It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s a really good challah, it mixes in a Kitchen Aid, and bonus: it uses 7 oz plastic cups to measure.
I had called a friend for a dip recipe.
And she was telling me how her family loves the dips course combined with the “soft, fluffy challah.” They sit over the challah and dips for a long time. It’s their favorite part of the meal.
“Really? More than the meat?” I asked. I was a little incredulous. Yes, she confirmed, the challah and dips/salatim are their favorite. It must be that her challah is really good.
And then, she mentioned in passing,
“Oh, I make challah in my KitchenAid.”
Now I needed to know what she does. Good challah in a KitchenAid? It’s not even that she makes challah in her KitchenAid because that’s all she has. She makes challah in the KitchenAid because she prefers the KitchenAid over her Bosch, which is collecting dust. I remember the days when I was a newlywed and I tried to make challah repeatedly in my KitchenAid. I had heard through the grapevine that my challah was like rocks. I hence retired from challah until my mother in law bought me a Bosch.
“What’s your recipe?” I asked my friend. I am always looking for better challah.
And so, as she quickly rambled off the instructions, I took notes.
The most unique thing about her recipe was that she uses 7 oz plastic cups as measurements.
That’s when I knew you’d absolutely love this. I loved this recipe even more once I made it. And then more when I tasted it. It was the sweet type of dense challah I had been searching for.
Here are more reasons why I love this recipe.
- It’s amazing for those who only have a Kitchen Aid. Even though I can make 5 lbs of dough at once in my machine (a larger, 7 quart KitchenAid), I like this recipe better. It just feels more manageable and the dough comes together quickly. I like that the machine doesn’t have to work too hard, and that it’s stable so I can walk away while it’s mixing.
- This is great when you realize on Friday that you need more challah and you don’t have a full bag of flour available. You can make this recipe quickly!
- Sometimes I buy a 12 lb bag of flour from BJs. What happens when I want to make challah and I only have this huge quantity and not 5 lbs? This recipe comes to the rescue because I can measure the 7-8 cups for each batch.
- It’s egg-free. Which is great because there’s one less ingredient to worry about. And that’s also great if anyone is allergic (if you want to know what to use instead of egg for your egg wash, see this post).
Kitchen Aid Challah (Egg-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 tbsp dry yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ 5 lb bag flour (7-8 cups)
- 1 7 oz cup oil
- 1 7 oz cup sugar
- 1-2 tbsp salt
- 1 cup water (you might not need all, see instructions).
Instructions
- In the bowl of your Kitchen Aid, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes to proof.
- Mixing slowly, add the flour. You can either use a measuring cup, or just guesstimate half the bag. Add oil, sugar, and salt and continue to mix. Slowly add in the water. The amount of water you add now (whether it’s less than the full cup, or more) depends on whether you added a little more or a little less than half the bag… so add water slowly and watch your dough. Knead for a few minutes (it doesn’t take long) until nice and smooth. Remove to a greased bowl, cover.
- Form and bake your challahs however you like.
- You can now repeat the recipe again! A 5 or 6 quart KitchenAid does not fit a full bag of flour at once. Note that the second time you add the final remaining cup of water, you will need more or less than last time because the flour won’t be exactly half and half. One batch will have a bit more or less than the other. Add dough to same bowl and let rise.
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B.L. says
I’m really looking forward to trying this recipe!
Questions: Are steps 1 and 2 meant to be reversed?
What does “repeat” in step 3 refer to?
Thanks
betweencarpools says
They did reverse… the recipe is good now.
BC says
I have a 6 quart KitchenAid and have been making 5 lbs of challah in it for the last ten years with no issues. It comes out amazing. I use Rebbitzen Kanievsky recipe from the Bais Yaakov cookbook.
R says
Can’t wait to try! Would it be fluffier and less dense if we use more yeast?
Victoria Dwek says
I’ve never tried it with more yeast.
DB says
Please confirm that step 1 and 2 are in the correct order. Thank you.
E says
Thanks for this! I make my regular spelt challah recipe in a KitchenAid by cutting the ingredients in half. I do it twice so that together it is 5 lbs and I can do hafrashas challah from it. It comes out perfect. I have two bowls so I start the yeast going while the first batch is mixing.
Chavy says
LOL I mix by hand cuz I’m too lazy to pull out the mixer, wash it, and put it away 🙂 They say that the lazy person works the hardest 🙂
MG says
Are the flour and water measurements “regular” cups or the 7-oz size? TY
Victoria Dwek says
Regular.
Anonymous says
Is this recipe dough rising twice or once?
Rachel says
I haven’t made this, but please note that many would take challah without a bracha on this amount n of flour.
Victoria Dwek says
Yes, obviously, you make the recipe twice if using a 5 lb bag.
Corfeldman says
Thanks for this! I was ready to throw out my KitchenAid 6 quart because it’s been so frustrating to use. Does not mix well and I end up having to knead by hand afterwards. Will give this a try.
Honey says
If I want to make this recipe in the Bosch can I do all 5 lbs flour at once? Double everything?
Chavi Paris says
Tried it this week and was a hit! Thank you!
Rivky says
Are there instructions included here for what temperature to bake it at and for how long? On my phone I only see until #4 about rising and then nothing else listed
Thank you!
Victoria Dwek says
No, because baking time can vary greatly. I make small k’baysah rolls and bake for about 22-23 minutes, but a large challah can obviously be much much longer. Bake at 350F.
Rivky says
Thank you! How long do you recommend letting it rise?
Sarah says
I can’t wait to try this recipe. Please clarify when and for how long this rises? Thank you
Das says
I used 7 cups of spooned and leveled flour and 1/2 cup water. I did have to take it out of the KitchenAid at one point because it wasn’t coming together but when I put it back in for another few minutes, it came out great. Now it’s rising, let’s see how it does.
Pessy says
Any regular challah recipe that works for kitchen aid?
I bought kitchen aid but I’m thinking what’s the purpose of it would love to utilize it more…
Victoria Dwek says
What’s not a regular challah recipe about this one? You can probably split any recipe, although have only tried it with this one.
N says
Is it possible to use spelt flour for this recipe?
Thank you!
Victoria Dwek says
I haven’t tried it all spelt. Once, I ran out of white flour so I used half of one of the batches with either whole wheat or spelt (don’t remember which) and they came out delicious.
N says
Thank you for your quick response!
Lb says
I have a child with egg allergies and I double the dough and make it in my Bosch comes out delish! No one complains that they miss my egg challah recipe…
Victoria Dwek says
So happy to hear! I agree, I still love this recipe and don’t miss eggs at all.
Rivky says
I’d love to try this as I have a kitchen aid but no bosch and most recipes arent scaled to fit a kitchen aid- thank you!
Specifically how long to let it mix in the kitchen aid for those of us who are challah baking novices?
And approx how long to let rise before shaping? Does it rise again after shaping before baking ?
Thank you for your help!