Honey Apple Challah

Instructions

To Make the Dough:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the yeast, 1 tsp honey and 2/3 cup warm water.
2. Let stand for a few minutes until foamy.
3. In the bowl of the stand mixer, whisk together the yeast mixture, oil, remaining 1/3 cup honey, eggs, and yolk.
4. Switch to the dough hook and add in the flour and salt (just go ahead and dump it in) and mix on a moderate speed until the dough starts to pull together and form a craggy mass.
5. Lower the speed and knead the dough for 5 minutes, until smooth, elastic and a little sticky.
6. Transfer the dough to a large oil-coated bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for 1 hour, or until almost doubled in size.
7. Turn the dough out onto a floured counter and gently press it into an oblong shape (the shape here doesn't matter as long as you get it mostly flat and even).
8. Spread 2/3 of the apple mixture over 1/2 of the dough.
9. Fold the other half of the dough over the apples and seal the edges.
10. Press the dough down, and re-flatten the dough.
11. Spread the remaining 1/3 of the apples over half of the dough, and fold the other half over the apples.
12. At this point your dough should vaguely resemble a square-ish shape - tuck the corners under with your hands so it forms a rounded shape.
13. Turn the bowl you used before upside down and put it on top of your dough - let it sit for 30 minutes.

To Shape the Dough:

1. Divide the dough into 4 pieces.
2. Roll and stretch each piece into a rope about 12 inches long (tuck any apple pieces that fall out back in with your finger).
3. Arrange two ropes in each direction, so they form a + sign.
4. Weave them so that one side is over and the other is under where they cross the other strand.
5. Take the four strands that come under and cross them over the strand to their right.
6. Take the four strands that come over and cross them under the strand to their left.
7. Or whatever, just cross them over and under until you get a round-shape. Haha.
8. Tuck any corners or odd bumps under the dough to form a circle.
9. Transfer the dough to a parchment covered baking sheet or stone.
10. Beat an egg until smooth and brush over the challah (don't get rid of the excess egg, you will be using it again!)
11. Let your bread rise for 1 hour.

To Bake:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 F.
2. Brush your challah with the egg wash one more time.
3. Bake in the middle of the oven for 40-45 minutes - if the loaf starts to get too brown you can cover it with tin foil.
4. Cool on a wire rack before slicing. If you can. I couldn't. 🙂
5. Enjoy!