Challah Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 heaping tablespoons active dry yeast
• 3 eggs (save the white from one egg for brushing the top)
• 7 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• Optional: sesame seeds or kosher salt for the top

Directions

1. Heat the water, butter and sugar in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the butter just begins to soften but isn't completely melted.
2. Put 1 cup of flour into a mixer fitted with the bread hook and add the liquid and eggs. Mix until lightly blended. Add the yeast and mix well until it dissolves, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add the remaining flour until the dough pulls cleanly from the bowl. Turn the dough onto a heavily floured surface and divide into 5 equal pieces. Roll each into a long log and braid the five into one loaf. Brush lightly with egg white and top with sesame seeds or kosher salt.
4. Cover loosely with a lightly floured dish cloth and let rise in a warm place (not outside) for about 45 minutes. On a cold day, preheat the oven to 300 degrees while making the dough, turn it off, open the door and let the loaf rise on the open door.
5. Put the loaf in the oven and turn it to 325–350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Variation: divide the dough in half and bake in two loaf pans.