thepioneerwoman
Pumpkin-Shaped Challah
Enriched with pumpkin and eggs for a gorgeous orange color, this pumpkin-shaped challah bread recipe is ready to be the star of your Thanksgiving table
👥 8 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 3h 45m⏳ Prep: 25 min👤 Leah Perez📖 thepioneerwoman
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- ●bowl
- ●spatula
- ●baking sheet
- ●oven
- ●knife
📝 Preparation Steps
1
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, stir together the warm water, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, and the yeast. Let the yeast bloom until foamy, about ⏱️ 5 minutes. Add the pumpkin, ⅓ cup of oil, 1 egg, egg yolk, and the remaining 3 tablespoons of maple syrup. Beat on medium-low speed until combined, about ⏱️ 30 seconds.
large egg yolk, room temperature1
2
Add the flour and salt; mix with a rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Return the bowl to the mixer; beat on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth and tacky, about ⏱️ 5 minutes.
3
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled surface and knead until elastic and supple, 3 to ⏱️ 4 minutes.
4
Transfer the dough to a large bowl lightly greased with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise at warm room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, 1 1/2 to ⏱️ 2 hours.
5
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Use your hands to gently pat the dough into a 5-inch round, careful not to deflate too many air bubbles. Fold all the edges of the round into the center of the dough to form a ball, with the outside coated in flour from the work surface. Using a bench scraper or a spatula, flip the dough so that it is seam-side down. Use your hands to gently pull the dough towards you into a taut round.
6
Cut 4 pieces of baker’s twine into long pieces (about 25 inches each). On a parchment-lined baking sheet, place 4 pieces of twine in a star-shaped criss-cross pattern. Place the round of dough seam-side down into the center of the twine. Tie each string around the dough, allowing some give in the tightness of the knot so that the dough has room to rise. Cut any long pieces of string. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow to rise until puffed, ⏱️ 45 minutes to ⏱️ 1 hour.
7
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F.
8
Brush the surface of the dough with the remaining beaten egg. Score the sides of the dough with a sharp knife or razor blade, if you like.
9
Bake the loaf for ⏱️ 30 minutes. Loosely cover the loaf with foil to prevent excess browning, and bake until golden brown and the internal temperature is 200°F, 10 to ⏱️ 15 minutes more.
10
Slide the loaf and the parchment paper onto a wire rack. Allow the loaf to cool completely, about 1 1/⏱️ 2 hours.
11
Carefully remove the baker’s twine. Place a cinnamon stick in the center of the loaf to represent the stem. Slice and serve.
cinnamon stick1
Nutrition Facts
calories
457 Calories
fat Content
12 g
fiber Content
4 g
sugar Content
7 g
sodium Content
386 mg
protein Content
11 g
trans Fat Content
0 g
cholesterol Content
69 mg
carbohydrate Content
72 g
saturated Fat Content
2 g
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