Devorah Heller’s Heavenly Challah Recipe
March 8th, 2010 Print
The following recipe is from Devorah Heller, the famous “Challah Lady”, who gives Challah baking workshops around the world.
Ingredients:
5 pounds high gluten flour
5 cups lukewarm
¾ cup sugar (adjust according to your tastes)
3 tablespoons dry yeast or 2 ounces fresh yeast
3 eggs
½ cup oil
2 tablespoons salt
Directions:
In a mixer Combine the sugar, water, and yeast. While these three ingredients sit together, sift the flour and transfer six cups of the flour on top of the first three ingredients.
Add the eggs, oil, and salt. Start the mixer on high speed. After a few minutes, you should have a sticky paste.
Lower the speed and add the rest of the flour over a span of 6-8 minutes.
Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
Give the dough a final spin for one more minute., then pour and additional 2 tablespoons of oil on top of the dough.
Transfer to a large bowl and cover (alternatively you can use a clean garbage bag to ensure the dough stays moist).
After 45-60 minutes, separate a piece of dough, make the bracha, and braid the challah.
Allow the shaped challahs to rise another hour and then brush with beaten egg.
Bake for 3-45 minutes at 350 degrees until golden.
Good luck!
Share your favorite recipes with fellow Savvima readers!
can you give me a whole wheat challah recipe?
Absolutely! We will try to post one very soon.
Try the Honey Oat Challah recipe for a whole grain challah alternative!
How can I make this without making a bracha? I’d like to make less…
Thanks!
If you half the recipe you do not have to make a bracha. Or you can freeze the extra challahs from the full recipe. Wrap challahs in tin foil and seal in ziploc bags. You can just defrost them when ready to serve of warm them in the oven first. Either way they’ll taste great!
Can this recipe be made without a mixer? I don’t have a Bosch, only a kitchen-aid, which will not hold 5lbs. of flour. Doing half the recipe at atime is time intensive and messy. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Yes, I made it by hand and my family says it’s the best challah I have ever made!
I need a Challah recipe for 6 pounds flour thanks
Do you have a recipe for spelt challah?! I’ve tried a few and am still on the hunt for a delicious recipe- amd you really seem to be the expert!!! Thanks so much for your time and patience in advance!! Shabbat shalom!
i used the above recipe using white spelt and it came out amazing. all you have to add is more oil when you pour the 2 tablespoons of oil on top of the dough. i substitute spelt flour for regular flour in everything and nobody can taste the difference.
I just made the post above and forgot to fill out the name and email bit….so here it is!!
do you have mrs. heller’s hotline number?
How many challos does this recipe make?
Mrs. Hellers Hotline number is 718-436-0927
call her she’ll be glad to help.
does anyone know if transferring to a large bowl for rising is necessary or can the dough be left in mixer bowl. This is what I do till now and wondering if this is the missing link to my challah success.