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Home » Baking and Desserts » Challah Braiding: A Visual Guide to Forming Beautiful Breads

Challah Braiding: A Visual Guide to Forming Beautiful Breads

by Beth Lee · Published: Sep 22, 2022

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Pinterest image showing a 4-strand challah with a finished baked one.

Challah braiding is so much easier than you think. From a 3-strand braid to a 4-strand braid to a knotted roll, you'll be an expert in no time. Post includes visual and written instructions.

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Braiding challah with 4 strands with one hand showing on the right.

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Table of contents

  • Braiding Challah is Fun!
  • Basic 3-strand Braid
  • Basic 4-strand Braid
  • Challah Roll Knot

Braiding Challah is Fun!

Great challah braids start with great dough, here are 3 wonderful dough recipes on my blog or use the Bubbe's challah dough in my book on pg. 22!

  1. Easy Challah recipe with a hint of citrus (almost no rise time required)
  2. Challah Rolls (you can make a braided challah from the dough or shape as rolls)
  3. Lonni's Round Challah Recipe

In the early days of my blog, dough was my nemesis. If there was yeast or kneading or lots of butter and flour involved, my baking blood pressure rose. Once I conquered my dough anxiety, next came the shaping unknowns.

How should I divide up the dough? What should each piece weigh? How long should each strand be? How many strands do I need? What kind of braid? or no braid at all? Round or oblong or roll?

While I can't cover every single possible permutation in one post, by the end of this challah braiding treatise, you'll be ready to tackle shaping challah dough with calm confidence!

And remember, despite starting off with a fear of dough, I've now written a book on baking full of so many different doughs. If I can do this, so can you!

Basic 3-strand Braid

  • Length of strands: 14 - 16 inches for a small loaf, 20 - 22 inches for a larger loaf
  • Small loaf strand weight: 150 grams each
  • Large loaf strand weight: 200 grams each

For this challah braid, start by connecting the dough strands together at the top end. Then spread the strands apart.

This technique is akin to braiding hair. But for those of you that aren't familiar with braiding hair, here is another way to think about it. Place the right strand over the middle, then the left over middle (or vice versa).

Doesn't matter which side you start on. As the outside strand moves over the middle, you'll notice that you are creating a new middle!

Just continue on down until you run out of strand and press the ends together and fold them under.

Two hands connecting three strands of challah together to start a 3-strand challah braid.
To demonstrate challah braiding for a 3-strand, we see the first strand being placed over the middle strand.
For a 3-strand braid now we see the left strand moving over the middle.
To demonstrate challah braiding, we now see a 3-strand braid almost complete.
3-strand braid of challah dough completed.
Two 3-strand challahs side by side near a challah cover.

Basic 4-strand Braid

  • Length of strands: 14 - 16 inches for a small loaf, 20 - 22 inches for a larger loaf
  • Small loaf strand weight: 150 grams each
  • Large loaf strand weight: 200 grams each

As lovely as a 3-strand braid is, the extra strand in this version does give the loaf a bit more depth and shape. It's quite lovely.

For this braid, I like to keep the concept simple. Think about only two strands at a time. Count 1, 2 from the right and 1,2 from the left. The song in my head is "2 up, 1 over. Then count 1,2 on the other side and repeat "2 up, 1 over." Continue "singing" this tune as you repeat this from side to side.

As with the 3-strand challah braid, connect the strands together at the top. Starting on the right or left, bring the second one UP and over the 2 strands to its left and bring the first strand OVER the strand that is now adjacent to it. In the fourth photo below I am using my hand to count 1,2 from the right to remind myself which strands to use next.

4 strands of challah dough connected to demonstrate challah braiding.
The second strand is going up and over to start the 4-strand braid.
Now the first strand is being placed over the adjacent strand.
A hand is pointing to the new two strands on the right to demonstrate challah braiding.

Just keep repeating in your head: 2 UP, 1 OVER until you reach the end of the strands; then press the last bit of dough together and fold it under. Now you have a lovely 4-strand challah braid! Bake it as a loaf or form it into a circle, connect the two ends and you have a challah in the round. Or put an oven-proof ramekin in the center for a honey pot! Check out my Round Challah for Rosh Hashanah post for all the details.

The 4-strand braid continues and is nearly ⅔ complete.
The 4-strand braid continues to demonstrate challah braiding.
4-strand braid nearly complete as we see the strands are almost fully braided.
4-strand braid complete and ready to go!

Below is a 4-strand challah that was baked in a circle around an oven-proof ramekin. Remember, you can do this with a 3-strand or 6-strand as well!

Round challah with a white ramekin in the center filled with honey and one slice cut out of the bread.

Challah Roll Knot

  • Length of strand: at least 9 inches
  • Strand weight: 100 grams each (½ for mini rolls)

Challah rolls are lots of fun to make and eat. This braiding technique is really just a knot with connected ends. Form a ribbon shape by folding your challah strand in half and placing the right end over the left. Then grab the end that is underneath and bring it up and through the center hole.

