Challah Baking Pan

[EmpireState]

I just bought this new pan- called "Perfect Braid Royal Challah Silicone Bakeware". Perfect for me, as I am terrible at braiding challah. It really works! (I bought it at Judaica Plus in Cedarhurst, and I also saw it in Gourmet Glatt...)

[kosherGlutenFree]

How big is the challah? I have been looking for something like this for over 10 years for gluten free bread (for those that don't know gluten free dough is normally more like marshmallow fluff & so is not possible to braid) but size is an issue for me since I only bake challah for one.

[GilaB]

The only one I've seen is pretty big, similar to the large size of challah sold by bakeries.

[EmpireState]

The challah that I bake calls for 3 1/2 cups of flour and it fits perfectly in the pan. Hope this helps you.

[kosherGlutenFree]

Thanks. The pan will definitely be too big since I make my challah in a 6 inch oval pan & I use between 1/3 and 1/2 cup flour per pan.

[queenscook]

Just curious . . . if you can't actually braid gluten-free dough, why is important that it looks like it's braided?

[kosherGlutenFree]

Psychological. To me it shows it is for Shabbos and not regular weekday bread. I realize that the braided challah is not the only shape that is used for shabbos but this is what I am use to seeing used for shabbos.

Think about how people have felt about the different shape of the bread from the original breadmakers (such as round or taller than normal bread) and how the companies worked to make something that was more like "normal" shaped bread even though I find it harder to get the flour mixed in with the newer shaped pan.

[ATH44]

Thank you for posting this. That's the only good use I can think of for this product.
See my other post for why…

[queenscook]

Have you already used it and are happy with it? I despise silicone bakeware, especially for cakes. They always stick, and never brown. If you haven't used it yet, I wish you better luck. If you have, did the challah brown?

[EmpireState]

Yes, I have used it and am very happy with it. I was also skeptical, as I don't like silicone bakeware either.
The instructions that come with the pan are very simple: You put your dough in the pan, bake it for about 20 minutes, then take the challah out of the pan (it comes out very easily). You then bake it for about 10 more minutes on a baking sheet. It browns during that 10 minute period. The shape is really nice and professional looking.

[GilaB]

How do you remove the semi-baked challah from the very hot pan?

[EmpireState]

The pan does not get as hot as a non silicone pan. You invert it over a cookie sheet and challah comes right out. Very simple- I promise.