GLUTEN FREE CHALLAH RECIPE

Provided by Laurie Siegel

Mix together in a small bowl: 1/2C warm water, 1 tsp honey, 1 package rapid rise yeast.

Cover and let sit for bubbles to form, about 15-20 minutes. In separate bowl- mixer with the dough hook it easiest- combine: 2 eggs room temperature, ½ C warm water, ½ C canola oil, ¼ C sugar, 2 tsps salt, 2 C gluten free flower, ½ tsp xanthum gum. When mixed well, slowly add 2 more cups of flour (may be less).

Add yeast mix, folding it in so it doesn’t splash all over. Mix until sticky but formed. Grease a bowl with 1 tsp oil, place dough in bowl, and turn it so the whole blob of dough has oil on it.

Place it in oven on proof – 100 degrees, or proof in warm place with towel on top. It will rise, but not like regular dough. Let rise for 2-4 hours. Keep dough in bowl, punch it down with your fist. Turn it around, let it rise for at least an additional hour. Leave it in the same bowl for this second rise. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it gently for 3-5 minutes. The longer, the better, but no more than 7 minutes.

Divide dough into how many challot you want to make- one, 3, 4, or just rolls. I usually make 3-4 challot per recipe and freeze the rest after baking. Set oven to 400 degrees. Put parchment paper on cookie sheets. Take your divided dough and braid it- 3, 4, or 6 ‘snake-like’ coils. The easiest way to shape the coils is to start in the middle and roll it between your two hands. I use a plastic scraper to cut the dough before braiding. Once everything is braided, take an egg yolk (again, the egg needs to be at room temp), add 1 tsp water, mix it and glaze the challah with it. Use a pastry brush.

Place challah in 400 oven for 15 minutes. Then turn the oven down and continue to bake it at 350 for another 12-15 minutes. It depends on how many you make as to the time it needs to bake. I switch positions in the oven when turning it down and put the cookie sheets on different shelves. If you make four 6 inch challot, it takes about 18-25 minutes. Challah should come out browned but not burnt on the bottom. Freezes well in zip lock bag.

 

 

CHALLAH

 

Dissolve 1 pkg yeast into 3 Tbsps of warm water with 1 tsp sugar or honey. Cover, let sit to rise in a warm place In large bowl or electric mixer with dough paddle combine:

½ C sugar
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp salt
1 C really hot water
Add these together, wait for water to cool
Then add 1 egg, yeast mixture and 31/2 to 33/4 C flour. Mix til it all blends together

Transfer all dough to a greased bowl

Proof- let rise- for 2-3 hours in a proofing oven (100 degrees F) or cover

Flour a counter and place dough onto floured spot. Punch down, then knead for 3-5 minutes

Divide dough into two pieces for 2 challot Divide each part into 3-4- or 6 for your braids. Let it rise one more hour braided

Place an egg yolk into a cup, add 1 tsp water and coat loaves in egg wash

Bake in 350 degree F oven on parchment paper for 30-40 minutes until golden brown