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kima
12-12-2002, 05:08 PM
I got Marcy Goldman's wonderful book A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking from the library. Now I want it! Does any one have her new book better Baking . her site seems to be down at the moment www.betterbaking.com but it is great! Anyway, I must share this recipe!
I am freezing a loaf for Christmas!

New Year's Apple Challah
You can use almost any apple -a combination of sweet and tart is best. Alternatively, I make this bread with a combination of apples and cranberries, or even add some plumped dried cherries. This loaf works equally well with either the oil or melted, unsalted butter for a slightly more danish tasting loaf. I have also tried this recipe by mounding the chunks in a 10 inch springform pan.

Dough

1 cup warm water
1/2c. plus a pinch of granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. dry yeast
1/2c. vegetable oil or unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
5-6 cups bread flour

generously spray one 5x12 inch loaf pan or two 9 by 5 inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. You can use a 10 inch springform pan.

In a large bowl briskly whisk together the water, pinch of sugar and the yeast. Let stand for 5 mins. Briskly stir in the remaining sugar and oil, the eggs,vanilla salt and cinnamon.
Add most of the flour to form a smooth but resilent dough (this is a soft, but elastic bread dough) Add the remaining flour and knead for 8 to 10 minutes.
Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly greased bowl, place the bowl in a plastic bag, and seal loosely. Let the dough rise until doubled (45 to 60 mins)

Apple Mixture:

3 cups coarsely chopped apples
1/2c. granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. cinnamon

Place the apples in a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.

Egg Wash:
1 egg beaten
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1-2 Tbsp. coarse sugar for sprinkling
Whisk the above together

Turn the dough onto a lightly flored board androll or pat it into a large round (about 10 inches across). Press in half the apples. Fold the edges of the dough over the apples (in any way you can).
Roll to flatten with a heavy rolling pin (so as to offer more of a surface on which to place the remaining apples). Pat or press the remaining apple into the dough. Bring the edges of the dough over the apples , pressing in any that pop out zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz9just put them back in or stick them on top of the dough later).
This step will seem messy but it does not matter. The idea is to distribute the apples all over the dough in a random way. Let the dough rest 5 mins. Then, using a dough cutter or sharp knife, cut into randomly shaped chunks-about 16 pieces in all. Lay the pieces of apple-filled dough in the prepared pan, lining the bottom first, then gently laying the remaining pieces on top. Sprinkle with any escaped apple pieces (!).
Alternatively, you can press the dough out to form a large oval or circle and press the apples into the dough. Roll it up, cut it in half and place each half in a9x5 inch pan that has been greased.
dab on the egg wash as thoroughly and generously as possible. Since the dough is not a smooth surface, you will have to drizzle and dab on the glaze rather than paint it on.
Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Place the loaf pan(s) inside a large plastic bag, seal loosely and let the dough rise until almost doubled or until it is puffy and has almost reached the top of the pan (45-90 minutes)
bake for 40 to 45 minutes in a preheated 350 deg. oven until the bread is browned all over. If the top of the bread browns too quickly (and the interior is not done) cover the loaf with a sheet of foil to protect the top crust.
Cool in the pan for 10 mis., then turn out and cool completely on a rack.


Thi is the perfect cross between bread and cake. the velvety slices of vanilla scented challah highlighted by tangy, swet apples. My family loves this. And I did cover the crust for the last 10 minutes. Wow is this delicious!

Jasmine-Rose
12-12-2002, 05:23 PM
Maureen, this does look tasty! Thanks for sharing it with us. What kind of apples did you use? Maybe I could add some walnuts to the apple mixture... Yum!

Linda in MO
12-12-2002, 10:48 PM
OMG, that sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!

pilgrim719
12-13-2002, 09:40 AM
Just bumping to see what type of apples you used :) This bread sounds incredible and I can't wait to try it!

Kari

kima
12-13-2002, 12:19 PM
Sorry for not replying sooner about the apples.
I used 3 Granny Smiths and three Galas. This is so good-not really what I think of when I think Challah (see the beauties posted on the Bread thread!).
I am falling in love with the book this came from (see above!). Do not let me buy another book!:o ;)

Grace
12-13-2002, 12:23 PM
This DOES look fantastic, Maureen! I am definitely going to try it! Looks like a good gift for the neighbors and some people at the office. It's not the same 'ole, same 'ole. Thanks for sharing!

pilgrim719
12-13-2002, 01:33 PM
Thanks, Maureen! I just happen to have some Gala apples sitting in the back room waiting to be baked into something yummy! I've been wanting to try more yeast recipes to get better at working with dough.

