Happy New Year! This is a cinnamon & sugar topped apple raisin challah. Enjoy!

Place the following in a mixing bowl:
1/2 cup lukewarm water
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons honey
4 cups flour (17 ounces)
1-3/4 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons instant yeast
3/4 cup raisins, regular, golden, or a mixture
3/4 cup peeled and diced apple (1/2″ cubes)

Combine all of the dough ingredients and knead them, by hand, mixer, or bread machine, until you have a soft, smooth dough.
Let rise for 2 hours in a lightly greased pan, covered with waxed paper.

Shaping the dough
There are several ways you can shape this bread. One long rope is easy. Then coil the rope inside of a lightly greased 10 inch cake pan. Or you can shape several round balls and place them inside of your pan next to each other. I braided mine and used a springform pan lined with parchment. Cover and let rise another 60-90 minutes until puffy.

Cinnamon/ sugar topping mix
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tbls sugar (+/-)

Melt about 2 Tbls of butter and brush over the risen loaf. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mix.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Tent the challah loosely with aluminum foil, and bake for an additional 25 minutes, until the loaf is golden brown.

Ooohh think of the great French toast leftovers! My house smells lovely~