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Home » Baking and Desserts

Easy Challah Recipe with a Hint of Citrus

by Beth Lee · Published: Sep 11, 2020

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pinterest image showing baked challah with seeds and a sliced orange

This easy challah recipe scented with orange and anise requires virtually no rise time, unlike traditional challah recipes! You can even make this on a busy day. It also cooks up in the round beautifully for your Rosh Hashanah celebrations.

Another delicious recipe are my challah rolls with apples and currants.

For ease of browsing, here are all of my baking and dessert recipes in one place.

Close up of braided challah with a sliced orange in the foreground and a white napkin with oranges on it in the background.

The Tradition of Challah Bread

Every Friday night, Jews around the world celebrate Shabbat. At sundown, 24 hours of rest and reflection begin in a ritualistic way – with candle lighting, breaking and sharing of the challah bread, and blessing and drinking of the wine.

Traditionally, a home-cooked dinner with fresh baked bread is served on Friday night, prepared before sundown. But modern frenetic life gets in the way of this wonderful ritual. In reality, many of us just want to go out for dinner or order in pizza by the time Friday rolls along. And making challah bread from scratch that requires two rises? That just isn’t realistic in most busy homes.

Challah bread in front of Shabbat candles.

Why this recipe is a great alternative

This simple challah recipe is the solution to modern hectic schedules. I learned how to make it from the doyenne of Jewish cooking, Joan Nathan, in a private cooking class at the home of my friend and fellow blogger, Dana of Foodie Goes Healthy. Joan learned this recipe in France while writing her cookbook Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous.

And what a revelation it is. We made this bread in the course of the cooking class from dough prep to fully baked while prepping three other dishes. Why? You can make the dough in a mixer, let it rest for ten minutes, form it into a loaf and put it straight into the oven. Really! And it works every time.

Ingredients for this recipe

Baked challah bread  with all the ingredients needed listed on the photo.

Challah is an egg-based bread, at its most basic. And usually sugar or honey is added for sweetness. Some recipes use bread flour, this one use all-purpose (AP) flour.

Everything is Better with Citrus

A sliced fresh cara cara orange with a white napkin decorated with oranges in the background.

My contribution to this recipe is the addition of orange. Anise and orange marry well together – confirmed by a quick look in The Flavor Bible. And while challah bread is ritualistic for Shabbat, this eggy loaf is perfect for so many meals. It’s wonderful for sopping up extra juices and oh does it taste good with a dab of butter. Did I mention leftovers make the best French toast and bread pudding you will ever eat?

For this orange version of the loaf, I reduced the amount of anise from the original recipe to allow the orange to shine a bit more. I also used Cara Cara oranges because they were available, but it is not necessary – do not run from store to store trying to find them. Any orange will do the trick.

Growing Accustomed to Anise

I was skeptical when I first saw anise in the recipe. Anise tastes like licorice, which was not my favorite flavor. But in this bread, it perfectly complements the eggy sweetness in an almost mystical way, nearly disappearing during the baking process. Most people taste the bread and can’t quite place the flavor but can’t stop eating it.

Be sure to buy anise and not star anise, which is a spice that actually looks like a star and is often used in Chinese cooking.

Seedy Alternatives

A close up of unbaked dough with decorative seed dots made up of sesame and nigella seeds.

As for the seeds on top – Joan taught us how to make those fun circular dots but you can skip the seeds entirely, use different seeds, or just sprinkle them on. I incorporate a seed called nigella along with the light sesame seeds. They are often used in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking (you’ll see them in Indian stores labeled “kalonji”). Poppy would work well too and is the more obvious choice.

How to make this easy challah recipe

Prep the dough

Challah dough resting on parchment paper with hole in center of dough.

1. Get the yeast foaming in the mixing bowl. Note that if you are using instant yeast instead of active dry yeast, you don’t even need to wait for it to foam.

2. Add the eggs and oil to the yeast mixture and whisk in by hand

3. Now add 7 of the 8 cups of flour, the kosher salt, sugar, anise seeds and orange zest* and let the dough hook do its magic.

4. Watch and listen as it turns around in the bowl – you’ll see it transform before your eyes into a supple, stretchy mass. Use your gut and your senses to know when it’s done. Feel it – too sticky? Add a bit more flour. Does it spring back when you touch it – it is probably done.

Challah dough in mixer being kneaded by dough hook.

5. Put the dough on a piece of parchment or floured counter top, form it into a round blob, poke a hole in the middle of it and walk away, letting it rest uncovered for about 10 minutes.

*PRO TIP: you can rub the orange zest into your sugar (I learned this from Dorie Greenspan) and that helps it not clump up when you mix it into the dough.

Braid the dough

Unbaked challah braided as 6 strands laying on white parchment paper.

1. After it rests, divide the dough into equal pieces to braid your loaf. There are many options here – simple 3 strand, 6 strand, divide it into two loaves, make mini loaves. Decide ahead of time what you plan to do and then split it up accordingly. You can eyeball it or if you have a perfectionist tendency and a scale, you can weigh the pieces. For even more ideas on braiding, check out my challah braiding post!

