Vegan Challah Bread

4.97 from 52 votes

Challah bread is a Jewish classic and today we are making a vegan challah bread that is just as delicious! Perfect for making french toast.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Rise Time1

Total Time1 45

Course: breads

Cuisine: American

Servings: slices

Calories: 223kcal

Author: Andrew Bernard

Ingredients

4 ½ cups flour (we prefer bread, can use all-purpose)
¼ cup vegan cane sugar
1 package instant yeast (1 package = 2 ¼ tsp)
1 ¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup mashed sweet potato, cooled (sub with white potato or pumpkin)
¼ cup vegan butter, melted
1 1/2/ cup water

For the simple syrup

2 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoon plant based milk

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Set bowl aside.
In a second bowl (preferably a stand mixer bowl if you have one), add the mashed potato, vegan butter and water. Whisk together until combined.
With the paddle attachment, add dry mix in two separate times. The switch to the dough hook and add the remaining dry mix in separate times. Combining just until mixed.
Let knead for 8-10 minutes or until it doesn't stick to the bowl. It will pull away from the dough. Still slightly sticky but not sticking to your hands.
Spray bowl, form into a ball and place ball inside. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let sit for 60-90 minutes in a warm, draft free place until doubled.
Punch it down. Let rise again for 40-60 minutes until risen again.
Uncover, punch down again and take out. Cut dough into 6 equal pieces - using a scale if possible.
*See notes if you would rather do a 3 strand braid instead of 6.
Roll each section into a 16 inch log, tappering the ends (making them smaller).
Lay all 6 logs in front of your vertically.
At the top pinch 3 logs together and then pinch together the remaining 3 together. Then pinch the two sections together (see video for visual)
Think of each strand as a number. Far left will be 1 and far right will be 6.
Cross the two outer strands (1 and 6).
Move strand 1 to the middle, crossing over strands 2 and 3.
Cross strand 5 over 4, 3, 2, 1 to be on the far left.
Then cross strand 6 over 5 and 4 to be in the middle.
Finally cross strand 2, over 3, 4, 5, and 6 to be on the far right.
Repeat the above 4 steps until you read the bottom of your bread.
Pinch the ends, and tuck them underneath the bread (on both ends).
Lay braided bread on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover for 35-40.
15 minutes before done, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Make the simple syrup by adding the maple syrup and dairy free milk to a bowl and whisk.
Once ready, brush the dough with half the simple syrup mixture.
Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven, brush with remaining simple syrup mixture and let cool completely before slicing.

Video

Notes

*See post for notes about Top 8 Allergy Free variation and more notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates.

*In order to do a 3 braid twist, roll dough into 3 equal pieces and tapper the ends. Pinch them together at the top. Take the right piece and fold over the middle piece and into the middle position. Then take the right piece and fold over the middle piece and into the middle position. Repeat these steps until you reach the end.

Nutrition