Round Woven Challah Tutorial
September 7, 2012
One of the most iconic symbols of Rosh Hashana, besides the shofar and apples and honey, is the round challah. The circular shape of the challah symbolizes the cyclical nature of the year and the challah is often dipped in honey before eating to symbolize a sweet new year. I make mine even sweeter with candied fruit and a smattering a sprinkles, but raisins are a more traditional choice. There are many different ways to make round challah but my favorite is the round woven challah. It comes out with a nice shape and looks almost braided. Once you get the hang of it this braid is not that complicated, and ever since someone showed me this at a braiding workshop it is the only way I make round challot. Since I find it much easier to make something after I see a demonstration I wanted to make a tutorial on how to make this challah. In addition to the video tutorial there are illustrated step by step directions. This is my first time doing something like this, so let me know what you think! If people like it and find it helpful I can make tutorials for all kinds of things! Any challah dough will work well for this braid, this is the recipe I used.
Step-By-Step instructions
This woven challah is made by weaving strands of dough over one another in a circular pattern.The arrows in the illustrations below show which strand of dough is moved in each step. When making challah the dough probably won’t be colored but the instructions are described using the colors to make it easy to follow the steps.
1. Place two strands of dough in each direction, making a kind of lattice. Note that the green strand goes under the red and over the yellow and the blue does the opposite, over the red and over the yellow.
2. Starting with the two pieces of dough closest to you (in this case the blue and green) and place the one that is under the (yellow) cross piece of dough (the blue) over the one that is over the cross piece (the green) moving in a clockwise direction.
3. Do the same with the next two strands. In this case the cross piece is green and the yellow (which is under the green) goes over the red.
4. Do the same with the next two strands. The cross piece is now the red one and the green (which is under the red) goes over the blue.
5. Do the same with the next two strands. The cross piece is now the blue one and red (which is under the blue) goes over the yellow. This is one complete rotation.
6. When you have finished one complete rotation switch directions, so now you are working in a counterclockwise direction maintaining the same pattern with the strand that is underneath always going over the one that is on top. Start by taking the green strand over the red.
7. Take the yellow and put it over the green.
8. Take the blue and put it over the yellow.
9. Take the red and put it over blue. This is the end of the second rotation. At this point each direction should have two strands of the same color. Reverse directions and work back in a clockwise direction.
10. The red that is under the cross piece (green) goes over the one that is on top.
11. The blue that is under the cross piece (red) goes over the one that is on top.
12. The yellow that is under the cross piece (blue) goes over the one that is on top.
13. The green that is under the cross piece (yellow) goes over the one that is on top. This is the end of the third rotation. If there is a lot of dough left reverse directions and do one more rotation.
14. Pinch the ends together and bring them to the middle. Pinch well to fasten them together.
15. Flip the challah over and place on baking sheet.
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Recipe Page: https://www.couldntbeparve.com/recipe/round-woven-challah-tutorial/
This is absolutely wonderful. I make challah all the time and have done a 3,4 6 and even 9 braid loaf. But never could figure out the round one. THANKS A BUNCH!
Ronnie, I’m so curious what your 9 braid challah is like? I went to your blog but couldn’t find it. Pls share 🙂
Gorgeous! I’m going to try one this Shabbos to practice for next week. By the way, is there any chance of a link in your blogroll? All kosher, all bread (-ish things, including cake), all the time! 😀
Just to follow up – I blogged my attempt today. Ended up making 5 because I needed a LOT of practice:
http://breadland.blogspot.ca/2012/09/well-rounded-challah.html
I love your blog and have been following for a while, it is an oversite that you didn’t make it to the blogroll. I fixed it so it should be there now. Shabbat Shalom!
I am definitely going to try this this year!
Love your tutorial! I need a tutorial like this for the 6-strand!
re: 6-strand – this video of Maggie Glezer doing her 6-braid was very helpful to me. http://www.finecooking.com/videos/braiding-challah.aspx
Hope this helps; Shabbat Shalom!
I have a colored six strand tutorial as well, now here is the link.
this looks really nice and i’m planning on trying it but had a couple questions: how long should it rise after braiding and at what temp and for how long should it be baked?
thanks for sharing!!
Shoshana, this was wonderful! I’ve shared it with all my friends, of course. I’m planning a try for my next challah batch. L’Shana Tova!
Your method has been successfully completed by three bread makers in Knoxville! The Sunday morning study group loved it!
I love the demo-it makes it so easy to understand how to make the round challahs! Thank you so much!
Gorgeous and great tutorial, thanks. I can’t believe all these colors, my kids would go crazy.
My kids loved the colors, even though I am not thrilled about them eating the chemicals. This week when I made normal challah they complained that it wasn’t colored! I have a batch baking in the oven right now (from another class I just taught) that is made with the natural colors so perhaps that will be the compromise position.
what a great idea for a tutorial! i wonder what this challah looked like baked…
The outside browned a bit (I skipped the egg wash to minimize the browning) but the inside was brightly colored with each piece looking a bit different.
So. Much. Fun.
Love the tutorial!
What an ingenious idea! You have made the impossible, possible!
Shoshana this is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wondering from the picture what was up with your colors and then when I watched the tutorial I thought how genius and considerate of you to teach it this way!!! great video – shana tova!
Great tutorial! I’ll try it! Thank you very much for sharing!
I LOVE, LOVE LOVE how you did this!
Thanks Shoshana! I did a trial run along with my Shabbat challah and it worked perfectly! I am so excited!
Fantastic explanation of how to braid a round challah! Even I was able to follow it. Hopefully I’ll finish my own post and get photos up by Sunday morning, with proper props and a link back to you, of course.
This is fantastic!!! I tried to make a round woven challah for Rosh Hashanah, before seeing this, but it didn’t end up working out. Your video is great and the colored strands for the tutorial is brilliant! You’ve convinced me to give it another shot (this time I’ll be braiding it along with your video!) Thanks!!
i LOVE LOVE this tutorial and can’t wait to make round challah next rosh hashanah!
Wow. This is beautiful. Thank you! So helpful
You make it very easy to follow. I can’t wait to try this myself.
I tried this braiding method for Rosh Hashanah and I am doing it again for Sukkot. It is so easy to follow with the colors. Thank you so much of the tutorial.
I’m so glad you found it helpful! Chag sameach.
can u re-post the video please?
I’m not sure why the video disappeared, I will try to fix it on the post later this evening. In the meantime here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Pg3mppSR0