Six Braid Cinnamon Streusel Crunch Challah
Oh man, you guys.
Oh maaaaaaan.
Where do I even START?
Well, off the bat I guess I can begin with sending a huge apology to all my followers who celebrate Passover. This post is probably the LAST thing you want to see as we approach a holiday that’s supposed to make the leavened stuff off limits.
But to the rest of us who don’t, just pop a squat and let me chew your ear off about this bread.
THIS.BREAD.
It’s definitely one of the more ambitious undertakings I’ve encountered in the kitchen, but ever since the idea for it popped into my head a few weeks ago, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Still, I was slightly intimidated and paranoid that this would be one thing I couldn’t successfully pull off. After all, the most I’ve ever attempted in challah is three braids that I usually wind into a round and bake in cake pans. This would involve much more labor not just in braiding, but also nailing the outer topping that I wasn’t even sure would work with the texture of the bread.
So when Easter came around, I decided to put it off and make Pane di Pasqua instead. It turned out beautifully.
But I STILL wanted to try and see if I could pull this off; a six braid challah that I dipped in cinnamon sugar, then sprinkled with a cinnamon streusel on top.
So this past week, I sat down and started planning. I remembered a similar brioche recipe I’d seen done at another food blog and decided that if she could successfully pull it off with brioche (a more temperamental dough by far), then I could almost definitely be able to make this work with challah, particularly the laid back/fail-proof/go-to recipe I’ve been using for the past four years or so.
I did decide to make one key revision to that recipe though, and I have to say it was a random decision that REALLY made all the difference. I swapped out one cup of all purpose flour in the dough for one cup of whole wheat flour. This was a wonderful idea, as it gave a distinct but subtle earthy nuttiness to the dough that complemented perfectly with all the sweetness you’re gonna get from the ‘rest’ of it.
And ohhh, the rest of it.
If challah can be improved at all, then it’s got to be when you dip it in cinnamon sugar and sprinkle it with a buttery cinnamon streusel topping. The chewiness of the bread combined with the crunch of the pecan streusel is a mouthgasm of epic proportions.
And when you just HAVE to eat it warm/hot because you just can’t wait any longer for it to cool down after taking it out the oven? Guys.
You.will.DIE.
I know it may seem like an overload to make this a six braid challah, but in retrospect I can’t see making it any other way. The thing is, the more braids there are, the more of the cinnamon sugar coating that gets wound into the center of the loaf itself. Check out the layering on the inside; you can’t get that with just three braids. You gotta put in the extra work to get all that goodness.
And yes,I know six braids is daunting. It was for me too at first. But as I instruct in the recipe, a simple google search can be your best friend in getting those six braids wound together all nice and pretty.
Just make sure you find the how-to pic/video and have it handy BEFORE you get your hands smeared messy with melted butter and cinnamon sugar. (Don’t ask why I’m telling you that. It’s not relevant.)
There is one thing I have to put out there: this recipe yields two HUGE loaves of challah. You will have two HUGE six braid cinnamon streusel crunch challahs on your hands by the time you finish. Just let that sink in. ‘Cause that’s a lot of bread.
I also refuse to be held responsible for what should happen if you don’t feel the imperative to share the wealth with some friends/family. I know I did. Because I’m not stingy. And because I still want to fit in my jeans.
I’ll leave you with one last thought just in case you weren’t completely sold on making this bread for yourself: Cinnamon Streusel Crunch Challah French Toast
*DEAD*
Aaaaand how about one more time with a full-body shot?
It came to me. My own. My love.
Myyyyyyy preciousssssssssss.
Follow the heavenly smells and bread crumbs I’m leaving behind me to the Fiesta Friday #115 party where we’re being hosted by Julie @ Hostess At Heart and Ashley @ Too Zesty.
Six Braid Cinnamon Streusel Crunch Challah
Recipe Adapted from Allrecipes.com and Half Baked Harvest
Ingredients
For Challah
- 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 7 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
For Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 4 tsp cinnamon
For Streusel
- 1 1/2 cups white all purpose flour
- About 1/4 cup of crushed pecans
- 1/4 tsp table salt
Directions
Mix the all purpose and whole wheat flour together in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over barely warm water. Add 1 tsp of white sugar and let it stand for about 10 minutes until yeast is proofed and puffy.
Beat honey, oil, the 2 eggs, and salt into the yeast mixture. Add the flour one cup at a time, beating after each addition, graduating to kneading with hands as dough thickens.
Knead until smooth and elastic and no longer sticky, adding flour as needed. Cover with a damp clean cloth and let rise for 1 1/2 hours or until dough has doubled in bulk. Towards the end of the rising period, make the cinnamon sugar coating: pour the melted butter and vanilla extract in a shallow dish. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow dish as well.
Punch down the risen dough and turn out onto floured board. Divide in half and knead each half for five minutes or so, adding flour as needed to keep from getting sticky.
Divide each half into six pieces and roll into long snake about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Using a pastry brush, brush the melted vanilla-butter over both sides of the ropes. (You can also just dip it in the butter if you don’t have a pastry brush, just try and shake off the excess.) Then using your fingers, sprinkle the brown sugar mixture thoroughly over the ropes until they have a good coating. Don’t be shy with it, this is gonna get a little messy. Save the leftover melted butter and brown sugar as well- you’ll use it later.
