Gluten Free Challah Bread (2024)

Published: Sep 12, 2020 · Modified: Aug 16, 2022 by Kim · This post may contain affiliate links · 170 Comments

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This gluten free challah bread is rich, golden, slightly sweet, and soft. It's not just for Jewish holidays anymore!

I've been working on perfecting this gluten free challah bread for at least a few years now. When I get an idea in my brain, sometimes it's really hard for me to let it go. But through all my trials and failures, I have to keep posting successful recipes or you'd never see a thing from me! That's why it often takes me many, many months (or years even) to create a new bread recipe.

Prior to my gluten free days, I had the best challah that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. It was so good that my kids and I sat there and polished off the entire loaf within a couple of hours! In our defense, it was a smaller round turban-like loaf. But still.

What is Challah?

Challah is an egg-rich bread that's golden and soft. It's a Jewish traditional bread that's eaten on Shabbat and many other holidays (except Passover, when leavened bread is not allowed). Challah holds a spiritual meaning in the Jewish community.

But this bread has made it into the mainstream and is now available in bakeries and grocery stores. I'm not Jewish, but I love challah and have been craving it for years.

Gluten Free Challah Dough

Making gluten free challah dough is similar to the dough for my gluten free Hawaiian rolls. Instead of using dairy, we'll use nondairy alternatives (in the Jewish faith, meat and dairy aren't eaten together at the same meal):

Kim's gluten free bread flour blend -- instead of using whey protein isolate, use one of the dairy free alternatives I've listed.
Sugar -- there is a lot of sugar in this recipe. Don't be alarmed. The amount of sugar coupled with the amount of yeast means that most of the sugar is actually turned into carbon dioxide. Also, this recipe makes two large loaves. You can attempt to reduce the sugar, but you may not get the same soft results.
Pysllium husk powder -- really helps with the elasticity of the dough, which is crucial to braiding.
Baking powder--I've found adding just a little bit of baking powder in gf yeast breads helps give them a boost.
Salt--helps with flavor, but also with fermentation (rise).
Water--instead of milk typically used in enriched breads, we're using water here to keep the bread dairy free.
Oil--again keeping the recipe dairy free. You can use canola, vegetable, etc.
Eggs--the original recipe calls for 2 eggs, but to be true to challah, I've added one additional yolk for extra richness.

Braiding Methods

I only watched about 50 videos on YouTube for how to braid challah. And every time I'd start doing it myself, I'd forget what went where, haha! Then I found one video that I felt I'd remember so that's what I stuck with. It's a 4 strand round braid. But I also made a 4 strand long loaf just to make sure I could do it!

Rosh Hashanah is coming up and from what I've read, round loaves of challah are traditional during this Jewish holiday because they symbolize eternal life or the circle of life. I'm not Jewish and don't profess to know much of anything about the faith, so please consult someone who knows more than I do for the real meaning, such as a rabbi.

Brush Three Times with Egg Wash

Instead of covering the loaves of challah while letting them rise, brush them with an egg wash. This will create a protective shield while they rise and hydrate the skin so it doesn't dry out.

Allow the challah to rise in a draft-free area until almost doubled in size, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. I always put my proofing loaves in my oven that's been heated briefly on the "warm" cycle (about 170 degrees F) and then turned off.

When they're almost fully proofed, remove them from the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Brush them with another layer of egg wash before popping them in the oven. Immediately drop the temperature down to 325 degrees F and bake for about 40 minutes. Remove halfway through baking time (at 20 minutes) to brush any newly risen (un-brushed) areas with egg wash.

Tips for Making the Best Gluten Free Challah Ever!!

Make sure your dough is COLD!! It really is easier to braid if you have properly chilled dough. If you find that your refrigerated dough isn't cold enough, put the dough in the freezer for about 15 minutes (covered) before braiding.
You don't have to be absolutely precise when braiding. We're not using stretchy dough like the people I've watched braid "real" challah, so it's okay if you tuck a good amount underneath. And anyway, tucking some underneath at the ends and lifting the dough up to do so will increase the height of the bread as it will rise up and not out.
Practice makes perfect. I'm still learning about how to braid these loaves, so if I don't get it right, I start over (smush the dough back together and roll out yet again).
Don't skimp on the egg wash. It's what gives that shiny and golden crust!
The dough can be left in the fridge for a few days (3 at most). Make one loaf one day to eat fresh and another loaf another day so you'll have a perpetual loaf of fresh bread for days!!!
Leftovers make GREAT French toast, bread pudding, or an overnight French toast bake. The challah will need a little more time soaking up the custard, though, so make sure to leave it in longer than you normally would.
You can freeze leftovers as well. Best practice is to slice individual slices, flash freeze on a baking sheet until solid, and put slices in ziptop baggies with as much air as possible removed. Thaw a couple slices at a time.

Whether you're Jewish or not, you're going to LOVE gluten free challah bread! It's eggy, rich, soft, and slightly sweet, and it's perfect for any time. If you have leftovers, make french toast!