Not only is sourdough challah bread beautiful, but it also is one of the most delicious. With a soft, fluffy texture on the inside and a beautiful, golden, braided crust on the outside, it’s the perfect recipe to grace your table for a holiday feast or an average weekday.

close up picture of sourdough challah in a white stoneware bakeware

This recipe is almost exactly like my absolute favoriteย sourdough brioche, except challah is a traditional Jewish bread made for certain holidays.

It is a kosher loaf, so it doesnโ€™t contain any dairy products. Instead of butter and milk, I swapped it out for oil and water. And it is so good.ย 

While still a rich bread, challah has a slightly different flavor and texture than brioche. You can eat it as is or use it for sandwiches, French toast, bread puddings, breakfast strata, stuffing, or French toast casserole.

I took the classic recipe and made into a healthier, fermented, sourdough version. Light and pillowy, this will easily become one of your favorite recipes. Plus, it is so stinking easy.

close up overhead photo of sourdough challah in a white baking dish

Why you will love this recipe:

Light and fluffy. What is not to love about that?

Healthierย and easier to digest. This is because it contains fermented grains. The anti-nutrients are broken down, making the vitamins and minerals easier for our bodies to absorb. The fermentation process also breaks down the gluten, making it easier to digest.

Flavor. Compared to regular yeast-risen bread, the sourdough adds a delicious but subtle tang to the bread.

overhead photo of a loaf of fluffy and golden sourdough challah

Tips For Making Sourdough Challah

  • This recipe makes a very wet dough, which will cause you to question whether you have added enough flour to it. With enough patience (and kneading), the dough will come together.ย We’re talkingย a ridiculously long time (like 20 minutes in the kitchen aid mixer), but it will eventually pull from the sides of the bowl and be a smooth and elastic dough.
  • If you donโ€™t have bread flour, you can use all-purpose. The bread won’t be as soft, but it will still be delicious.ย 
  • New to sourdough? Check out how to make a sourdough starter here and over a hundred sourdough recipes here.

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Tools you may need:

Stand mixer

Baking dish or cookie sheet

Bench scraper (optional, but handy)

Measuring cups and spoons

golden braided sourdough challah loaf in a white baking dish in an angle on a white countertop

Ingredients

Sourdough starter โ€“ This needs to be active and bubbly so it rises really nicely.

Bread flour โ€“ Bread flour gives this bread a light and fluffy texture because it has a high protein and gluten content compared to all-purpose.

Unbleached all-purpose flour โ€“ Freshly milled or store-bought. I love the mixture of all-purpose flour and bread flour for the best texture.

Honey โ€“ I love to use local honey.

Eggs โ€“ Preferably pasture-raised, but use the best quality you can find.

Salt โ€“ I always choose sea salt.

Water

Oil โ€“ Use a neutral tasting oil, like avocado or melted coconut oil. Other oils will do, but we try to avoid unhealthy, overly processed oils like canola, corn and vegetable. 

FAQ:

sourdough challah fresh out of the opven in a white baking dish on a pot holder on a white countertop

Is Sourdough challah a thing?

100%. You can make just about any type of bread, dessert, and baked good with sourdough starter. And if sourdough challah wasnโ€™t a thing before, I hope it is now. 

What makes a challah different from bread?

It is an enriched bread, meaning it is a richer bread that contains eggs. The main difference between challah and brioche is that brioche contains eggs, butter and milk, whereas challah is made with oil rather than butter and water in place of milk.

close up photo of a braided sourdough challah with a gorgeous golden crust

Can you braid sourdough bread?

Yes. This dough is perfect for braiding and making those beautiful braided loaves of bread while also getting the benefits of the sourdough.

What is the best flour for making challah?

I like to use a mixture of all-purpose and bread flour. This gives it a fluffier texture. If you donโ€™t have bread flour, you can just use all-purpose, but the bread will be more dense.

Can I let challah rise overnight?

Yes. I like to start my dough the night before and allow the dough to rise overnight, then shape in the morning, allow to rise one more time and bake. 

This type of recipe is my favorite, since the bulk of the work is done the night before, making it super easy the next day to get bread on the table.

sourdough challah in a white baking dish on a white countertop

How To Make Sourdough Challah

Feed your sourdough starter at least 4-12 hours before starting this recipe. It should be nice and bubbly before starting the dough. I will usually do this around lunch time.

The night before, add all ingredients in a mixer and knead until the dough is smooth, glossy, and pulls away from the stand mixer bowl.

*This is a very wet dough, but after about 20 minutes in the stand mixer (or kneaded by hand), it will come together and form a nice dough. Even though it is tempting, donโ€™t add more flour.ย 

Cover with plastic wrap, a damp towel, or a tight lid and allow to rise at room temperature for about 10 hours (or until doubled in size).

Braiding Challah

four pieces of sourdough dough on a white countertop with a bench scraper

In the morning, take the dough and cut into four equal portions.ย 

shaping long rolls of dough to braid on a white countertop with a rolling pin and bench scraper to the left

women wearing a red plaid apron shaping long rolls of dough with a bench scraper on a quarts countertop

Take each dough ball and roll it into a long rectangle, approximately 18-20 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Then roll it into a skinny rope. I find this easiest with a bench scraper. 

braiding 4 strands of sourdough challah dough  on a white countertop

Place all four pieces of formed dough on the counter and pinch the ends together.ย 

braiding 4 strands of sourdough challah dough  on a white countertop

Starting from the right side, cross the second piece of dough directly under the piece to the left and then over the dough piece all the way on the left.

braiding 4 strands of sourdough challah dough  on a white countertop

Then, take the portion all the way on the right and put it over the dough piece directly to the left of it, under the piece in the middle, and lastly, over the piece all the way on the left.

a loaf of braiding sourdough bread dough on a white countertop with a bench scraper and rolling pin to the right

Continue with this pattern until it is completely braided. Pinch the ends together and tuck the ends under the loaf.

Place in a greased baking dish. A 9ร—13 will work. You can also bake it on a cookie sheet.

Allow the dough to rise for another hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

sourdough challah dough braided and  topped with an egg wash resting in a white baking dish on a antique stove

Brush an egg wash over the loaf. You can make the wash by beating an egg with water. This gives it that beautiful color and shine.

Bake for 25 minutes until the challah starts to turn golden.

overhead photo of a braided loaf of sourdough challah

Baking For Dinner

Feed starter before bed. 

Mix up dough in the morning, per instructions above.

Allow for the first rise – 6 to 8 hours in a warm place until doubled โ€“ covered with plastic wrap, tight lid, or damp towel.

Shape. Place into parchment-lined loaf pans. 

Cover and allow to rise for 1 hour, and bake for dinner.

Find more of my favorite sourdough bread:

If you make this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonbooneย with your delicious creation.

Sourdough Challah Bread

4.51 from 77 votes
This delicious bread has a soft, fluffy texture on the inside and a beautiful, golden, braided crust on the outside, it's the perfect recipe to grace your table for a holiday feast or an average weekday.

Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 11 hours
Total: 11 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 12
sourdough challah fresh out of the opven in a white baking dish on a pot holder on a white countertop
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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup sourdough starter, active and bubbly
  • 3 1/2 cups bread flour
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose
  • 6 tablespoons honey
  • 6 tablespoons oil, any neutral tasting oil will do. I did coconut oil melted
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 cup water

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions 

  • Feed your sourdough starter at least 4-12 hours before starting this recipe. It should be nice and bubbly before starting the dough.
  • The night before, add all ingredients in a mixer and knead until the dough is smooth, glossy, and pulls away from the stand mixer bowl. This takes about 20 minutes.
  • Cover with plastic wrap, a damp towel, or a tight lid and allow to rise at room temperature for about 10 hours (or until doubled in size).
  • In the morning, take the dough and cut into four equal portions.
  • Take each dough ball and roll it into a long rectangle, approximately 18-20 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Then roll it into a skinny rope
  • Place all four pieces of formed dough on the counter and pinch the ends together.
  • Starting from the right side, cross the second piece of dough directly under the piece to the left and then over the dough piece all the way on the left.
  • Then, take the portion all the way on the right and put it over the dough piece directly to the left of it, under the piece in the middle, and lastly, over the piece all the way on the left.
  • Continue with this pattern until it is completely braided. Pinch the ends together and tuck the ends under the loaf.
  • Place in a greased baking dish. A 9ร—13 will work. You can also bake it on a cookie sheet.
  • Allow the dough to rise for another hour.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Brush an egg wash over the loaf. You can make the wash by beating an egg with water.
  • Bake for 25 minutes until the challah starts to turn golden.



