Challah with candied fruit

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 tablespoon Dry yeast
1 tablespoon Sugar
1¼ cup Water +
1 tablespoon All-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Salt
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons Butter, melted
1 Egg yolk
Poppy seeds
½ cup Coarsely chopped candied fruit

Directions

Method: Combine the yeast and sugar in the mixing bowl of the Kitchen-Aid and disolve in 1¼ cups of warm water.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour and the salt. Add the eggs amd melted and cooled butter and ⅔ of the flour mixture to the yeast mixture. Mix at speed 2 for 2 minutes; add the rest of the flour (along with the chopped candied fruit) up to the point that the dough starts to leave the sides of the bowl. Grease large bowl and place the dough in it, turning to grease the top. Cover with a tea towel. Let rise in a warm draftless place for approximately 1 hour.

Take ⅔ of the dough and make a braid with it about 1 foot long.

Place it on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Put kiddy corner squarely in the middle. Take the side of your hand as if in a Karate chop and press frimly down the length of the larger bread, spreading the dough somewhat as you go so that the smaller braid will not slip off.

Brush the braid with the egg yolk. Take the other ⅓ of the dough and make a smaller braid (about 10 inches) which you center carefully on the larger braid. Brush the top braid with egg yolk. Let rise in a warm place again for about 40 mintues, don't let it rise too much.

Bake in a pre-heated oven (375 degrees), for 40 to 45 minutes. Check after about 25 minutes to see that it isn't getting too dark, if it is, place a piece of foil lightly over the top. When done, cool on a metal rack. When the loaf is only a little warm, drizzle some powdered sugar frosting over the top.

We tried this and it is truly wonderful. It would be great for either Chanukah, Christmas or Easter brunch.

Mary Riemerman

Submitted By MARY RIEMERMAN On 02-10-95

Related recipes