Knicks Challah

Challah Dough Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 packet of active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar + ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup hot water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ tbsp salt
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 cups flour (preferably bread flour)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (optional)

Directions

1. In a measuring cup, mix:

  • 1 packet yeast (approximately 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ½ cup hot water (allow your tap to run to hot water, but do not use boiling water)

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the water and let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, combine:

    • ¾ cup sugar
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • ½ tbsp salt
    • 2 cups warm water

3. Add two eggs to the bowl.

4. Add the yeast mixture to the bowl.

5. Gradually add up to 8 cups of flour, using enough so the dough is not too sticky. Cover with a slightly damp clean dish towel and allow to rise on the counter for 1–2 hours.

6. Punch down the dough by pressing into it with your fist about six times until it deflates.

7. Cover again and allow the dough to rise for another hour.

8. Spray a baking sheet or loaf pan with cooking spray.

9. Form the dough into a braid, letters, or shapes. Place on the prepared baking sheet or pan, cover, and allow to rise for 30 minutes.

10. In a small bowl, beat an egg and add 2 tablespoons of honey (optional). Brush onto the challah. 

11. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.

Knicks Challah Instructions 

1) Prepare your favorite challah dough.
2) Before letting the dough rise, set aside two small portions of dough. Using gloves, knead orange gel food coloring into one portion and blue gel food coloring into the other until you reach your desired shades.
3) Divide the plain dough into 3 equal pieces and roll them into long strands.
4) Roll the blue dough into 3 thin strands and place one on top of each plain strand. Then roll the orange dough into 3 thin strands and place one on top of each blue strand.
5) Wrap the plain dough around the blue and orange dough, burrito-style, sealing the colored dough inside each strand.
6) Braid the three strands together to form a challah and place it on a prepared baking sheet.
7) Brush with egg wash and allow the challah to rise according to your recipe directions.
8) Bake and let cool. 
9) Slice to reveal the blue-and-orange Knicks-inspired swirl inside. Shabbat ShaKnicks!