Challah (sweet)

Total Time: 12 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 12 hrs

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages yeast
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 7/8 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 extra large eggs
• 8 cups bread flour, plus extra
• 2 egg yolks, beaten with
• 1 teaspoon water
• poppy seed

Recipe

• 1 dissolve sugar in 1 cup warm water in a large bowl that has been rinsed with hot water.
• 2 sprinkle yeast on top and let stand 10 minutes. stir to dissolve yeast.
• 3 add oil, remaining water, honey, salt, eggs, and four cups of flour. beat well. add remaining flour. dough will be sticky.
• 4 cover with a damp dish towel and let stand for 10 minutes.
• 5 knead dough on a well floured surface for 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary (usually quite a bit).
• 6 round dough and place in a greased bowl. cover and let rise until double in bulk.
• 7 punch down vigorously.
• 8 cover again and let rise until double in bulk.
• 9 punch down again.
• 10 divide dough into equal parts for each loaf (2 large, 3 medium, or 4 smaller loaves).
• 11 divide each part into three equal parts. starting in the middle and working to the ends, loosely braid the dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet. flatten ends and tuck them under.
• 12 cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double in bulk.
• 13 brush with egg yolks and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
• 14 bake in a preheated 400f oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown and sounding hollow when tapped.