Recipe: My ‘go to’ Sweet Challah

This recipe is not exactly a staple in my house. Sure, it takes center stage during holiday celebrations (Rosh HaShana) but it isn’t one of those inherited recipes. Actually, I found it in one of my mom’s many recipe books. Challah is a traditional Jewish yeasted bread that is usually braided and eaten on special occasions and Shabat. While most challah is braided in a line, this sweet challah is braided in a circle to symbolize the cyclicality of the year. This recipe makes a HUGE loaf or two medium sized ones. 

The dough is a real treat to work with, so I tend to use this recipe for all my challah needs. All you need is time and patience - as with most breads, this recipe requires waiting.

One of the most traditional foods, it is the least traditional in my family. I have no childhood memories tethered to this sweet bread. We have no recipe to pass down, just what we foraged in the cookbooks. Plus, a third of my family does not eat gluten, making this recipe even less popular.

Since I enjoy making this dough, I find I make it for whatever occasion feels right, be it pot lucks or Christmas breakfast. Yes, it is now a Christmas tradition too.