100% Whole Wheat Challah
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Side Dish
Serves: 2 medium loaves or 4 small loaves
Ingredients
  • 4 cups whole wheat flour, plus ¼ cup extra
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2¼ tsp active yeast
  • 1 cup warm water, divided
  • ½ cup honey, plus 1 tsp
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 2 eggs
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, gently mix the yeast, 1 teaspoon of honey, and ¼ cup of the warm water. Let activate for 5 minutes.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add in the remaining ingredients and yeast mixture. Mix well, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add up to ¼ cup extra flour, doing so 1 tablespoon at a time, if the dough is too sticky. Dough should be elastic and smooth.
  4. Knead the dough either in the bowl or on a lightly floured surface, for about 5-7 minutes.
  5. Lightly oil the bowl and place ball of dough back into it. Cover with a clean towel and put someplace warm.
  6. Let rise for 1 hour. Dough should just about double in size.
  7. Uncover and gently punch down dough. Divide in half and braid into 2 medium loaves, or 4 small loaves. Pinch and tuck the ends under. Place on lined baking sheet, cover with towel, and put someplace warm.*
  8. Let rise for 30 minutes. While dough is rising for the second time, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  9. Bake challah for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden and sounds hollow when you knock on the bottom of the loaf.**
  10. Best served warm. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight bag for a few days.
Notes
*If your challah is not rising well, then heat the oven to about 180 degrees F and place the challah (without a towel to cover it) in the oven for the second rising.
**Depending on the size of your loaves and your oven, you may need to play around with the baking time. I prefer my challah a little doughier, and tend to bake for the shorter time period.
Recipe by Lenses and Lentils at https://lensesandlentils.com/best-whole-wheat-challah/