Apple-honey Challah

Total Time: 4 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 4 ounces unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 3 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour
• 3/4 cup warm water (100 degrees f.)
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2 large eggs
• 3 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 1/2 tart green apples, preferably granny smith, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices (about 1 3/4 cups)

Recipe

• 1 butter a large bowl, and melt 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat; let cool. combine 2 tablespoons melted butter, the flour, water, 1/3 cup honey, the eggs and the egg yolks, yeast and salt in a large bowl. mix until dough forms. turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 10 minutes.
• 2 transfer dough to a buttered bowl, and brush with 1 tablespoon melted butter. cover with plastic. let rise in a warm place until dough almost doubles in volume, about 1 1/2 hours.
• 3 turn dough out onto a floured surface. pat into an 8 1/2-inch x 14-inch rectangle. top with apples; knead to incorporate. return to bowl. brush with remaining tablespoon melted butter; cover. let rise again in a warm place until dough almost doubles in volume, about 1 hour more.
• 4 preheat oven to 375 degrees f., with a rack in lowest position. butter a 9-inch round cake pan. roll dough into a rope (about 24 inches) on a floured surface. coil into a circle, and transfer to pan. butter plastic wrap, and cover dough. let rise again until dough almost doubles in volume, about 45 minutes more.
• 5 heat remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 1/3 cup honey in a saucepan over medium-low heat until butter melts. brush dough with half the honey-butter. bake until golden brown and firm, about 35 minutes.
• 6 brush challah with the remaining honey-butter. let cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. turn out loaf from pan, and let cool.