CHOCOLATE CHALLAH BREAD RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Cut the brioche loaf into 1 inch dice. Place in a 2 quart baking dish. Drizzle with melted butter. Toss chunked white chocolate with bread cubes.
• Combine milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla bean and bring to a boil over medium heat until sugar is disolved. Whisk eggs until smooth. Add hot milk mixture to eggs slowly, stirring contsantly. Do not wisk or custard will have a great deal of foam on the surface. Skim foam from custard. Strain custard over bread and chocolate. Let stand for 10 minutes to allow custard to soak into bread.
• Place baking dish in another larger pan. Pour hot water into larger dish to reach 1 inch up side of dish. Bake the bread pudding for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until custard is set and brioche is golden.

Steps:

• In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine lukewarm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add flour, remaining ⅓ cup sugar, and salt and whisk to combine. Add yeast mixture, oil, and eggs and mix on medium speed until a smooth dough is formed and pulls away from the side of the bowl, about 10 to 15 minutes. Dough will still be slightly sticky.  Place dough  into a greased bowl and let rise, covered, until doubled, 1 ½ to 2 hours.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, remove dough and and divide into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 20” long rope, about 1” wide. Place ropes onto prepared baking sheet and pinch tops together and tuck under. Wet your hands lightly to help pinch together, if necessary.  Braid dough into one long rope. Pinch bottom ends together and tuck under braid. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise until an indention remains after poking the dough and almost doubled, about 1 hour.  Preheat oven to 350°. Beat egg, water, and sugar together and brush over risen dough. Sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds, if desired.  Bake until bread is golden, 25 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before slicing.