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Whole Wheat Challah

5 from 21 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Resting Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings 24 slices
Calories 80
This Whole Wheat Challah is soft, pillowy, slightly sweet and filled with nutrients. This recipe makes two medium loaves or one large loaf.

Ingredients

  • 185 grams warm water (¾ cup)
  • 4 grams active dry yeast or instant yeast (1½ teaspoons)
  • 3 egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 43 grams oil (neutral, such as canola, vegetable, sunflower) (3 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon)
  • 30 grams sugar (2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon)
  • 68 grams honey (3 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon)
  • 390 grams whole wheat (2¾ cups + 1½ Tablespoons)
  • 12 grams vital wheat gluten (1½ Tablespoons)
  • 7 grams salt (1 teaspoon)
  • 1 egg combined with 1 teaspoon water (egg wash)

Instructions 

  • Pour water into mixing bowl of electric mixer. Cover with yeast and about ½ teaspoon of the sugar. Stir gently to hydrate the yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to get foamy. (If using instant yeast, skip this step and mix your yeast and water in with everything else in the next step.)
  • Add the yolks, oil, honey, sugar, flour and vital wheat gluten. With the paddle or dough hook attachment, knead the mixture for about 1-2 minutes, just until all the ingredients are combined. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
  • With the mixer on low (with either the paddle or dough hook attachment), slowly add the salt. Knead for an additional 1-2 minutes until the salt is fully absorbed. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest 15 minutes.
  • Make four folds: Using a bowl scraper, reach under the dough from the bottom center and pull it over itself to the top center. Rotate the bowl 90° and do a second fold. Rotate the bowl 90° and do a third fold. Rotate the bowl 90° and do a final fold. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest 15 minutes.
  • Perform another set of four folds. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 1 to 1½ hours, until the dough has doubled in size.
  • Fold the dough over itself to gently deflate it. If making one challah, divide into three equal portions for braiding. If making two challahs, divide into 6 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball.
  • One ball at a time, pat down the ball into a flat oval. Fold the top third of the oval over itself to the center and then again to the bottom. Using the palms of your hands, roll the dough out to a rope approximately 8-10 inches long. Repeat with remaining balls. Braid challah as desired.
  • Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise 1 to 1½ hours, until the challah is puffy and the dough holds an indentation when you press your finger into the dough.
  • Approximately 30 minutes before you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350° F.
  • Apply egg wash. Bake 30-45 minutes. The internal temperature of the challah should be at least 190° F.

Notes

  • This recipe has more water in it than my traditional Challah recipe because the whole wheat flour needs to absorb more water, which is the reason for so much resting and less active kneading. By the time you shape the challah, the dough will still be slightly sticky, but should be capable of being shaped. Be sure to lightly flour the countertop and your hands when shaping and use a bowl scraper or bench cutter to lift the dough from the countertop. You can use whole wheat, all purpose or bread flour for when shaping.
Calories: 80kcal
Course: Bread, Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Jewish
Keyword: challah, whole wheat

Nutrition

Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg