fig, raspberry + sea salt challah
One of my earliest loves on this here blog was challah. I’d never made it before a few years ago, and truth be told, I’m not sure I’d ever eaten it before then, either. But there I was, me and my first-ever homemade challah (please ignore the horrendous photos and the fact that I baked them on WAX PAPER… ah, adventures), and it was love at first sight. And bite.
Fast-forward to today and not much has changed except that whenever I decide to bake challah, I know I’m in for something yummy.
Challah is one of my favorite breads to bake because not only is it delicious, it’s simple and fuss-free to make (which we all know by now is how I like to roll). It’s also fairly forgiving in that if the dough doesn’t rise quite well enough or if it doesn’t look all that pretty going into the oven, the end result is almost always something beautiful. Of course, none of that really matters anyway when all you can think about is eating it, to which I can attest firsthand.
All that to say, this fig, raspberry and sea salt challah is probably my favorite challah bread baked to date. I mean, there are swirls of fig and raspberry jam in there. There’s sea salt sprinkled on top. There’s olive oil in the dough that makes it extra flavorful and soft. It makes for great toast and French toast and French toast casserole. Need I say more?
I’ve been dreaming of making this loaf since Deb posted her original version, and I am oh-so-glad I finally took the plunge and decided to make it. I really don’t know why it took me so long. But I do know for sure that I won’t wait very long to make it again, considering I have plans for this first loaf to rapidly disappear into the aforementioned forms of toast, French toast and French toast casserole this weekend. It’s going to be a very happy, carb-filled two days, to say the least.
And while I come bearing this yumminess, unfortunately due to some unforeseen busyness and happenings, I don’t have a video for you today. Wah wahhh. But rest assured, the series continues in full force next week.
Instead, let’s do some math: Yeast + flour + fig and raspberry jam + sea salt + olive oil = challah = love.
Fig, Raspberry and Sea Salt Challah
- Prep Time: 2 hours 20 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 mins
- Yield: 1 large loaf 1x
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup warm water (about 110 degrees F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/3 cup good-quality olive oil
- 3 eggs, divided
- 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sea salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
- 1/2 cup fig jam or preserves
- 1/4 cup raspberry jam or preserves
- Sea salt, for sprinkling on top of loaf
Instructions
- In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon honey into warm water. Let sit 10 minutes until foamy.
- Add remaining honey, olive oil and 2 eggs; stir to combine. Add flour and salt and stir until a dough forms. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface 10 to 15 minutes until smooth, elastic and only slightly sticky OR knead dough in stand mixer with dough hook on low speed 7 to 8 minutes until smooth, elastic and only slightly sticky.
- Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl; turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 to 2 hours until doubled.
- Punch down risen dough. Divide into three equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one piece of dough into a wide rectangle, about 8 by 15 inches. Spread half of the fig jam on top of dough. Roll up dough tightly from the long end into a log, pinching seam to seal. Carefully stretch dough so the log is about 15 inches long. Set aside.
- Repeat with remaining dough, filling one with the remaining fig jam and the other with the raspberry jam.
- Place the logs side by side. Take the left strand and cross it over the middle strand, then take the right strand and also cross it over the middle strand. Repeat, crossing the left over the middle strand, then the right over the middle strand until you reach the edge. Pinch and fold the edge under to seal the seams together. Repeat the process up the top half of the loaf.
- Transfer the loaf to a lightly floured parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Beat remaining egg in a small bowl, then brush top of loaf with egg wash. Lightly spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and set over dough. Let rise 1 hour until puffy but not doubled.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Brush dough one more time with egg wash, then sprinkle with sea salt. Bake until deep brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Really this is gorgeous loaf! I am glad you revisited one of your recipes, always nice to see how you have grown over the years. Do not stress over your video. If you have time, do it but we know you have life too!
Keeps the carbs coming
Beautiful! Love your addition with the fig and raspberry (and sea salt!). Gorgeous loaf–and you got the perfect amount of caramelized, brown topping, which is the best part. I need to make challah again one of these days, especially since it makes the best french toast EVER.
Awesome, Steph!
This is stunning!! The additions of the fig and raspberry jams + sea salt sound incredible! This is one of my favorite breads to make because the dough is pretty easy to work with and um, it taste amazing!
You amaze me! This is just, well, awesome! I want a loaf now.
Gawd, this is gorgeous!! I want a hot fresh slice…with some buttah!
Carb City is the best place to be.. I love this,my last attempt at challah turned out like a tangled mess.. true story 🙂 This makes me want to give it another shot.
OK, you have me convinced: I really need to make challah! Confession: the braid intimidates me. You’re so right though–it doesn’t matter how it looks. I just need to STUFF MY FACE with it ASAP
Now that I don’t have a day job, maybe I’ll finally have a chance to tackle this challah recipe – gorgeous!
Challah was the first loaf of bread I ever beaked. I was so scared. It was actually easier than I thought and looked so beautiful it almost made me cry. Actually it did make me shed a tear. I am a nerd, I know. But I was so proud! I love Deb’s recipe. It is perfection. I like your method of braiding better than the one I did. Now I am craving challah. Holla!!!!
Belinda — Oh, thank you 🙂 Life just gets in the way sometimes but hopefully we’ll be back up and running as usual next week. Thanks, love!
