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Wholegrain Spelt Vegan Challah On A Lace Cloth With Decorative Wheat On The Side.

Wholegrain Spelt Vegan Challah

Kosher Create
Follow this healthy Wholegrain Spelt Vegan Challah Recipe to create a staple Jewish bread. Create a challah that is rich in both flavor and texture. Fill your home with the aroma of freshly baked challah while partaking in a time-bound tradition.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Supper
Cuisine Eastern European
Servings 8 People

Equipment

  • Electric Mixer (with kneading hook attachment)
  • Heat Resistant Small Bowl
  • Baking Pan
  • Baking sheets
  • Pastry Brush

Ingredients
  

Challah Dough

  • 2 tbsp Fresh Yeast   (or 1 tbsp active dry yeast)
  • 5 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup  (without added sugar or preservatives - 1 tbsp to activate yeast, 4 tbsp for dough)
  • 1 1/2 cups Lukewarm Water  (¼ cup to activate the yeast, approximately 1 1/4 cups for the dough)
  • 3 1/2 cups Wholegrain Spelt Flour (sifted)
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 4 tbsp Olive Oil

Coating The Challah

  • 1 tbsp  Pure Maple Syrup
  • 1 tbsp  Water

Instructions
 

Gather The Ingredients

  • Gather the ingredients for the challah dough.
    Wholegrain Spelt Vegan Challah Ingredients In Glass Bowls.

Creating The Dough

  • Pour boiling water into a heat resistant small bowl. Wait a minute, then pour out the water.
  • In the warmed bowl - gently mix the yeast, 1 tbsp pure maple syrup and 1/4 cup lukewarm water.
  • Set aside for 15 minutes. This mixture should create bubbles and rise.
    Yeast Bubbling In Glass Bowl.
  • Place the spelt flour & salt in a large bowl. Mix until blended and make a well in the center.
  • Pour the prepared yeast mixture into the well together with 1/2 cup of water.
    Pouring Water Into The Spelt Flour Well In A Bowl.
  • In an electric mixer, on a low speed, start to mix with a hook attachment.
  • Gradually add the pure maple syrup and olive oil.
  • Gradually add just enough water to a create a dough that solidifies into a circle but is not too sticky. It should come off the sides of the bowl.
  • Using the hook attachment, knead for 10 minutes keeping the speed low.
  • Place a cloth loosely on top of the dough bowl and let the dough rise until double in size. This may take about 1-1 ½ hours, depending on the room temperature.
  • After the dough has risen create the challah form.

Forming The Challah

  • Form a circle from the risen dough.
    Circle Of Challah Dough On Baking Sheet.
  • Split the dough into 6 equal parts.
    Challah Dough Cut Into 6 Equal Parts.
  • Roll each part into a long strand.
    6 Long Strands Made From The Challah Dough On A Baking Sheet.
  • Connect the strands on top and spread them apart.
    6 Long Strands Of Challah Dough Joined At The Edge And Spread Apart On A Baking Sheet.
  • Create pairs of 2 from the strands.
    The Strands Of Challah Dough Paired Into Three Groups Of Two Strands And Joined Together At One End.
  • Begin to braid the strands by first folding 2 strands from the right side over the middle strand, keeping the strands leveled.
    The Beginning Of The Braid Made From The Paired Strands Of Challah Dough.
  • Then fold the left 2 strands over the newly created middle. (This is the same process as hair braiding.)
    The Second Fold Of The Challah Dough Braid.
  • Repeat the steps and a braid will begin to form.
    Half Of The Braided Form Of The Challah Dough.
  • After creating the braid, join the ends well & tuck the ends under the braid.
    The Braided Form Of The Challah Dough.
  • Cover the challah form and let it rise for 30 minutes or until double in size.

Preheat The Oven

  • While the challah form is rising, preheat the oven to 480 degrees Fahrenheit (250 degrees Celsius) for 10 minutes.
  • Lower the heat to 175 Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).

Coating The Challah

  • Place the risen challah form onto a baking sheet in a baking pan.
  • In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp pure maple syrup with 1 tbsp water.
    A Honey Water Mixture In A Glass Bowl With A Pastry Brush For Brushing The Challah.
  • Brush the challah with the maple syrup-water mixture.
    A Honey Water Mixture Brushed On Top Of The Challah Dough Before Baking.

Baking The Challah.

  • Place the challah in the pre-heated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

Notes

Wholegrain spelt flour creates a challah denser than regular flour. It is delicious and very nutritious!
 
Keyword Braided Challah, Challah, Parve, Pure Maple Syrup, Shabbat, Vegan, Wholegrain Spelt Flour, Yeast