Is there anything better than the smell or the taste of fresh, hot bread right out of the oven?! To me, there is nothing better 🙂
I learned how to make challah bread by another leader in my culinary club I teach on campus, but it was the typical, unhealthy version of it. I knew I wanted to play around with making a healthy version, as one of my favorite foods in life is bread<3 And then life happened and I forgot.
But then a few days ago, the nutrition’s office that I volunteer for on campus offered me a free bread maker! They were trying to get rid of it, and I gladly accepted. In the rain, on my scooter my mom got me for my 21st birthday, I scooted home with my glasses, interact jacket, and the bread maker in between my legs..probably not the safest thing I have ever done
And then my passion for bread making was revived! Now that I didn’t have to spend the time kneading the bread, I knew I wanted to make it righttttt away. So, what a better way to begin my whole bread making than trying to make a healthy challah bread.
And then I had a great idea. Why not add a smidge of that PuMpKiN flavor that I love so dearly??
The rest was history. Nomnomnom.
so maybe not the prettiest challah loaf, but I was proud for it being the first time making it!
My boyfriend who loves bread as well, was in heaven upon first slice.
Top the bread with some coconut oil and cinnamon, some agave, or some of my delicious homemade nut butters (like my java one, almond joy one, or even better, my healthy “not-tella” <3)
- 1.5 cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 cup Oat Flour or White Flour
- 1/2 cup Pumpkin
- 1 Egg
- 1 Egg White
- 1/4 cup warm Milk
- 1 packet Instant Yeast
- 3T Agave
- 1T Coconut Oil, melted
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
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- <br>For Egg Wash:
- 1 Egg
- 1 tbsp Water
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- Place warm milk and yeast into bread maker.
- Allow to sit for about 3 minutes.
- Add All other ingredients except Egg Wash ingredients and turn bread maker onto the “Knead/Dough” setting (or knead by hand).
- Allow to knead dough.
- When done, allow to rise once in bread maker until double in size.
- Once doubled, preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and remove dough from bread maker and place on floured surface.
- Divide into 3 sections, and roll into “rope-like” stings of dough, and braid the three pieces of dough and pinch all three ends together on both ends of loaf.
- Place onto cookie tray sprayed with nonstick spray and lay a towel over lightly and place in warm spot. Allow to double in size again, about 30 minutes.
- In small bowl, beat egg wash ingredients together.
- When loaf has doubled in size, brush egg wash mixture lightly on top (be careful not to deflate loaf), and place into preheated oven and bake for about 35 minutes, or until slight brown and crisp to the touch.
- Remove and allow to cool.
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- <br>This bread served with a touch of coconut oil and cinnamon, or a touch of agave is delicious.
Pumpkin Benefits:
1) High in Vitamin A which aids in eyesight
2) High in fiber to keep you satisfied
3) Rich in Beta Carotene with plays a role in cancer prevention and benefit your skin
4) More potassium than a banana (great post workout food!)
5) Rich in Vitamin C which is an immune booster, decreases blood pressure and risk of heart disease, and regulates cholesterol
6) Good source of vitamin E, which promotes healthy skin
7) High in potassium which is necessary for energy production, balancing fluid levels, and promoting strong bones