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    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Published on Sep 10, 2016. Modified on Nov 9, 2024 by bakingqueen74. This post may contain affiliate links. 28 Comments

    Chocolate Challah Bread – 6-Strand Braid

    4026 shares
    • 3104
    Jump to Recipe

    Delicious for breakfast, this chocolate challah bread is a two-tone bread with part chocolate dough, simply divine and fun to make!

    Chocolate Six-Strand Braided Challah Loaf on bakingqueen74.co.uk
    Jump to:
    • Challah recipe inspiration
    • Braiding process
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Challah recipe inspiration

    If you haven’t noticed, I’m baking along with the themes of the Great British Bake Off each week. Not all the bakes of course, who has time for that?

    But each week I try to bake something inspired by the previous week’s show.

    This week was Bread Week, and the bakers had to make a Signature bake of a chocolate loaf, then Dampfnudeln in the Technical (a kind of sweet steamed bun or dumpling, originating in Germany) and finally a savoury plaited loaf for the Showstopper.

    My bake this week is a chocolate six-strand challah braid.

    I’ve seen delicious looking challah made by Helen from Family Friends Food, among others, and wanted to make it for quite a while, so I decided this would be the time to do it.

    I also came across a recipe by The Nosher for double chocolate chip challah and I loved the different colours of the dough and the multiple-stranded braid so wanted to include these elements in my bake as well.

    As many challah recipes are in cup measurements and I didn’t want to use these, I referred to several different recipes for challah and used elements of each, including Helen’s spiced apple challah, to make my own challah inspired recipe for the bread.

    Gladly it worked well and the resulting loaf is deliciously springy and full of the flavour of the cinnamon, honey and chocolate.

    As I didn’t try to incorporate any really heavy elements like chocolate spread into my loaf, it cooked through with problem (many of this week’s bakers seemed to have a problem with this due to all the chocolate in their bakes).

    Chocolate Six-Strand Braided Challah Loaf on bakingqueen74.co.uk

    Inside, the different coloured strands have made a two-tone loaf, and the chocolate chips have melted into the bread in places after baking giving a really unctuous flavour.

    The slices look effective with their stripes of colour, and each slice is different due to the braiding. I love the dark colour that the dough with added cocoa has, and the bread really shines from the egg wash you apply before baking.

    Chocolate Six-Strand Braided Challah Loaf on bakingqueen74.co.uk

    Braiding process

    My braid isn’t that tidy, some parts of it broke apart during the second rise.

    I think on the Bake Off show Paul Hollywood mentioned it is best to only give a short rise time for the second rise when working with plaited bread, to avoid losing shape, but as I had to go to the supermarket while mine was proving there was little chance of that!

    Chocolate Six-Strand Braided Challah Loaf on bakingqueen74.co.uk

    I found the six-strand braid quite hard to do and will definitely be practising it again in the future. I’ll be sure to add a step by step for the braids when I make this next. 

    You can check this helpful video on Youtube which takes you through the process.

    I do plait both my daughters’ hair every day so I have a lot of plaiting experience, but luckily I just do normal plaits!

    Chocolate Six-Strand Braided Challah Loaf on bakingqueen74.co.uk

    Pin this Chocolate Challah Braid recipe for later on Pinterest:

    Chocolate Challah Braid

    Recipe

    Two-tone dark brown and white challah bread sliced open on a cutting board.

    Chocolate Challah Bread – 6 Strand Braid

    A two-tone braided chocolate challah loaf with chocolate and plain challah strands which makes a great special breakfast bread
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: Baking
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Proving Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 284kcal
    Author: Lucy Allen | BakingQueen74

    Ingredients

    • 300 ml warm water
    • 2 sachets fast action yeast 14 g
    • 3 tbsp runny honey
    • 80 ml vegetable oil I used sunflower
    • 1 tsp ground cinnamon heaped
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 0.5 tsp salt
    • 500 g strong white (bread) flour
    • 25 g cocoa powder
    • 100 g chocolate chunks
    • 1 egg for egg wash
    UK Measurements – US Measurements

    Instructions 

    • Add the yeast to the warm water in a large bowl and mix in the honey and oil.
      300 ml warm water, 2 sachets fast action yeast, 3 tbsp runny honey, 80 ml vegetable oil
    • Slowly add the flour, bit by bit, stirring at first and then kneading once it is less sticky.
      500 g strong white (bread) flour
    • Add the cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt, and knead using a dough hook in a stand mixer for ten minutes.
      1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 0.5 tsp salt
    • Split the dough into two pieces, place one piece in a bowl and cover with clingfilm, then leave it to rise for an hour until doubled in size.
    • Take the other piece of dough and knead in the cocoa powder. If it goes a little dry you can add a tiny bit more water and/or oil, but make sure it is only a tiny amount.
      25 g cocoa powder
    • Put the chocolate dough in a bowl, cover with clingfilm and leave to rise for an hour until doubled in size.
    • Knock back both bowls, then add half the chocolate chunks to each bowl and knead in to the dough.
      100 g chocolate chunks
    • Split each piece of dough into three and roll each piece into a long thin strand.
    • Braid the six strands to form a plait (check YouTube for tutorials on how to do this) and place the loaf on a silicone mat to rise again, for 30 to 45 mins (I left it for longer as I popped out but would reduce the time next time).
    • Preheat the oven to 180℃ / 350℉. Brush all over the loaf with the egg wash.
    • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the loaf is golden brown and the base sounds hollow if tapped. When you check the loaf you can also brush on more egg wash to cover any areas where the bread has stretched during baking, this gives a uniform shiny appearance.
    Did you try and love this recipe?Then please leave a star rating and comment below to let me know how you got on!

