To welcome the new year, many families enjoy a round challah during Rosh Hashanah. If you’re looking for a sweet and easy recipe to make with your kids, try this subtlely sweet maple and cinnamon variation. If you’re hosting guests with food allergies, this special challah is also egg and dairy free--a perfect way to ensure every guest feels welcome.
Not sure you can handle braiding a round challah?
Check out our round challah braiding tutorial.
AQUAFABULOUS ROSH HASHANAH CHALLAH
Makes 3 challot
Ingredients:
- 4 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
- ½ cup warm water
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup oil (canola, grapeseed or olive oil work well)
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 4.5 liquid oz or 9 tablespoons aquafaba (room temperature liquid from can of chickpeas)
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup of raisins
- 9 cups (1080 grams) bread flour
Toppings:
- 1 tablespoon aquafaba mixed with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
- Pumpkin or chai spice or cinnamon and sugar to taste
Instructions:
- In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add yeast, ½ cup warm water, sugar, oil, salt and aquafaba, and whisk for 1-2 minutes until lightly frothy.*
- Add your raisins.
- Switch to the dough hook then slowly add in most of the flour, reserving ½ cup.
- Slowly add in 1 cup of warm water and the rest of the flour.
- Knead dough for 4-5 minutes until it comes together and is not sticky.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a clean towel. Let the dough rise for 90 minutes in a warm place or until doubled.
- Divide the dough into three separate pieces.
- Now separate each section of dough into four. Roll and stretch each quarter into a long strand.
- Braid your dough.
- Repeat for the other two loaves.
- Let rise for 30-45 minutes, brush with a aquafaba/maple syrup and sprinkle on toppings.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 42 minutes.
- Let your challah cool on a rack. If you’re not eating it right away, wrap it in foil, and place in an airtight bag.
If you don’t have a mixer, place your ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl. Use a whisk for step one and then for step three on, start with a rubber spatula and then switch to your hands to combine. You’ll have to work pretty hard, but this is a good step to harness some “kid power.”
If you’d like more information about celebrating Rosh Hashanah with kids, visit
the PJ Library Rosh Hashanah Hub.
September 6, 2018