Kari

kima
12-13-2002, 02:55 PM
I had to LOL when I look at this thread-between my waving beaver, Grace's moving mouth and Pilgrim's spinning Santa-we got alot of action happening!!!!
Happy Baking!

Linda in MO
12-13-2002, 08:00 PM
Originally posted by kima
I had to LOL when I look at this thread-between my waving beaver, Grace's moving mouth and Pilgrim's spinning Santa-we got alot of action happenong!!!!
Happy Baking!

Beaver?!?! I thought it was a bear!! :eek: :D

kima
12-13-2002, 08:41 PM
Oh geez- maybe it is a bear. I always picture a beaver tail behind him.
On closer inspection I believe you are right!:) :o :confused:

Linda in MO
01-07-2003, 09:21 AM
Well, I made this a couple of days ago and it's wonderful! I just had a big slab of it warmed up for my breakfast. I only wish there were more apple chunks. I should have come back and read this thread before I made it because I see Maureen used 6 apples and I only used about 2 1/2 (granny smiths). That amount of apples made 3 cups though. Maureen, did you measure your chopped apples? Also, I think next time, I will use the optional way of shaping it (roll it up jellyroll fashion, instead of cutting into chunks), because my loaves were kind of ugly. And I'm a bit of a control freak and I think the apples would be distributed more evenly this way. Anyway, it still turned out delicious. I used a little more cinnamon and sugar (my apples were really tart) and I used unsalted butter instead of oil. Which did you use, Maureen? Are you going to buy the book? It got great reviews at amazon. ;) Thanks for posting!

Lrimerman
01-07-2003, 12:03 PM
This sounds so good, and I have a craving for apples lately. I have this cookbook, and I really haven't used it. I guess I need to start reading it. So many cookbooks, so little time. I don't NEED anymore either, but have a list going of some I WANT.

I will have to try this recipe later in the week.

Thanks

Lisa

kima
01-07-2003, 01:29 PM
I am so glad you liked this recipe. I ended up with 3 cups of apples (or there abouts) and I made mine in a loaf pan-definately prettier.
I bought this book but haven't many anything else from it yet.
Helene (HRJ) has had mixed results with this book but i think she said her mum loved it.
I am trying to cut back on rich sweet foods at the momnent and this book doesn't quite meet that criteria!

greysangel
12-23-2003, 08:00 AM
Just bumping this up :D

Kima - how sweet is the bread? If I were to add fresh cranberries, do I need to add more sugar? Any ideas?

J

greysangel
12-23-2003, 10:28 AM
*bump*

Linda in MO
12-23-2003, 11:22 AM
Originally posted by greysangel
Just bumping this up :D

Kima - how sweet is the bread? If I were to add fresh cranberries, do I need to add more sugar? Any ideas?

J

Well, I'm not kima ;) ... but I have made this. It's been so long that it's a little hard to remember but I don't remember it being overly sweet at all. I think I would bump up the sugar if I was adding cranberries. Sorry, I'm not a lot of help. :o

Sami
12-23-2003, 11:36 AM
Maureen,

I have made many things from that book and also have her second book called Better Baking. You can get the books at Borders or Barnes and Noble and maybe Amazon. From the first book, I have made:

Incredible Cinnamon Chip Cake
Old fashioned Crumb Cake
Double Fudge Chocolate Tube cake
Nut Kipfel or Viennese Nut Crescents
Majectic and Moist New Year's Honey Cake
My favorite pie pastry
Harvest Zucchini loaf
Carmel matzoh Crunch
Blueberries and Cream and Lemon curd tart

None of her recipes are light but I have liked everything I have made.

Sami

kima
12-23-2003, 12:15 PM
I think Linda is right-I hate cranberries:o so I have no knowledge about them- but I imagine since they can be tart you could add a wee bit more sugar. I haven't made this in ages but I didn't find it overly sweet. Sorry I can't be of much more help.

(Linda aren't you glad you aren't kima????)

:D

Please let us know how this goes for you JeAnne.:)

Beth
12-23-2003, 04:14 PM
JeAnne, glad you bumped this one. I don't rememebr seeing it last year, but it sure looks good!