FAQ about the Challah at the Braided Loaf:

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Why does this challah look different than the one I got last week?

Unlike those from the kosher markets and the bread stores, every challah  from The Braided Loaf is hand made and hand braided which is why no two look the same.

Why is one challah bigger than the other?

I weigh all the ingredients that go into each challah so every one has the same amount of dough.  Depending on the conditions in the kitchen some challahs do better as long thin loaves while others lend themselves to being short and fat.  Regardless they are all the same weight.

The challah I get from the bread store is more yellow than the challah from the Braided Loaf.  Does that mean that they use more egg?

No, many bakers use yellow dye to give their challahs a more yellow color.  At the Braided Loaf the yellow comes from the whole eggs that go into the batter.

What does "Quality Kosher Ingredients" mean?

While there are many sub-par kosher flours on the market at the Braided Loaf we only use unbleached King Arthur and Pillsbury flours which are superior to the bleached bread flour that is sold at the bulk food stores or under grocery store name brands.

Do you have Kosher Certification?

Not yet, but I am working with the people at OU and Star K to ensure that all my equipment, ingredients and procedures meet their high standards of Kashrut.  My challah making equipment is used only for making Parve (not meat or dairy) dough and batters.

Do you take Challah?

Yes, when the amount of dough warrants the taking of challah I do and make the blessing when necessary.

What is this little ball of bread in my bag for?  Is that the piece you took out?

The piece taken for Challah is destroyed according to tradition.  The little extra piece that you might have on your bag is what I call a “Can’t Wait”.  This is a little extra dough from your challah that was hanging off the end when I braided it.  You can enjoy it right away without having to wait until dinner – or use it to fulfill the tradition of making the blessing for the challah over two whole loaves.