Chocolate Challah Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 Tablespoon of sugar in the water. Whisk until completely combined.
• Add vegetable oil and whisk. Then add 4 of the eggs, whisking for about one minute after each egg is added. Whisk in remaining sugar and salt. Add flour one cup at a time, mixing with a sturdy spoon after each cup.
• When all of the flour has been added, turn dough onto floured surface and knead the dough to remove all lumps. Clean out bowl and grease it. Form dough into a ball and return it to the bowl. Let dough rise for one hour in a warm. The dough should approximately double in size. Punch it down and then put chocolate chips in center of dough and reform dough into a ball so that the chocolate chips are encased in the center of the dough. Allow to rise for another 30 minutes.
• Remove dough from warm spot and place dough ball onto floured surface. Using a long serated knife, cut the dough in half and then cut each halve into thirds. Reform all six dough balls so that the chocolate is encased in the center of each ball. Then, using your hands, roll out each ball into a strand approximately 15 inches in length. Take three strands and pinch them together at one end, tucking the pinched ends under the bread. Braid the three strands together. When you get to the end of the strands, pinch the strands together and tuck under loaf. Repeat for remaining three strands to create a second loaf.
• Lightly grease a large baking sheet. Gently transfer the challahs to the baking sheet. Whisk remaining egg in a small bowl and brush generously onto each challah. Return loafs to warm spot to rise for another 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375. Brush challahs with second round of egg wash. Be sure to get egg wash into all the cracks and crevices. Place loaves into oven on middle rack. Fill a baking dish or roasting pan with about two inches of water. Place dish on the rack below the challahs. Bake the challahs for thirty minutes, rotating the baking sheet once in the middle of baking time. Challahs should have a medium golden brown crust and sound hollow when tapped. Be sure to check challahs near end of baking time in order to avoid over cooking. Continue cooking past 30 minutes if challahs aren't golden brown yet.
• Cool challahs completely on wire baking rack.

Steps:

• Heat the water to 110°F.
• Mix about one cup of the flour, the yeast, and the heated water until smooth.
• Add brown sugar, cocoa, butter, salt, egg and mix.
• Add enough of the remaining bread flour to make a soft dough.
• Knead about four minutes with a mixer at medium speed or by hand (may take a little longer) until dough is elastic and smooth.
• Set the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it stand in a warm place until doubled, about one hour.
• Filling:.
• Beat the cream cheese until soft and smooth Add the melted chocolate while it is still hot and mix until smooth.
• Add the sugar, flour, egg yolk and vanilla.
• Mix until smooth.
• Once the dough has risen, punch out the air and knead it for a couple of minutes until smooth.
• Use a knife to divide the dough into three equal pieces.
• Roll the dough pieces with a rolling pin to rectangles 15 inches by 5 inches.
• Spread 1/3 of the filling down the center of each, leaving a one-inch border with no filling.
• Roll the rectangle into fifteen-inch long ropes with the filling inside.
• Pinch any seams together and roll the ropes with your hands until smooth.
• Braid the three ropes.
• When you get to the ends, wet them, pinch them together, and tuck them under.
• Prepare a large baking sheet by greasing and sprinkling with cornmeal.
• Place the loaf on the pan, cover the loaf, and let it rise until doubled, about one hour
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Bake the bread for 20 minutes then cover the bread with a large sheet of aluminum foil and bake for another ten to fifteen minutes or until done.
• While the bread is cooling, make the glaze.
• With a mixer, beat cream cheese with vanilla.
• Add powdered sugar and cocoa with enough warm water to make a glaze of drizzling consistency.
• Drizzle the chocolate glaze generously over the bread.

Steps:

• Mix the warm water, 1/3 cup canola oil, honey, 2 eggs and salt in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
• Add the bread flour and cocoa powder and mix until dough is a shaggy mess.
• Add the instant yeast and mix well.
• Now add the all-purpose flour one cup at a time, until too thick to stir.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and continue to add flour while kneading for about 10-15 minutes.
• When you are done kneading the dough will bounce back at you when you press on it. The surface will no longer be sticky or come off on your fingers, but will be tacky to the touch, like a post-it note.
• Pour the 2 Tbsp canola into a mixing bowl, and coat the bottom and sides with oil.
• Put the dough in the oiled bowl, and flip the dough around to uniformly coat with oil.
• Cover the bowl and set in a warm spot to rise until doubled. (For me this was about 2 hours.).
• Punch down dough and separate into loaves. Loaves can be braided like traditional challah, or baked in a bread loaf pan, or formed into any shape you like.
• Put formed loaves aside to rise a second time, covered, until doubled in size. (This took about 2 1/2 hours for me.).
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Just prior to baking, mix one remaining egg with a bit of water (about a teaspoon or so) and a small pinch of salt. Use this mixture to glaze the loaves.
• Bake loaves for 30 minutes, rotating once midway to keep browning even.
• Cool on racks.
• Freezes well.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Mix the yeast, a pinch of sugar and 1 cup warm water in a small bowl. Set aside while you measure out the other dry ingredients, or until frothy.
• Whisk 3 1/2 cups flour, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the salt in a large bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon. Add 1 egg, the vegetable oil and 1 cup warm water; stir until combined. Gradually stir in the remaining 3 1/2 cups flour until the dough starts to come together. Mix in the chocolate chips.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a large oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 hour to 1 hour, 30 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 3 equal portions. On a floured surface, roll each portion into a ball, then roll each ball into a 1 1/2-to-2-inch-wide strand, about 16 inches long. Lay the strands side by side on a sheet of parchment paper and pinch them together at one end.
• Braid the 3 strands: Cross the right strand over the middle strand. Then cross the left strand over the middle strand. Repeat, crossing the right strand over the middle strand, then the left over the middle, until all of the dough is braided. Pinch the dough together at the end.
• Slide the loaf (with the parchment paper) onto a baking sheet. Beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl, then brush the egg wash all over the loaf. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Combine warmed milk and melted butter with the sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until incorporated and smooth.
• Line a large baking dish with two-thirds of the challah slices. Sprinkle with half the chocolate chips and half the raisins. Top with remaining challah slices, layering them one on top of the other, and then remaining chocolate chips and raisins, making sure the chips and raisins get inside the layers created by the challah slices.
• Pour milk mixture slowly over the top of everything and let stand until the bread has absorbed almost all of the liquid, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Wrap the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and cook 10 to 15 minutes longer until set in the middle and lightly browned on top.
• Remove from oven and let cool before serving. Serve with the Chocolate Ganache drizzled over top.
• Chocolate Ganache:
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• In a small saucepan, heat heavy cream to just below a simmer.
• Place the chocolate chips in a medium heat-proof bowl and pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Remove plastic wrap and whisk vigorously until ganache becomes a uniform smooth chocolate sauce. Serve while warm.
• Cook's Note: To make in advance, let cool, cover tightly and keep refrigerated until ready to use. Then microwave on low heat for 20 to 30 second intervals or heat over a double boiler.

Steps:

• The day before you want to serve this dessert, if possible, put raisins in a small saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and drain. Place plumped raisins in a plastic container with a tight-fitting cover and sprinkle with the rum. Cover and let macerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt the butter and cool slightly.
• Cut the challah in half, and cut one of the halves into thin slices. Cut remaining bread into cubes.
• Put diced challah in the bottom of the baking dish. Strew with the raisins and rum and half the butter. Dip one side of each slice of challah into the butter and arrange, slightly overlapping and buttered side up, over the top of diced challah and raisins.
• Combine the milk, cream and sugar, and vanilla bean in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and allow to stand 3 minutes; whisk smooth.
• Whisk eggs until combined in a large mixing bowl, then strain the milk mixture into the eggs and beat them together. Do not overbeat or the custard will have a great deal of foam on the surface. Strain the custard back into the pan and use a large spoon to skim any foam from the surface. Pour the custard over the challah.
• Place the baking dish in another larger pan and pour warm water into it to come halfway up the side of the baking dish. Bake the bread pudding for about 45 minutes, until the custard is set and the challah is an even color.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the oil, honey, eggs, egg yolks, salt and vanilla; mix well., Add 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes or until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead in chocolate chips. Divide dough in half; divide each half into three portions. Shape each piece into an 12-in. rope., Place three ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour., Combine cream and sugar. Brush some of the mixture over braids. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks and brush with remaining cream mixture. Cool.

Steps:

• Arrange bread slices in a 13x9-in. dish. In a small bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk and vanilla. Gradually whisk into dry ingredients until smooth. Pour over bread. Let stand 10 minutes, turning once., In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook bread for 3-4 minutes each side or until toasted. Serve with toppings of your choice.

