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Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter

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Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter  Traditional Jewish bread. Beautiful braided bread made with eggs. Perfect for Easter serves up wonderfully with cinnamon honey butter.

Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter |Gather for Bread

The first time I decided to make Challah was last Easter. We had just finished Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman. The study was intense but great. I learned so much about a story that I had read plenty of times before. But this time it took on new meaning to me. Beth Moore really gave insights into hows and whys.

I did the study along with a large group of ladies from church. After the study we finished up with a Purim celebration. Wikipedia.org describes Purim as “is celebrated by giving mutual gifts of food and drink, giving charity to the poor, a celebratory meal, and public recitation of the Scroll of Esther.  Other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration.

 

Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter | Gather for Bread

 

We didn’t serve up any wine. But we did dress up and share traditional foods. My contribution to the celebration was challah served up alongside cinnamon  honey butter. There was one problem. I only made one loaf and the kids were pleading for a taste. They thought it looked so good. I promised if there was anything leftover I would surely bring it home for them.

Well, unfortunately for them there wasn’t. But of course Mom could always make more. After all, I do love baking.

I was pleased with the results and the taste of challah. It’s different than many breads of tried before. I think mostly because it has the eggs and it’s sweeter than your traditional yeast breads.

Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter| GAther for Bread

The best part was the braiding. So fun. This can be braided in a variety of ways. I just choose the traditional 3 strand. You could of course do 4 or 6 as well.

Braiding ChallahBraiding ChallahBraiding CHallah

According to Wikipedia.org “Each single loaf is sometimes woven with six strands. Together, both loaves have twelve which may represent each tribe of Israel. Other numbers of strands commonly used are three, five and seven. Occasionally twelve are used, referred to as a ‘Twelve Tribes’ Challah.”

After braiding just place on parchment paper. This parchment is wonderful. It has never ripped or torn on me in all the things I’ve baked.

Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter | Gather for Bread

There is so much history and significance in this bread. I truly think it will be a tradition this time of year to make this bread and share with my family. Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day.

Til we meet and eat again,

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TO MAKE THIS RECIPE WELL:

Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter

Melanie - Gather for Bread
Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter Traditional Jewish bread. Beautiful braided bread made with eggs. Perfect for Easter serves up wonderfully with cinnamon honey butter.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 1 large loaf

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup warm water 110 degrees
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs plus 1 large yolk
  • 3 - 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • Glaze:
  • 1 large egg white
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • For Cinnamon Honey Butter
  • 1/2 cup 1 stick butter, softened
  • 3 Tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together water, oil, eggs and egg yolk in a large measuring cup. Use stand mixer with dough hook and combine 3 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. On low speed, add water mixture and mix until dough comes together nicely, about 2 minutes.
  • Increase mixer speed to medium-low and knead until dough is smooth and easily stretched, about 8 minutes.
  • If after 4 minutes, more flour is needed go ahead and add remaining flour 2 tablespoons at a time. Dough should stick to the bottom of the bowl but clean the sides.
  • Place on a lightly floured surface and knead to for a smooth ball. Place in a large oiled bowl. Cover with greased plastic and let rise until doubled about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place dough on lightly floured surface and divide into 3 pieces. Roll each piece into a 16 inch long rope. Place 3 strands lined up about 2 inches apart. Take left strand and wrap over middle strand. Take right strand and wrap over middle. Continue braiding back and forth until bread is complete. Tuck ends under to make nice rounded corners.
  • For the Glaze:
  • Beat egg white and water together in a small bowl. Brush over loaf. Cover with greased plastic and let rise in warm place until nearly doubled in size. Dough should barely spring back when with poked with knuckle, 45 minutes to 1 1/4 hours.
  • Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Brush loaf with remaining egg white wash. Sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds if desired. Spray lightly with water. Bake until golden brown and center of loaf registers 200 degrees, 30 to 40 minutes, rotating loaf halfway through baking.
  • Let cool for 15 minutes. Remove to cooling rack. Allow to cool for 2 hours before slicing.
  • For Cinnamon Honey Butter
  • Place butter honey and cinnamon in a mixing bowl fitted with wire whisk attachment. Whip on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Serve alongside sliced Challah.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Recipe from: Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book

Challah with Cinnamon Honey Butter Traditional Jewish bread. Beautiful braided bread made with eggs. Perfect for Easter serves up wonderfully with cinnamon honey butter.

Other Easter Recipes to Enjoy:

Champagne Baked Ham

Champagne Baked Ham

Coconut Custard Pie

Homemade Coconut Custard Pie - Flaky coconut pie made with real custard baked in a pie crust for a perfect old fashioned taste, just like grandma made. Real ingredients like eggs, coconut milk and organic sugar.

Comments

  1. Kelly - LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE says

    I LOVE FLAVORED BUTTER. Sorry for my excitement, but I do, especially with honey and cinnamon. You know what, I love how pretty a loaf of challah bread always looks. Seriously, the prettiest bread out there 🙂 Looks lovely, pinned for later. Thanks dear, Happy Monday!

    Reply

  10. Pam says

    That is a seriously stunning loaf of bread! The cinnamon honey butter must taste so good on a piece of the freshly baked bread. YUM!

    Reply

  16. Jill says

    This is a truly beautiful loaf of bread! I’ve always wanted to try making one from scratch… you’ve inspired me. Found you over at Buns in my Oven. Pinned!

    Reply

  21. cathy says

    Love challah bread, love Beth Moore, and love Esther! This is a great post, you have inspired me to make this! Found your blog on create it Thursdays and I am now following you 🙂
    Cathy

    Reply

    • Melanie says

      Awesome Cathy! Thanks for your kind words. Glad to find a fellow Beth Moore fan. I’m getting to go see her in Hershey in May. So excited.
      Have a blessed day!

      Reply

  25. Jodee Weiland says

    This bread is beautiful and looks so delicious! I love traditions and the foods that go with so many of them. It’s the history and the stories that along with them that intrigues me. This bread looks wonderful and has a lovely story to with it.Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  27. Wendy says

    Melanie, I make or buy a challah every week. With that extensive “challah experience” behind me, I can say without a doubt that your challah is a beauty! The outside is a perfect golden brown while the inside is soft, moist, and a bit chewy. The Cooks Illustrated recipe is a good one! There are so many different flavors and braids that can be used. I have a friend who bakes a different type of challah each month! Another great challah recipe is from challah guru Joan Nathan and was adapted by Smitten Kitchen. You can find it here if you want to try it:
    http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/09/best-challah-egg-bread/
    I am going to whip up some of your honey butter for my next loaf! Thanks

    Reply

    • Melanie says

      Wow. You must really love challah Wendy. Thanks so much for your kind words. It is a terrific recipe.
      A new challah recipe each month? Cool, what a great idea. Hope you enjoy the honey butter!
      So glad you stopped by! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

      Reply

  30. Cindy Eikenberg says

    Melanie, this bread looks just amazing and the butter sounds delicious!! Thank you so much for sharing at Best of the Weekend – pinned! Hope you’re having a great week and so happy that you shared this recipe with us.

    Reply

  34. Ruosi says

    5 stars
    I made these a couple weeks ago and they were so beautiful and delicious! I made one with poppyseed and one with sesame seed. Challah is definitely one of my new favorite things to make. It made the most amazing sandwiches too, especially when I panini pressed it. I wanted to make french toast with the stale leftovers, but it only lasted us a couple days cause it was so good. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipe 🙂

    Reply

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