Pinch the ends of the six snakes together firmly and braid from middle. You can google ‘Six Strand Challah Braid’ as I did and find MANY resources that will help you through this process.
Grease two baking trays and place finished braid on each. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp kitchen towel and let rise about one hour.
To Prepare the streusel: pour the melted butter into the brown sugar and add the all purpose flour, salt and pecans. Stir with a fork until it forms small clumps. Let it sit for about 30 minutes until firm; you may also want to refrigerate it for about 15 minutes depending on how long you let your braids rise.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Take your braids and lightly spray them with a coating of PAM baking spray. Gently sprinkle and press the streusel into the top of the challah braids until there is a generous coating over each.
(Note: you ARE probably going to have leftover streusel. Don’t throw it away! After your bread is done baking, simply spread the leftover streusel out on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake it on its own in the oven for about 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Use the excess to sprinkle on top of ice cream or yogurt; or you could just eat it all on it’s own.)
Bake the challah loaves at 375 degrees F for about 40 minutes. Inner temp should be 195 F-200 F and the bread should have a nice hollow sound when thumped on the bottom. Cool on a rack for at least one hour before slicing.
Yummy Jess! I made challah bread for the first time last year when I took a Zingerman’s baking class. It was just plain so this looks really delicious. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy our amazing weather!!
Thank you Heather; I usually do just make plain challah, which is delicious enough all on its own. This year I decided to kick it up a notch. And yes! I enjoyed today’s beautiful weather so much–me and my niece took a walk around the neighborhood, SUCH a welcome change from last week 🙂
Oh heavens Jess! This bread is a work of art! I love challah but haven’t tackled the six trand yet. I’m pinning this baby! Thanks for sharing with us FF party goers!
Thank you Julie! This was my first six braid and I have to say, if you follow along with a video/good step by step braiding picture(s) it’s really not that difficult. The real only ‘difficult’ part of this recipe was not eating too much of it myself lol 😉
That would be my challenge too!
I feel like I need to stop everything I’m doing and make this right now!
I…actually can’t say I disagree with you there. And I don’t think you’d be sorry you did, nor would anyone else in your house. 😀 Thank you Abby!
This bread looks wonderful! I would have to give one loaf away because I’d want to eat everything! 🙂
Now you understand why I had to throw out that disclaimer lol Thank you Nancy!
This looks great! I love the topping, it’s just gorgeous. I’ve done a 5-braid challah but haven’t attempted 6 yet. Great work!
Thank you Cynthia! This was my first go at doing anything above a 3 braid challah and I was honestly worried it wouldn’t turn out lol Trust me; that streusel topping will change your life 😉
I’m let you know when I try it out!
My mouth is watering. Perfection! Looks SOOOOO good. 🙂 Nice work.
Thanks Josette; I gotta say I’m feeling super proud of this. And yes: It IS SOOOOO good 😉
Oh my!! Look at that! Looks more than perfect and I can only imagine how delicious it is! Awesome work, Jess 🙂
Thank you very much Freda; one of the reasons I love challah so much is because when it’s done it really can look like a piece of art. Although this loaf did spread on me a little more than I wanted it to, I still think it came out looking rather pretty 😉
It does look more than pretty, Jess 🙂 I have never even attempted making a 3 braid challah, on my list to do soon 🙂
Wonderful Jess, that is surely a work of art, clever you!
Thank you Loretta– I do try 😉
Such a beautiful loaf Jess. Making a braided loaf is on my list of things I want to try to make. You really did this well. The bread looks perfect.
Please do try it Suzanne, it’s SO rewarding and after the first time it gets easier to do every other time after that. Thank you so much 🙂
Jess, this looks delicious! Three strand braids are already challenging enough for me (which is why I never braid my hair…) but I definitely want to attempt a six strand braid after seeing this. And more importantly, a bread dipped in cinnamon sugar and streusel!
Three strand braids are all I can manage with my hair, trust me! lol Thank you; braiding bread dough is just a matter of practice an repetition, it’s also easier with the tutorial videos and pictures to guide you step by step or else I NEVER would’ve been able to do this 😉
Oh my! Jess! This is so beautiful! I think I died for a second, too. Wow wow wow!
Thank you Jhuls, I’m pretty sure I almost died when I first took a bite of the still warm bread.
Sooooo good 🙂
Oh wow! This makes me wanna try my hand in baking! Looks delicious!
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. …
Thank you Nancy, I gotta say I agree 😉
Wow, Jess, this is absolutely gorgeous!! Fluffy challah, all that cinnamon sugar goodness…how could I possibly resist?! I’m super impressed with how pretty the braid turned out. I’m pretty hopeless when it comes to braiding hair, so let’s hope I’m better at braiding bread!
Thank you, this is a REAL treat, both to make and to eat. The effort is worth it, trust me!
Wow! Too beautiful to eat. 🙂
Almost too beautiful Anna, ALMOST! Lol thank you! 😀
🙂 my pleasure, Jess! Enjoy the rest of Sunday. 🙂
Jess, your food looks delicious!