Challah
Challah is a traditional braided Jewish bread made with eggs, strong bread flour and a touch of sugar, finished with toasted sesame seeds. The Thermomix TM7 gently heats the yeast mixture to the ideal warmth and kneads the enriched dough until silky and elastic, giving you a golden, pillowy loaf with minimal effort.
About this recipe
Challah Thermomix TM7 is the ultimate enriched bread recipe for anyone who loves a golden, braided loaf fresh from the oven. This traditional Jewish bread combines eggs, strong bread flour, sugar and vegetable oil into a tender, slightly sweet crumb, finished with a scattering of toasted sesame seeds for nutty crunch. Searching for easy bread recipes for your all-in-one kitchen machine? This one delivers. The TM7 gently heats the water, yeast and sugar to exactly the right warmth so the dough rises reliably every time, then takes over the heavy work of mixing and kneading until the dough is silky and elastic. Serve warm slices with butter at breakfast, use day-old challah for the richest French toast, or present the shiny braid as a centrepiece at a festive brunch or Shabbat dinner. With precise temperature control and consistent dough results, this recipe turns an intimidating bakery classic into a relaxed weekend baking project.
Preparation tips
- Grease the proving bowl generously with vegetable oil before the dough goes in, as challah dough is enriched with eggs and oil and can still stick. Turn the dough once so all sides are coated, which also stops a dry skin from forming during the rise.
- For a glossy bakery-style finish, reserve a little beaten egg and brush it over the braided loaf twice: once before and once during baking. Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds on after the second coat so they adhere firmly to the shiny crust.
- Leftover challah keeps beautifully: slice it and freeze in a bag, then toast straight from frozen. The eggy crumb also makes superb French toast or bread pudding, so nothing of this golden loaf goes to waste.
Recipe variations
- Lactose-light version: replace part of the water with plant-based milk such as oat or soy milk for an even softer crumb, and brush the braid with maple syrup instead of egg wash for a vegan-friendly shine before adding the sesame seeds.
- Festive honey version: swap the sugar for an equal amount of honey and add a pinch of cinnamon to the dough. Braid the loaf with three or four strands and scatter extra toasted sesame seeds and poppy seeds for a celebration-worthy holiday centrepiece.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Gentle heating from the TM7 brings the water, yeast and sugar to the ideal warmth, guaranteeing an active, frothy starter for the challah dough. [Multi-Function]
- Using the built-in scale, weigh the strong bread flour directly into the mixing bowl for consistent dough hydration and a tender crumb every bake. [Built-in Scale]
- Hands-free kneading turns the eggy dough into a smooth, elastic ball, saving your arms from ten minutes of sticky manual work. [Hands-Free]
- Even mixing distributes the oil, eggs and salt uniformly through the dough, giving challah its signature soft, evenly textured crumb. [Multi-Function]
- Whipping the egg glaze lightly before brushing helps the sesame seeds stick and bakes the braid to a deep golden shine. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- water
- dried instant yeast
- sugar
- vegetable oil
- medium egg
- strong white bread flour
- fine sea salt
- medium egg
- sesame seeds, toasted