    Sending this over to the Great Bloggers Bake Off with Jenny.

    Also joining in with We Should Cocoa with Choclette

    And #Bakeoftheweek with Helen

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Adriane Gilder says

      September 11, 2019 at 12:44 am

      I am a little disappointed the video of how it was braided is not show. Looks delicious. I’d like to try it some time. Our congregation prefers the more traditional loaves. I make Challah for Services and for special occasions like a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. This week I’m not making it. The host family said that Challah is part of their caterer service.

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 22, 2019 at 8:04 am

        Hi Adriane I will try to add a video next time I prepare this recipe. Braiding is quite tricky with so many strands! Glad to hear you think it looks delicious!

        Reply
    2. Rand Levine says

      September 08, 2019 at 8:45 pm

      looks delish

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 10, 2019 at 4:39 pm

        thanks so much!

        Reply
    3. Stacey Guilliatt says

      November 21, 2016 at 2:37 pm

      This looks fab, I do love the inside too! Going to have to try plaited bread at some point

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        November 28, 2016 at 1:51 pm

        Thanks Stacey, it is such fun to make

        Reply
    4. Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe says

      October 02, 2016 at 11:03 am

      This looks so impressive – I would love to make challah – maybe one day! And your braid looks great too – it is not something I am very good at – I went through a period of plaiting my daughter’s hair but she just takes it out if I put it up now – argh!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        October 02, 2016 at 7:20 pm

        Thank you Johanna! Quite pleased with it after all that time it took which is good. My younger daughter has a habit of doing that, so annoying!

        Reply
    5. choclette says

      October 01, 2016 at 8:45 am

      This is absolutely sensational Lucy. I was quite pleased with my chocolate twist bread until I saw yours. It looks so glossy and the colour contrast is fantastic. Star Baker for you. Thanks for sharing with We Should Cocoa 🙂

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        October 02, 2016 at 7:19 pm

        Thanks so much Choclette, that is very kind of you. The glossiness was from the egg wash I think mainly, I painted it on quite thoroughly with a pastry brush!

        Reply
    6. Charlotte Oates says

      September 24, 2016 at 1:02 pm

      This sounds absolutely delicious Lucy, I love the contrast of the strands with and without the added cocoa powder.

      I’ve never attempted a 6-strand plait before (actually I’ve never done more than 3), they always look a bit confusing when I’ve seen them done on TV. Yours looks like a great attempt, especially as you’d not done it before. You should be sending your daughters to school with 6-strand plaits until you know it so well you can do it with your eyes closed 🙂

      Reply
    7. Helen Costello says

      September 19, 2016 at 9:23 pm

      Wow Lucy, this looks amazing. I love how the chocolate taste would be broken up by the chocolate chip parts. Your braiding is brilliant – Definitely years of hair experience showing! Thanks so much for joining in with #BakeoftheWeek again and the lovely warm welcome back x

      Reply
    8. Anca says

      September 17, 2016 at 8:27 am

      It looks amazing! I usually make a plait of 2 strands or maybe 3, but 6 it’s so complicated. Fab!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 17, 2016 at 9:24 pm

        Thank you Anca, I think I will stick to three strands in future, much easier!!

        Reply
    9. Charlie @ The Kitchen Shed says

      September 14, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      Bake off eat your heart out! That looks amazing, Paul Hollywood would be proud!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 17, 2016 at 9:23 pm

        Thank you! 🙂

        Reply
    10. nadiashealthykitchen says

      September 12, 2016 at 10:08 pm

      Oh how fun does this look? 😀 The chocolate bread bakes last week looked so amazing! You’re a star baker in my eyes 😀 looks stunning!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 17, 2016 at 9:23 pm

        You’re so kind Nadia! 🙂

        Reply
    11. knattster says

      September 12, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      Wow, six strands – I even chickened out of doing 3! I love challah bread so this is definitely on my list when I have people to share it with (my boyfriend doesn’t like chocolate and as much as I’d love to, I mustn’t eat it all myself!)

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 12, 2016 at 9:01 pm

        How can he not like chocolate?! Madness.. 😀 yes I recommend you wait for people to share it with as the loaf is pretty huge!

        Reply
    12. Jacqui Bellefontaine says

      September 12, 2016 at 11:21 am

      I really like the idea of the flavoured Challah. Braiding is tricky at least I think so but it does look great. Bet this was really tasty.

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 12, 2016 at 9:00 pm

        Thanks very much Jacqui, it really is tasty

        Reply
    13. simplysensationalfood says

      September 12, 2016 at 5:48 am

      I Am loving all these really pretty plaited breads inspired by GBBO. Your bread looks yummy.

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 12, 2016 at 8:59 pm

        Thanks Nayna 🙂

        Reply
    14. Mandy Mazliah says

      September 12, 2016 at 4:53 am

      Challah is so good but I’ve never tried a chocolate one. This looks really lovely. Plaiting dough is quite different to plaiting little girls’ hair – but at least it doesn’t wriggle so much!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 12, 2016 at 8:59 pm

        Very true Mandy! It does get all stick together instead though which was a bit annoying!

        Reply
    15. jennypaulin says

      September 11, 2016 at 6:44 am

      Lucy this loaf looks superb! the colours running through it is so effective and i can imagine it tasted really nice, too. your plaits are great – as you say you get practice with your girls hair (unlike me!). very yummy looking xx thank you for linking up

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        September 11, 2016 at 6:52 am

        Thanks Jenny we are tucking in right now! The egg wash made such a difference I think in adding shine too

        Reply
    5 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Lucy! I'm a slow cooker addict, food blogger and also a busy working mum of two. I hope you'll enjoy the recipes I create and post which are perfect for busy families.

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