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I have wanted to bake a Challah style Bread for a long time. It took me a while because I was concerned that the bread may turn out dry (I have never had Challah before though, so I don't have any frame of reference). I was also not sure about how to braid.

I did a lot of research online and came out with my own recipe using the Yudane method. The reason I incorporated Yudane method into this recipe is because bread using this method is soft and stays fresh longer compared with straight dough method. This is not the traditional way of making Challah as I understand there are certain ritual requirements associated with how it's made and consumed.

Yudane method is quite similar to Tangzhong (water-roux) method. Both methods are scalding methods. For the Yudane method, boiling water is used to scald the flour instead of cooking over the fire. Please click here to see the differences between Yudane vs Tangzhong Method.

This non-traditional Sourdough Challah recipe has a texture that is firm, chewy, moist and soft. However, it is not as soft and moist as the Sourdough white bread that I usually made because this Challah recipe uses less hydration.

If you have any questions regarding this recipe or any other post, please leave me a comment in the “LEAVE A COMMENT” link and I will reply you as soon as possible. Do tag me on Instagram @Bakewithpaws if you attempt on this recipe.

How To Make Sourdough Challah (Yudane Method)

Yields: One 5 Strands Braided Challah

INGREDIENTS:

Yudane:

100 bread flour (I used Japan High Gluten Flour)

100g boiling water

Stiff Sourdough Starter (50% hydration):

80g active sourdough starter (100% hydration)

80g Japan High Gluten Flour

20g water

Main Dough:

280g bread flour (I used Japan High Gluten Flour)

All yudane dough (above)

All stiff levain (above)

38g honey or brown sugar (I used honey)

7.5g (1 1/2 tsp) salt

105g eggs, whisked (about 2 large eggs)

15g water water

50g vegetable oil (I used extra virgin coconut oil)

Egg Wash:

1 egg + 1 tbsp water, whisked

Utensil:

1 baking tray lined with parchment paper.

METHOD:

Yudane (Day 1 @ 10.00 am):

Add bread flour in a bowl, pour the boiling water and mix well with spatula or spoon until no dry flour.
Cling film and leave on the counter for at least 4 hours or overnight in the fridge.
Take out from the fridge 30 minutes before using to return to room temperature.

Stiff Levain (Day 1 @ 6.00 pm)

Mix all ingredients in a jar and cover.
Let it ferment in room temperature (28C - 30C) until tripled. This one took about 3.5 hours. It depends how strong is your starter and your temperature ambient.

Main Dough (Day 1 @ 10.00 pm)

Put all ingredients (except oil), including all the stiff levain and all yudane dough into a bowl of stand mixer.
Slightly combine the mixture by hand with the paddle attachment before turning on the machine so that the flour will not splash out. Using the paddle attachment, mix for about 2 minutes or until all incorporated. The dough is slightly dry compared with other soft bread dough.
Change to hook attachment and knead for another 3 minutes or until the dough comes together. Add in coconut oil in 3 batches and knead until the coconut oil incorporate with the dough. I used No.1 speed (KA) at the beginning and slowly change to No.2 - 3 speed (KA). It took quite a while about 10 minutes for the oil to blend into the dough. Once the oil is well incorporated with the dough, then continue kneading for another 4 - 6 minutes (approx.) or until reach window pane stage. I noticed that it is harder to achieve a very thin window pane with Yudane method dough sometimes. It could be due to the gelatinization of its starch. It is fine if your window pane is not very thin as long as you have kneaded the dough long enough. During the whole kneading process, I stopped few times to scrape down the dough from the hook to be sure it is evenly kneaded and also to prevent the motor from overheating.

1st Proof (Day 1 @ 10.45 pm):

Shape the dough into a ball and place back in the same bowl, cover with cling film or the lid. Let the dough retard in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours in the fridge. I retarded for 12 hours.

Shaping (Day 2 @ 10.45 am)

Transfer the dough to a clean floured surface then divide into 5 equal portions. Form each portion into a ball. Flatten with rolling pin. Roll each dough like a swiss roll into into a rope about 16.5" long.
Please watch the video how to braid 5 strands challah.
Place 5 strands braided challah in a prepared baking tray.
Brush with egg wash.

Final Proofing:

I made a mark with a pencil about 1.5 cm away from the original size of the dough on both sides. Let it proof at a warm place until the dough rise double in size or when it reaches the pencil mark. This one took approximately 4 hours at room temperature 28C - 30C.

Baking (Day 2 @ 4.00 pm):

Preheat oven at 190C (top & bottom heat) or 170C (fan-forced) for 10 - 15 minutes.
Brush with egg wash again.
Bake in a preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Rotate the tray half way if necessary for evenly baked.
Remove challah from oven and let them cool on rack completely.

