Jelly Doughnut Challah for Hanukkah

I saw this recipe about 10 months ago, immediately pulled it out and set it on my Hanukkah to-do list. Last year I made the menorah shaped challah.

But really, what say Hanukkah more than sufganyot – jelly donuts? So, what could be more perfect than a jelly doughnut challah?!

The recipe calls for strawberry jam, but this is Delaware, so I used Beach Plum jelly made by a woman I know (she makes lots of yummy jellies, but the Beach Plum is very special).

One of the things I really like about this recipe is that it uses 1/3 whole wheat flour. This gives the dough has a little substance, balancing the doughnut-i-ness of the challah.

I think this one will become an annual tradition!

Jelly Doughnut Challah for Hanukkah

very slightly adapted from Family Friends Food

165g all purpose flour (1 1/3 cups)

85g whole wheat flour (3/4 cup)

30g superfine sugar (2.5 tbsp)

Pinch or Kosher salt

30g butter (2 tbsp)

1 tbsp dry yeast (15g)

125ml warm water (1/2 cup)

3-4 tbsp strawberry jam (I used Beach Plum)

3-4 tbsp vegetable oil

For the cinnamon sugar

4 tbsp granulated sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions

Using a stand mixer with the dough hook fitted, mix the flours, sugar, salt, and butter. Set aside.

Mix the yeast with the warm water and stand for 5-10 minutes until foaming. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until smooth – about 10 minutes with the motor at a low setting.

Cover the bowl and place somewhere warm for around 45 minutes or until the dough has risen in size (about doubled). Punch down the dough and tip out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 16 pieces.

Flatten a piece between your hands, then place about half a teaspoon of jelly onto it and gather the edges of the dough around the jam.

Pinch and squeeze the edges to seal in the jam, then roll between your hands to form a ball. Set aside and repeat with the remaining pieces of dough until you have 16 jam filled balls.

Place the vegetable oil in a shallow bowl, and mix the cinnamon sugar in another bowl. Roll each ball of dough first in the oil, and then in the cinnamon sugar to coat. Arrange the balls in an 8-inch round baking pan.

Allow the dough to rise again, for around 30 minutes, or until the balls are doubled in size and there are no gaps between them.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Bake the challah for around 25 minutes until it is risen and golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from the tin.

Pull apart, eat and enjoy!