A bread machine is the quietest way to make challah dough: add the ingredients, press the dough cycle, and come back to a smooth, risen dough ready to braid. The catch is size. Most machines make a single loaf of dough, so they suit a small Shabbat table far better than a big bake.
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A typical bread machine batch uses around 4 cups of flour (about 500 g), which is well under the amounts discussed in our hafrashat challah guide. If you want to take challah with a blessing, you will usually need a bigger batch than one machine makes, so ask your rabbi how you should proceed.
The machines worth your counter space
Using a bread machine for challah
- Use the dough cycle only, then shape and braid by hand. Baking inside the machine makes a tall loaf, not a braid.
- Add liquids first, then flour, with the yeast on top and away from the salt and sugar.
- Weigh your flour. A scale beats a measuring cup (see our tools guide).
- Rich doughs with plenty of sugar and egg can need a little extra flour. Add it a spoonful at a time while it kneads.