Laura — Thanks, friend! I can’t wait for this weekend so I can eat all the challah French toast in the universe. 😉
Tieghan — It’s one of my faves, too, for that same reason! Love it. Thanks, dear! 🙂
Ashley — Aw, you’re the best. 🙂 Wish I could mail you a loaf!
Steph — Yes! Now I want that, too. 🙂 Thanks, dear!
Erika — Doitdoitdoit. I bet second time’s the charm for ya — and the end result is Carb City! 😉
Erin — You have to try it out, even if just once! You’ll see how easy it can be and you’ll fall in love. Mostly with the face-stuffing part. 🙂
Chung-Ah — Yes! Perfect way to spend the day. 🙂 Thanks, friend!
Stefanie — Holla for challah! I’d totally shed a tear for a good-looking bread, too. #notashamed 😉
What a gorgeous bread! Love the fig and raspberry combination!
Challaaaaah! It looks like so much fun! I’ve never baked challah before but I bet this would be an awesome project for my momma and I next time we bake together. Fig and raspberry?? ALL over that!
This couldn’t get any more awesome. I love challah, I love figs and I love raspberries! I’m longing to make this soon, it looks wonderful ^^
This is just gorgeous Steph! You are my breadmaking inspiration!!
This is a gorgeous challah and one that I would be happy to add to my repertoire! Thanks!
LOVE me some challah and this is such a creative spin on it. I’ve never even attempted to make it before, but you make it look easy. Must try.
Jessica — Thank you, dear!
Julia — A momma and some challah — perfect combo 🙂
Consuelo — Thank you, dearie!
Audra — Aw, you’re too sweet! Thanks, friend!
Abbe — Thank you!
Nicole — It’s definitely easy and so worth it 🙂 Hope you love it!
Oh wow! I’m a big fan of challah, but I’ve never had a fancy one with delicious add-ins like raspberry or fig. I am bookmarking this to try immediately. And I appreciate knowing that this is a forgiving recipe — I’m no expert on yeast breads so I always feel a bit nervous when trying them. Sometimes, I need a forgiving recipe to boost my confidence!
Challah is my fave for French toast. Dying over the thought of French toast with figgy, raspberry bread with sea salt….divine! Gorgeous photos, btw 🙂
I need this NOW! Can’t explain how good this looks!!! Keep up the great work 😀
In your directions, you say Repeat the process up the top half of the loaf. What does that mean? The finished loaf looks like one layer, not two like normal challah.
Prettiest challah eva! (Sorry, just couldn’t help myself ;))
I’ve never seen challah like this. So lovely! And such a great flavour!
Jamie — Yes! Totally forgiving. It’s why I love challah so 🙂 Hope you love it!
Kelli — Yes! I’m already doing a jig just thinking about the French toast I plan to make this weekend. 🙂 Thanks, friend!
Millie — Thank you so much!
Judy — By “top half” I mean the upper half, or the part that hasn’t been braided yet. There aren’t two layers of braided dough in this loaf like you may see in many challah breads — just one long braid. Hope that makes sense!
Laura — No apology necessary! Holla for challah! 🙂
Katrina — Thank you, dear!
Totally in love with this gorgeous loaf!!
Oh my goodness. The jams and sea salt in here sound fabulous. I’ve made regular challah with my mother-in-law before and have been planning on making it on my own. I think I may need to make this version.
You can just bring a loaf with you to lunch next week. Kthanksbye.
Julie — Thanks, dear! I’m a bit smitten with it, too. 🙂
Megan — Much as I love a classic challah I was really loving the additions in this one! You’ll have to try it and let me know what you think!
Stephie — I’ll work on that. 😉
What a beautiful loaf! Love your idea of using it for French toast. Sublime.
Susan — Thank you so much!
This challah looks unreal! I wish I had more time on Fridays to make Challah for the weekend with leftovers for french toast on Saturday or Sunday!
How have I never heard of this before? Now I’m gonna want all these yummy flavors in my challah all the time!!
Challah is one of my favorite treats. I have attempted to make it once, and it looks NOTHING like yours. It was basically a strange, scraggily mass of bread. Delicious, but not quite the gorgeous, braided loaf it was supposed to be. This looks amazing, and I love the sounds of figs and raspberry folded within it. Perhaps I’ll give challah another shot!
Luv What You Do — Thanks so much! It doesn’t take very long to make so you could make it on Saturday and have French toast on Sunday! 🙂
Todd — I know; I’ve ruined it for myself, too 🙂
Natasha — Ugh, hate it when that happens (though it still tasted good, which is all that matters, really :)). Definitely worth a second chance!
This is SO gorgeous, Stephanie! I’ve never made challah, but *almost made* this recipe in the SK cookbook so many times. Going to have to give it a try!
Oh this sounds amazing – what a totally delicious combination of flavours all wrapped up in that gorgeous dough!
Marie — Oh thank you, dear! You definitely need to give it a try soon — you’ll love it!
Kathryn — Thanks, friend! 🙂
Just mouthwatering…looks delicious!
I love saying the word Challah. This is one beautiful loaf of bread.
OH MY GOSH!! So gorgeous!!
I LOVE challah, and this looks so delicious! Okay you’ve convinced me I really need to try making bread again. Your loaf is so pretty, I just want to eat it up 🙂
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Hi Stephanie,
I made this dough and it was extremely tough – I could barely knead it. The dough was tearing and very stiff when I had only kneaded it for 5 minutes. Do you know what went wrong?
Thanks!