3 strands of challah dough on counter showing hands rolling them out.

2. Roll out each strand to the same length (20 inches if forming one 3-strand loaf from the dough) and braid, pinching the ends together at the beginning and the end.

3 strands of challah dough ready to be braided on lightly floured countertop.

Bake the bread

Cut open baked challah with a close up to show the crumb of the bread.

1. If proceeding to bake right away, egg wash the dough and add the seeds. Seeds are optional but they do make a dramatic looking loaf and they are tasty too. You can simply sprinkle them on or use Joan’s technique and make the circles by dipping your finger in the egg wash, then the seeds and then onto the loaf.

2. Have time to make the dough but not bake it? No problem, form the loaf, cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator. Bake it later. Or put the dough in the fridge unformed, take it out later and form it, egg wash it, and bake it.

3. Follow the instructions in the recipe card for bake times and when it’s done, move it to a cooling rack and let it cool before diving in (if you can wait!)

Tips and FAQ


Can you freeze baked challah and/or challah dough?


You can definitely freeze a baked challah – just make sure it is wrapped well to keep the air out and pop it in the freezer. When you defrost it, you may want to put it in a hot oven to crisp it back up.

There are differing opinions about freezing challah dough. But most people agree you should freeze it after the first rise. With this recipe, we don’t really let it rise, so I would form it and then freeze it if I were going give freezing a try.

Can you refrigerate the dough?


Yes, I mention in the step-by-step instructions and the recipe, you can definitely form the challahs and pop them in the fridge if you are not ready to bake them yet.

Can you make challah dough the night before?


Yes, you absolutely can – I would form it into your loaf, cover it and pop it in the fridge

Can you make this into a round loaf for Rosh Hashanah?


This recipe makes a gorgeous round loaf for Rosh Hashanah. The simplest method is to braid your loaf as you normally would and then connect it end-to-end in a circle. Want to really impress your guests? Put an oven proof ramekin in the center so when you serve it, you can put honey or butter in the center. It never fails to impress. I didn't invent this idea - just implemented it. You can do it too!
round challah loaf with butter in the center

What else can you make with this challah bread?


Challah is a wonderful accompaniment to any meal where there will be gravy or yummy juices to sop up with a piece of bread. It also makes fantastic French toast and the best bread pudding!

How do you pronounce challah?


The CH is pronounced like a guttural h. It is not pronounced like the CH in chair.

What else to serve or make with this recipe

Challah Bread Pudding

challah bread pudding with peaches and blueberries uncooked

Challah Stuffing

stuffing in 3 trays

All the briskets!

brisket in large pan with gravy and vegetables surrounding it
  • Sandy's Sweet and Sour Brisket - Braised
  • Sandy's Sweet and Sour Brisket - Instant Pot
  • Sandy's Sweet and Sour Brisket - Slow Cooker
  • Instant Pot Brisket with Pomegranate Molasses
  • Brisket with Tsimmes

Grab a Slice of Life

Bread is often called the staff of life. I just know it makes the house smell good, warms your soul, and always brings people to the table. Don't let time stand in your way. Try this recipe and you'll be baking bread every week whether you celebrate Shabbat or not.

Rosh hashanah round challah with honey in the center.

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P.S. If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating and/or a review in the comment section below. I so appreciate your feedback! AND find more inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram. Signup for my email list, too!

Orange and Anise No-Rise Challah Bread

Easy Challah Recipe with a Hint of Citrus

Beth Lee
This easy challah recipe scented with orange and anise requires virtually no rise time, unlike traditional challah recipes! You can even make this on a busy day. It also cooks up in the round beautifully for your Rosh Hashanah celebrations.
4.86 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 1 hour hr
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
Course bread
Cuisine Jewish Holiday Baking
Servings 16 slices
Calories 308 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • .5 oz active dry yeast 2 envelopes
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 medium oranges to make 1 cup of orange juice and 1 tablespoon of zest
  • 3 large eggs 1 reserved for the egg wash
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 7-8 cups flour plus more for dusting
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon anise seeds
  • 1 tablespoon roasted sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, nigella seeds, or poppy seeds
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

Prepping the Dough:

  • Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven if you plan to bake two loaves at once or in the center of the oven for one; preheat to 375 degrees, and line 1 or 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Put the yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer equipped with a dough hook, and pour in the orange juice and water. Whisk it (by hand) so the yeast dissolves. Let this stand for a couple of minutes to be sure you see some bubbles or action in the yeast mixture so you know your yeast is alive and well. Then whisk in (by hand) 2 eggs and the oil.
  • Add 7 cups of the flour, the salt, sugar, anise seeds, and orange zest to the bowl, and beat with the dough hook for a few minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding flour as necessary. I always end up using just the 7 cups of flour. In my heavy duty mixer, it takes only a minute or two for the dough to come together. But don’t go by time, go by look and feel. If you poke it, does it spring back? Does it feel smooth or wet and sticky? If too wet and sticky, add a bit more flour.
  • Remove the dough from the mixer bowl, form into a round loaf, then poke a 1-inch hole all the way through the center. Let the dough rest uncovered on a floured surface for about 10 minutes.
  • Use a knife or bench scraper to divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. You can just eyeball it. (Short on time? Make one large loaf with a simple 3 braid look and in this case, just divide it into 3 pieces at this point.)