Demonstrating a challah roll knot, we see the first crossover of the strand.
Now the strand underneath is being place through the center hole.
We can see the strand all the way through the center hole.

Next, take the other lonely end and connect it to the end that just went through the center. You now have a knotted challah roll.

Now the loose end is placed underneath the dough to meet the end that was just placed through the middle.
A hand is connecting the two ends of the challah strand.
A hand is holding the finished challah roll knot.

Here is an Instagram video showing this technique!

Two hands about to pick up a knotted baked challah roll with a round challah roll in the background.

Basic 6-strand Braid PREVIEW

Check out this easy challah recipe that is inspired by a recipe from Joan Nathan. In the post, there is a video showing Joan making a 6-strand braid at a class I attended with her. Even she has to think about it for a minute but ends up with a beautiful loaf.

With a good dough and a positive attitude, challah braiding is easy and fun!

Buy my cookbook now!

Image showing a hand braiding a 4-strand challah loaf.

Challah Braiding

Challah braiding is so much easier than you think. From a 3-strand braid to a 4-strand braid to a knotted roll, you’ll be an expert in no time. Post includes visual and written instructions.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
approximate rising time 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Course bread
Cuisine Jewish Holiday Baking

Ingredients
  

  • favorite challah dough recipe Challah Dough Recipe
  • flour for dusting
  • seeds for decorating
  • 1 large egg + 1 teaspoon water for egg wash

Instructions
 

3-strand challah braid

  • First, connect the dough strands together at the top end. Then spread the strands apart.
    Two hands connecting three strands of challah together to start a 3-strand challah braid.
  • Like braiding hair, place the right strand over the middle, then the left over middle (or vice versa). Doesn’t matter which side you start on. As the outside strand moves over the middle, you’ll notice that you are creating a new middle!
    For aNow we see the left strand moving over the middle.
  • Just continue on down until you run out of strand and press the ends together and fold them under.
    To demonstrate challah braiding, we now see a 3-strand braid almost complete.

4-strand challah braid

  • As with the 3-strand challah braid, connect the strands together at the top.
    4 strands of challah dough connected to demonstrate a 4-strand braid technique..
  • Starting on the right or left, bring the second one UP and over the 2 strands to its left and bring the first strand OVER the strand that is now adjacent to it. If it helps, count 1,2 on each side to remind yourself which strands to use next.
    The second strand is going up and over to start the 4-strand braid.
  • Just keep repeating in your head: 2 UP, 1 OVER until you reach the end of the strands; then press the last bit of dough together and fold it under. 
    Now the first strand is being placed over the adjacent strand.

Knotted challah roll

  • Form a ribbon shape by folding your challah strand in half and placing the right end over the left.
    Demonstrating a challah roll knot, we see the first crossover of the strand.
  • Then grab the end that is underneath and bring it up and through the center hole.
    We can see the strand all the way through the center hole.
  • Next, take the other lonely end and connect it to the end that just went through the center. You now have a knotted challah roll.
    Now the loose end is placed underneath the dough to meet the end that was just placed through the middle.

Notes

  1. Sometimes I need a bit of flour for dusting when rolling out the strands and sometimes I don't. If the dough is still a bit sticky, use some flour. If the dough isn't sticky, you will get the best "traction" for rolling out strands on a flour-free surface.
  2. When rolling out strands, if the dough is springing back and not remaining at the length you would like, just let it rest. The gluten sometimes really does need a break. Set that piece aside for a couple minutes and come back to it. Really.
  3. Another rolling out tip - use the palms of your hands and work from the inside out. Some people like the ends of the strand to be tapered thinner. That works or just go for a relatively even thickness throughout the strand. Precision is not necessary.
Keyword challah, challah braiding
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More Baking and Desserts

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  • Honey Cake: A Grandma's Recipe from Ukraine
  • Round Challah for Rosh Hashanah
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenni

    September 23, 2022 at 12:17 pm

    This is so helpful, Beth. Especially the length of the strands and the weights, because you know I love my scale!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 23, 2022 at 12:25 pm

      Right?? Just to give people an idea of where to start!

      Reply
  2. Laura

    September 22, 2022 at 1:32 pm

    I love how you make complicated and intimidating things look easy. Now I want to bake and braid some yummy challah!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 23, 2022 at 12:24 pm

      Challah dough is so lovely to work with!

      Reply
  3. Sandi

    September 22, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    I absolutely love all of the step by step photos that walk us through braiding!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 23, 2022 at 12:24 pm

      So helpful if you're new to this - I hope it shows people that it's easy easy easy!

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Beth Lee. In 2010, I realized I prefer pita chips to memory chips and started this blog. My family is a mix of Jewish/Hawaiian/Korean heritage and my food reflects our diversity. My virtual kitchen is always open. Let’s cook together!  See all my recipes...

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