Steps:

• Add the ingredients, except the chocolate chips, in the pan according to the order in the manufacturer's
• instructions.
• Set crust on medium and program for Basic or Sweet Bread cycle; press Start.
• At the beep, add the chocolate chips.
• When the baking cycle ends, immediately remove the bread from the pan and place it on a rack.
• Let cool to room temperature before slicing.

Steps:

• Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk yeast and water to fully dissolve yeast. Add sugar, orange juice, salt, melted butter, and 2 eggs, and whisk to combine. Then add raisins and flour. Attach a dough hook and mix on low speed just until the dough comes together and is not sticky. Mix an additional 2 minutes, the last 15 seconds on medium speed.
• Turn dough onto a work surface and knead a few times to bring it together, then place in a large buttered bowl. Place plastic wrap over dough, making sure to lightly tuck the plastic around the sides of the dough. Allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 60-90 minutes.
• The dough is ready when you can press your finger into the dough and it holds the indentation. Gently move the dough onto your work surface in one piece. Cut the dough into thirds and, without deflating the dough too much, roll each piece into a strand about 10 inches long. Lay the strands out parallel to each other, and pinch them together at one end. Pull the rightmost strand over the center one, then the left over the new center, alternating until you have a tightly finished braid and can pinch the end together. At this point, you can wrap the braid around itself to form a "turban" and seal the ends together. If it doesn't look right, just unbraid and try again! Place challah on a parchment-lined baking tray and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the remaining egg with 2 tablespoons water in a bowl. Glaze the top and sides of the challah with this egg wash, then bake 35-45 minutes.
• To test if the challah is fully cooked, tap on its bottom-it should sound hollow. Let cool 30 minutes. Serve. (And remember, if you're eating it fresh, tear it apart with your hands!)

Steps:

• First measure out all your ingredients.
• Now from the 1/2 of cup sugar take 1 tablespoon of the sugar & combine it with the yeast& warm water (you know you have the right temperature of warm water when it's the same temperature as the inside of your wrist).
• I let my mixer bowl which is metal (kitchen aid) sit in a hot water bath while the yeast dissolves, 10 minutes.
• After the yeast has dissolved (it's nice & foamy) add to it the rest of the sugar, salt & 3 1/2 cups flour.
• Mix well (I use the bread hook).
• Add egg (already beaten) & oil.
• Slowly start mixing in most of the remaining 3 1/2 cups of flour.
• The dough will become quite thick.
• When the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, turn it onto a floured surface& knead for approximately 10 minute.
• Add only enough additional flour to make dough manageable.
• Knead until dough has acquired a "life of its own"; it should be smooth & elastic, springing back when pressed lightly with your fingertip.
• Place dough into a large oiled bowl turning the dough once so its oiled on all sides.
• Cover with a damp towel & let rise in a warm place for 2 hours, punching down in 4-5 places every 20 minutes.
• Now, I always write down what time I started so I don't forget when the 2 hours are up & set a timer every 20 minutes. (In the summer I let the dough rise on my balcony & in the winter in front of my oven where something is always baking, turning it every time I punch down the dough).
• After the 2 hours, turn your dough onto your working surface.
• Now comes the forming part.
• For Shabbos I always make a 2 level braided challah which looks great & is really easy.
• Prepare your baking sheet lining it with parchment paper.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• First, take a large knife & cut the dough in half.
• Next, from each 1/2 now cut off a third & place the 2 thirds on the side.
• Now, from the first half (where you've removed a third) divide the remaining dough into approximately equal thirds.
• Roll each third out till its about 10-12 inches (I'm guessing I never measured it) & braid all 3 roll together pinching the top & bottom half together& turning them slightly under.
• Place on baking sheet.
• Repeat the same for other half.
• Now take the first third you removed earlier& divide in 3, braid just like you did before& place on top of the already braided challah.
• Repeat same for other third.
• Now let the challah rise for 1/2 an hour.
• After the challah has risen glaze with beaten egg & add mohn or sesame if you wish.
• Almost done!
• Put in preheated oven & let bake for exactly 25 minutes!
• Turn off oven & leave Challahs in for exactly another 10 minutes!
• Remove from oven.
• Enjoy--you deserve every compliment you get!