Rochie Pinson, Challah baking expert and cookbook author, travels around the world, giving inspiring and entertaining workshops on the art of Challah baking.
She also writes a weekly blog “Challah for the Soul,” teachings on the intersection of challah, Parsha and life.
Her best selling cookbook, “Rising: The Book of Challah,” sharing her experiences and insights from decades spent perfecting the art of challah baking, will be sold in Anthropologie stores next fall.
Here she presents a stunning dairy brioche Challah with a pistachio, cardamom and milky rose glaze to enhance your Shavuos table.
Follow Rochie on Instagram: @rochiepinson
To be notified when Rochie posts a new recipe, subscribe to her website at therisinglife.net.
The Rising Life is available on Amazon and at bookstores, and makes a perfect hostess gift, end-of-year teacher gift, or any other occasion.
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Brioche Challah with pistachio, cardamom & milky rose glaze
This is a very soft and sticky dough, and it will not look like you can shape a challah with it – but trust me on this. After a full day in the fridge, it will become workable, and when it is baked, it is the most incredible, buttery melt in your mouth challah, that is almost croissant-like.
With the addition of a butter pistachio/cardamom filling, and a milky rose topping… this challah has now risen to star status.
The milk recalls the Torah that we receive anew on Shavuot, that perfect form of nourishment for our soul – which we compare to mother’s milk.
The roses are a reminder of the flowers that bloomed miraculously in the desert, as all of creation came to life with the giving of the Torah on Sinai.
Together, shaped into a floral wreath, this becomes the centerpiece of your Shavuot table.
Flowers shown are courtesy of Mimulo, www.Mimulo.com.
THE DOUGH
yields: enough for one large floral wreath challah (approximately 12-15 rosettes)
equipment: Dairy mixer with paddle attachment / or – Large Mixing Bowl
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup warm milk
3 tsp active dry yeast (a little less than 2 envelopes)
1/4 cup sugar
2 3/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3 large eggs, room temp
12 Tbsp (or 1 1/2 Sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temp
LET’S DO IT!
Place warm water and warm milk in bowl (or in bowl of mixer)
Add yeast and sugar, stir to combine
Add in flour and salt. Mix, using your hands, or if using mixer, mix at medium-low speed until the mixture resembles shaggy, crumbly lumps.
Add the vanilla and then the eggs, one at a time, mixing until well blended after each addition.
If using mixer, increase speed to medium and beat until dough is smooth – about 3 minutes.
If mixing by hand – oil your hands to make the job less messy, (it will be quite messy) and don’t worry if dough seems extremely loose and sticky.
Add butter, 1 Tbsp at a time, mixing (or beating on low if using mixer) until each addition is well incorporated. Give it some time for the dough to come together. If using a mixer, increase speed to high and allow it to mix the dough for about 8-9 minutes, the dough should be cohesive and smooth.
If mixing by hand, the results will not be as smooth, and it will be a very soft and sticky dough, but the end result will still be amazing. So don’t worry about it!
Lightly grease (oil or butter) a large bowl and scrape dough into prepared bowl, it will be very sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm spot until about doubled in volume (about 1.5 hours)
Lift the dough and toss it over on itself a few times to let out the air, this is called to “rompre” the dough. (yes, very French indeed… we are making brioche after all! Just make sure someone sees you ‘rompreing’ the dough, just so you can tell them what you’re doing and feel ‘tres chic’ and sophisticated when you say it!)
Re-cover the bowl and place in fridge. Deflate the dough in this way every once in a while (about every half hour or so) until the dough stops rising (about 2 hours) If you neglect to do this… don’t worry – it still comes out perfect! 😉 trust me on this.
Chill overnight – or up to 24 hours. When I tested this, I wasn’t able to get to it for about 30 hours after I put it in to chill.. and it was still absolute perfection. So – don’t be too worried about time.
When you’re ready to fancy up your brioche…
*Scroll all the way down for shaping instructions!
PISTACHIO CARDAMOM FILLING
Yield: Makes enough for one large challah
Can be made up to a week in advance and put in the fridge. Be sure to use very fresh milk if you’re planning to make it in advance.
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup peeled roasted / lightly salted pistachios (about 6-7 oz)
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp cardamom
up to 1/4 Cup milk – as needed to achieve a spreadable consistency
Place all ingredients and 1 Tbsp milk in food processor or blender.
Blend or process only until it comes together, try to leave a bit of a chunky consistency – don’t over blend.
Add in more milk 1 Tbsp at a time, stirring with a spoon, only as needed to form a spreadable consistency.
If not using immediately, store in an airtight container in the fridge.
For instructions on Making this wreath challah:
See page 304 in Rising: The Book of Challah
Baking instructions, fill with pistachio cardamom filling.
Glaze with egg glaze before baking,
When baked, allow to cool completely and then, top with rose topping
MILKY ROSE TOPPING
Yield: enough for one large wreath challah
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Confectioners sugar
1/4 tsp Rose water
2 Tbsp Malabi Syrup
Up to 1/4 Cup Milk
Pour the confectioners sugar in a large bowl, add the rose water and Malabi syrup.
Gradually add in the milk, 1 Tbsp at a time, stirring very hard (use a solid spoon) until you reach a ‘just pourable’ consistency – you want it to be liquid enough to be poured, but still staying as thick as possible.
Best made right before using, but you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Note, that if storing for a while, you may need to add a bit of milk to re-liquify it before using it.
After drizzling on the glaze,
Sprinkle on some crushed pistachios and edible rosebuds if desired, as a finishing touch!
(you can buy kosher edible rosebuds on amazon.com)
It looks gorgeous! Just something to note whether this kind of sweet Challah qualifies for Hamotzi / Lechem Mishna purposes. Might need to start with something more bland. I’m no Rabbi but maybe ask one if you plan to make this masterpiece.
but waaaay too hard? Any chance of buying one?
you can get cardamom, rose water and malabi syrup in the Marketplace
and I found kosher edible rosebuds on amazon!
just search for kosher edible rose… you’ll find it!
happy baking!
where to buy cardamom in CH? Empire kosher does not have. and who sells edible rosebuds?
That looks absolutely fabulous!
Keep up the great work!
–E.R. from Union and Nostrand
Looks delicious!!