons. Try a loaf and see… can you make Challah last longer than a day in your house?
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Recipe: Bread Machine Challah (Slightly adapted from Betty Crocker.com)
- 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 1/4 cup bread flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Place all ingredients except egg yolk, cold water and final 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt into your bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
- Select Dough/Manual cycle.
- Once dough cycle is complete, Grease large cookie sheet. Divide dough into thirds. Roll each third into 13-inch rope. Place ropes side by side; braid ropes gently and loosely, starting at the middle. Pinch ends to seal; tuck ends under braid. Place on cookie sheet. Cover and let rise in warm place about 45 minutes or until double. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.)
- Heat oven to 375ºF. Mix egg yolk and cold water; brush over loaf. Sprinkle with remaining Kosher salt. Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
This is gorgeous. I love that big thick braid, and the course salt. Mmm the sweetness and saltiness would be so perfect together.
Your bread is beautiful! I’ve never made challah, but it’s on my list to try soon.
It is such an easy bread to make and work with! I hope you make it soon
We are bread eating people, too, although I’ve never made challah before. I really need to give this one a try!
Our household is exactly the same – homemade bread warm from the oven is just heaven and I’ve been known to devour half a loaf in one sitting! I always bake two loaves at a time now so sometimes we have a little left over for breadcrumbs or garlicky panzanella…don’t this this recipe of yours would last long though, looks divine.
Oh yum – this looks delicious. I’ve tried to make challah once — dismal failure. But, I’d like to try again at some point.
It definitely would be great with french toast!
Lovely! Thank you for sharing. What do we do with the 1 1/2 tsp. of salt? You mention to leave it out in the first step and then add the remaining salt in the last step. Thanks!
Ooops – sorry, Lisa! The 1st 1 1/2 teaspoons salt gets added to the bread machine. The final 1/2 teaspoon gets sprinkled over the top of the bread. I’ve adjusted the recipe! Thanks
What a perfect looking loaf of challah! Yeah, my family is crazy about bread as well. The 4 of us can finish a loaf in a day with no problem! LOL….that’s why I usually make 2 or 3 loaves at a time! I have the recipe to make the bread stays soft and fluffy even after a few days (very amazing). That way I can make multiple loaves in a day and enjoy bread for the next 2 days without more kneading!
My husband would love you. Jewish and loves his Challah. I have never made it for him…best he can do is the deli down the street
You should totally make some for him. It is a really simple bread to work with!
We never have leftover bread, either. this is one BEAUTIFUL bread, Kristen!!!
This sounds so good and is so appealing to the eye, we would eat this up too. We don’t have any problems having day-old bread here either. I could live on bread!
New fan of your blog via Tasty Kitchen! Great photos and recipes, Kristen. Looking forward to getting to know you better!
We are the same way here with bread!!
Do you know I got rid of my bread machine about 2 years ago, because it sat unused for years, taking up space, now of course, I want it back! haha
This looks delicious Kristen! and LOOOVE the bread photos!
That is one beautiful loaf of bread!
Nice pictures… and it looks delicious…
I never experimented with breads though, I fear using yeast
and being an Indian, usage of breads is less often.
But your pics sure inspire me
This challah makes me holla!
Ok, sorry that was totally uncalled for.
But really is kinda does.
Too bad I have an ever lovin’ fear of yeast. I need to get past that.
You definitley need to get over the fear…. I promise you. If I can do it, YOU can do it
I am going to try this!
I made Challah bread once without my bread maker. It was a time consuming, process of reverence almost. I enjoyed it. It was delicious! It just wasn’t practical for a regular part of the schedule.
I have found a couple recipes that work really well to get ready in the breadmaker and then bake in the oven. One Amish white and the other wheat. My youngest and I made a deal that we should never buy bread again – I should just bake it…
I haven’t quite kept up, but I hope to get back there. I really enjoy it.
The first loaf, I watched in amazement as they devoured it in a matter of minutes!
Hi, Kristen!
Would you say this recipe is better than the one you posted in 2007? I have been making that one for ages now, and everyone loves it! If you tell me you switched to this one, I’ll give it a try… ;o)
Best regards from Brazil!
This family doesnt know what leftover bread is either!!! any and all kinds get eaten in this house. If we go out for dinner and the neighboring table sits with their bread basket untouched we stare at them like they are freaks of nature….wondering if they would mind passing over their untouched bread! I love challah, and I love my bread machine. Can’t wait to give this one a try.
This looks so unbelievably good!
I grew up with my mom making homemade challah every week and yours looks just as wonderful.
Give us our Daily Bread – especially when it looks as beautiful as this – no one can resist warm salty fresh bread from the oven…
I absolutely love challah and always forget how easy it is to make! Once the weather cools down I have to get back into the bread baking habit!!
Your challah looks gorgeous. I have to admit-I’ve never made it before, but I certainly do like to it.
What a gorgeous loaf! Really beautifully photographed.
What a beautiful loaf of bread! And, I didn’t realize how easy the recipe was! I see Challah in my future.
We love our bread around here too! And this lovely Challah looks like something that we will gobble up and love!
Ha, we have the same issue with bread. I’m SURE this loaf would be gone in moments.
Oh Kristen, if you only knew how I’m craving carbs with this pregnancy! That loaf would be GONE in one sitting.
Gorgeous loaf.
uhm . . . yeah . . . we are bread eating people here too . . . which is exactly why i don’t make bread on a regular basis . . . because there are only TWO of us and i seriously cannot buy bigger undies . . . not even for Challah that is as GORGEOUS as yours – those photos Kristen – WOW!!
This is gorgous, Kristen. I love the photos, and, of course, the beautiful Challah! I truly need to get a bread machine. Lovely!
Challah DOES make FABULOUS French toast! I would love to make my own…I don’t have a bread machine – just a KitchenAid mixer – could I do this recipe with that and patience?
Beautiful Bread!!!! Challah has been on my to make list from a long time. This is totally inspiring. Beautiful pictures…
Challah is what I grew up with every Friday night – it was bakery bought but 80 plus years ago some bakery bread was really excellent. I have made Challah quite often but as the years crept up, I discovered the taste doesn’t have to be lost if the dough is baked in a loaf pan – it is still wonderful. And still makes great French toast or bread pudding.
So beautiful, Kristen! I love homemade bread and can’t wait to try this!
It’s so pretty! I’m such a chicken with making bread like this but I need to give a try.
I make bread, I serve bread, we eat bread until it is all gone.
US TOO!
Love this, and would love to make it soon! 
Oh my that is gorgeous! I know what you mean, bread never last long in our house either.I live with the doughboy himself and his little minions
I can’t wait to try this.
I was baffled by this title until I realized you have the same issue that I do! I always have to buy bread to make day old bread recipes! Especially with recipes like this…..
A lovely loaf! Great clicks too.
Cheers,
Rosa
For years I have been trying to bake bread and although my family have eaten I have always considered my attempts to be failures UNTIL tonight when I tried your WONDERFUL recipe, it looks, smells and tastes fabulous and I am ridiculously pleased with myself, just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you x
Thanks for this recipe for challah bread. It sounds wonderful.
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