GENERAL NOTES:

SOURDOUGH STARTER

Please click this link for "How To Make Sourdough Starter" and "Sourdough Maintenance"

A healthy starter is very crucial as advised by Baking with Gina. It is advisable to feed your starter regularly if you want your bread to rise nicely and to use the starter (levain) at its peak. A starter that is fed regularly will be more active in general. If the mother starter is not strong, the bread dough will not rise a lot even though the starter is used at its peak.

GLUTEN DEVELOPMENT & WINDOWPANE TEST

Gluten forms when flour comes in contact with water. Hydration of the flour causes the sticky and stretchy protein to form, giving structure to the bread. This makes your bread trap air and rise.

Gluten in dough can be developed by autolyse, resting, kneading or folding.

The windowpane test is used to determine whether the dough has been sufficiently kneaded. By gently pulling the dough (or you may pinch off some dough) and trying to stretch it into a thin membrane. If you are able to stretch the dough paper thin and translucent without tearing, then the gluten is fully developed. However, if you can stretch it without tearing but the membrane is not transparent, then the gluten is not yet fully developed.

However, from my experience not all the recipe can achieve a thin and translucent window pane stage easily. For example low hydration and low fat dough. For such recipes, a reasonable window pane is good enough and it can be left to rest. Gluten will continue to develop while resting. Exercising restraint to not over-knead the dough prevents the gluten from being overworked and broken. Some of you may have experienced the dough breaking during the second proofing. It is because the dough is over kneaded.

The total kneading time for me is usually 15 minutes at low speeds except brioche dough with high fat percentage or dough using liquid fat which usually takes a little longer (maybe 18-20 mins).

From my experience, I found that high hydration dough with high percentage of fat will be easy to stretch and achieve a paper thin windowpane stage.

MILK POWDER

Why do I use milk powder?

Milk or milk powder will enhance the flavour of the bread and makes the bread texture softer due to the fat content of the milk.
Milk powder is shelf stable and you can have it anytime when you want to use. Unlike liquid milk you need to finish within a certain time before it spoils.

KNEADING TIME

For kneading, please regard the timing provided as an indication only. It is only meant as a guide. Timing may differ depending on the brand of flour and electric mixer used. The protein content may vary from one brand of flour to another.

FLOUR

The right flour plays a very important role in bread making. To achieve fluffy, soft and light bread, I used Japan High Gluten Flour in most of my bread baking. The protein content is around 12 - 13%.

HYDRATION

The liquid measurement given is also a guide. It is advisable to always reserve some liquid and not add it all in one go. This would give you the opportunity to adjust if necessary. If dough is too dry, add the reserve liquid one tablespoon at a time until the right consistency. This is because each flour absorbs water and hydrates differently.

PROOFING

Please note that the proofing timing may also vary depending on your climate, environment, flour and your starter.

If you are unable to judge by just looking at the dough, you can do the finger poke test:

Lightly press the side of the proved dough with your finger. If it bounces back immediately without any indentation, it means the dough is under proved and needs more time before baking.
If the indentation stays and it doesn’t bounce back, it means it has been over proved.
If the indentation slowly bounces back and leave a small indentation, it is ready to bake.
There will be a final burst of rising once the bread is placed to bake in the oven and it is called oven spring.

WRINKLE TOP OR SHRINKING

If your bread collapses or gets wrinkled on top after removing from oven, it could be because your dough over proved during the second proofing. Please proof until the tip of the dough just reaches the rim of the pan, around 80% - 90% in size.

BAKING TEMPERATURE AND TIME

Do also note that the baking temperature and timing provided are what works for my oven and should also be regarded as a guide only. Every oven behaves a little differently, so please adjust accordingly for your oven.

Comments

UnknownJanuary 21, 2021 at 11:52 AM
I can't wait to try this!
AnonymousJanuary 22, 2021 at 8:37 AM
Hi, the challah looks great. I really want to try this, but I have a question regarding the water quantity in the main dough. Is only 15 g, is this correct? Thank you
EmilyJanuary 31, 2021 at 8:28 PM
i really like your recipes, especially the sourdough ones! however, as i see pretty much all your recipes involved a stand mixer, is there any ways i can still make your recipes without one? :(
EmilyJanuary 31, 2021 at 8:30 PM
hi! i really like your recipes, especially the sourdough ones! But i see that most of your recipes involved a stand mixer, which I don't have :( is there any ways I can still try your recipes without one?
Eduardo LoyolaFebruary 16, 2021 at 8:10 AM
Hi! Thanks for the recipe. Your site is awesome. Regards from Spain.

I have not found the mentioned video of how to braid the Challah. Where is it?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards, Eduardo.
Eduardo LoyolaFebruary 17, 2021 at 7:56 AM
Hi, thanks! I confirm you that there is no video at all (nor player nor link). I have found in YouTube a video that looks the one you are direcing us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e782JQOv8IM

Is this one?

Many Thanks. Eduardo.
AnonymousMarch 26, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Hi Yeanley, just wondered if you have a Challah recipe h using yeast and yudane method. Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes.
Petra