Braiding the Dough (multiple variations):

  • If needed, re-flour the work surface. Flour your hands.
  • If you made 6 equal pieces, roll each piece of dough into a rope about 14 inches long. I form the dough into a cylinder then roll it out with the palms of my hands to about 14 inches long. If it’s uneven, I just squish it with my hands to even it out a bit but it doesn’t have to be perfect. Repeat with all 6 pieces so you have 6 ropes of dough. Now you can create two loaves of 3 stranded braids each or one large loaf using the 6 strand braid method.
  • If you divided the dough into 3 equal pieces, roll out each piece into a rope about 20 inches long.
  • Now braid your challah – whether doing 3 strands or 6, start by pressing together the ends of the strands at one end. Then braid as you would braid someone’s hair until you reach the end of the strands. Then squish the ends together and fold under if you want to hide them. Move the braided loaf onto the parchment lined baking tray. Don’t be afraid to manipulate the loaf to even it out. It all ends up looking beautiful no matter what!
  • If you want to do a 6-stranded braid, I included the video of Joan teaching us how to do it in my blog post above.

Baking the Bread:

  • If you are baking the bread right away, continue with the egg wash and seed placement. If not, cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge until you want to bake it. (Note – if you put it in the fridge, I recommend taking it out and bringing it to room temperature before you egg wash it and bake it.)
  • Beat the extra egg in a bowl and brush it all over the loaves. Sprinkle the seeds on top or put your mixture of seeds into a small bowl. Then dip your finger into the leftover egg mixture, then into the seeds, then place the seeded finger onto the loaf to create the dots. It’s fun and looks great but if you are short on time, just sprinkle the seeds on and that will look fantastic as well.
  • Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes longer. If baking two loaves at once, 15 minutes into the 350 degree baking time, rotate the baking sheets top to bottom and front to back. Bake for 15 minutes more, or until the loaves sound hollow when tapped.
  • Cool before serving.

Video

Notes

Closely adapted from a Joan Nathan recipe
Tips for prepping the orange juice and zest.
  • To make a full tablespoon of zest you’ll probably need to zest more than one orange, depending on the size.
  • If you zest both and have extra zest, you can put the excess in a small container or Ziploc bag and freeze it for future use.
  • Squeeze the juice from the oranges – it should come close to 1 cup. If not, you can add store-bought orange juice to make a cup or just use a bit of extra water.
  • Add hot water to the orange juice to equal up to two cups. Mixing the hot water with the cold juice should yield lukewarm liquid, which is what you want to mix with the yeast.

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 448mgPotassium: 142mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 105IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 2.9mg
Keyword baking, bread, challah bread
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Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.86 from 14 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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  1. Britni

    September 17, 2018 at 10:40 am

    5 stars
    You are very talented and creative! thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 17, 2018 at 10:46 am

      Awwww thanks Britni! If I can do it (formerly doughaphobic haha) - anyone can!

      Reply
  2. Sara

    September 17, 2018 at 10:23 am

    5 stars
    I love the simplicity of not having to worry about a second rise! What a fabulous short cut, and of course I swoon for your braiding ability!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 17, 2018 at 10:30 am

      Thanks so much Sara! It really is stress relieving to shorten the process. The other day I was able to let it rise for just a half hour cuz I wasn’t ready to bake it yet and that worked too. So flexible!

      Reply
  3. Helen

    September 07, 2018 at 11:34 pm

    5 stars
    I bet your home smells incredible when you make this. How wonderful to find an easier way to make something so beautiful!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 17, 2018 at 10:51 am

      Thanks Helen! I made it for a big dinner party Saturday night and it was so flexible to my busy cooking schedule without a double rise, or really any need for a rise at all. And yes, the house smells good - nothing like the smell of bread baking!

      Reply
  4. Robin G

    September 07, 2018 at 4:24 pm

    5 stars
    Such a lovely loaf and the citrus flavor is spot on.

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 07, 2018 at 4:26 pm

      Thank you Robin. I will be making this in the round and I put a small bowl in the center to add in honey. (Not my original idea but it's a good one!) A great presentation.

      Reply
  5. Barbara | Creative Culinary

    February 28, 2017 at 9:04 am

    Hey Beth...oops I appear to have totally missed this last month and am so glad I found it today. I am a newbie to making Challah but I love it SO much and this version sounds totally fantastic. It is now on my list!

    So glad you are joining us!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      February 28, 2017 at 9:23 am

      Well with my posting problems it is no wonder you missed it. Today I got the 3AM right but the auto schedule didn't work! What!!!!

      You are so skilled in the kitchen - you will nail this loaf. And probably come up with another great rendition.

      Glad to be part of such a kind and talented group. Thanks for having me.

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Beth!

I'm a cookbook author, cooking teacher and preserved lemon lover. My family is a mix of Jewish, Hawaiian and Korean heritage. My virtual multicultural kitchen is always open. Let's cook together! 

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