Apple Honey Challah

Source

Author: Bob and Robin Young

Source: Martha Stewart "Living". Sept 2009, Pg 176

Web Page: www.rockinrs.com, http://boisefoodieguild.blogspot.com

Comments

"Apples and honey, Rosh Hashanah's symbols of a sweet new year, are perfect additions to a loaf of challah."

Degree of Difficulty

Degree of Difficulty: Moderately difficult

Oven Temperature: 375°F

Servings

Yield: 1 9" Loaf

Ingredients

¼

lbs

Butter, unsalted and at room temperature cut into chunks

c

Bread flour, un-bleached

¾

c

Water, 105°F

2/3

c

Honey, use a light, floral honey. Tupelo is good.

2

lg

Eggs

3

lg

Egg yolks

2

t

Active Dry Yeast

2

t

Coarse Salt

2

Green apples or Pink Lady apples peeled and cut into ¼" thick slices

1

Butter a large bowl and melt 4 T butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat; let cool.

2

Combine 2 T melted butter, the flour, water, 1/3 cup honey, the eggs and yolks, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Mix until dough forms. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 10 minutes.

3

Transfer dough to a buttered bowl and brush with 1 T melted butter. Cover. Let rise in a warm place until dough almost doubles in size. About 1½ hours.

4

Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Pat into an 8½x14" rectangle. Top with apples; knead to incorporate. Return to bowl and brush with the remaining melted butter. Cover. Let rise again until doubled, about 1 hour.

5

Pre-heat oven to 375°F

6

Butter a 9" round cake pan. Roll dough into about a 24" rope and coil in concentric circles and transfer to the pan. Cover and let rise again, about 45 minutes.

7

Heat remaining 4 T butter and ½ cup honey a saucepan over medium-low heat until butter melts. Brush the dough with the honey-butter mixture. Bake until golden brown and firm, about 35 minutes. (190°F internal temperature)

8

Brush the baked and warm challah with the remaining butter-honey mixture. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. Turn out loaf from the pan and let cool.

Cooking Times

Preparation Time: 3 hours and 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Inactive Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours and 30 minutes