Notes

  • This recipe makes a very wet dough, which will cause you to question whether you have added enough flour to it. With enough patience (and kneading), the dough will come together. We’re talking a ridiculously long time (like 20 minutes in the kitchen aid mixer), but it will eventually pull from the sides of the bowl and be a smooth and elastic dough.
  • If you donโ€™t have bread flour, you can use all-purpose. The bread won’t be as soft, but it will still be delicious.

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 408mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4.51 from 77 votes (62 ratings without comment)

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119 Comments

  1. Talking tree farm says:

    This is my second try and second recipe at challah bread. You werenโ€™t kidding when you said sticky dough. I never get like I got to the stretchy glossy stage even after 20 min but I rested it overnight anyway and it was perfect for braiding this morning! My first challah success! Thank you!

    1. Lisa says:

      So glad to hear that. Hopefully this means lots of future success.

  2. Ami Sasson says:

    Hi Lisa,

    Can I use 6 table spoon of butter instead of coconut oil ?
    Can I use Lactaid milk instead of water
    Is it safe to keep dough out for 10 hours with eggs butter and milk ?
    Can I include raisins ? If yes can it be a full cup or 1/2 a cup
    Thanks
    Ami

    1. Lisa says:

      Yes. Probably (it would be more like brioche). That is up to you and your comfort level. I’ve done it many times without issue. Raisin would be yummy. You would have to play with amounts. I would probably start with 1 cup and see how that is.

  3. Taharah says:

    Is there a way to long ferment this after the bulk rise for digestive concerns? I am currently making the whole wheat sandwich bread recipe and I plan to let it rise in the pan overnight, but what should be done about this dough for long fermentation time? Thank you!

    1. Lisa says:

      You could make the dough, bulk rise, shape and stick in the fridge for up to a few days. This slows down the fermentation but does allow it to go longer without over fermenting.

  4. Leah says:

    Hi, Iโ€™m putting the dough up at 8 am but wonโ€™t be able to bake it until 8 am tomorrow. Would you recommend me leaving it in the fridge after the dough is formed?

    1. Lisa says:

      I usually let the dough rise until double, shape and then put it in the fridge. It can stay in the fridge for up to a few days without issue.

      1. Kristi Robinson says:

        Hi! Iโ€™m trying this and my schedule is such that I would love to put the sections in the refrigerator to cold ferment until Iโ€™m ready to roll them out and braid and bake. Is this okay?

        1. Lisa says:

          That should probably work. As long as the bulk rise is at room temperature, then it can go in the fridge after.

  5. Thu Walmsley says:

    My husband said itโ€™s the best bread he has ever tasted. Weโ€™ll definitely make it again, thank you for the recipe ๐Ÿ˜Š

    1. Lisa says:

      Wow! That is quite the compliment. So glad it turned out great and you enjoyed the recipe!

  6. Suzy says:

    I see you said to let it rise for 10 hrs in warm place. Is it safe to do that because of the eggs in it?

    Thank you

    1. Lisa says:

      Yes.

  7. Angie says:

    Iโ€™m confused by the 1/2 cup all purpose? Is that supposed to be flour?

    1. Lisa says:

      All purpose flour, yes!

  8. Meghan says:

    Hello! I love the idea of a sourdough challah, my question is if it is safe to Lear the bread dough with milk and eggs to sit out on the couch yet for 10 hours for the rise or is this supposed to happen in the fridge? Thanks so much, hoping to add this to my weekly routeine!

    1. Lisa says:

      This is based on comfort level. I’m totally fine with it since it will be baked. You could also let it rise in the fridge, it will take much longer.

  9. Misty says:

    I have been looking for a recipe that uses sourdough for Shabbat. Do you know if you can only use All Purpose flour?
    Thank you.

    1. Lisa says:

      It will probably work just fine. May not be as fluffy.

  10. Liz says:

    Would u happen to know the weight of the starter used in the recipe? I always weigh my ingredients, and your 1 cup of starter seems like
    It could be so inconsistent.

    Thx!