Difference between challah and brioche (2024)

Challah and brioche, while similar, are not the same bread at all. The most important difference has to do with the fact that challah is part of Jewish tradition, and is kosher to eat with all meals—so it is not made with dairy, i.e. butter. Brioche, on the other hand, is French, so of course it is made with butter!

Both breads are rich, eggy yeast breads, but brioche is definitely richer. (Butter will do that). Challah, by the way, is often a braided loaf. Both make excellent French toast and bread pudding.

Recipe: Challah

Difference between challah and brioche (2024)

FAQs

Difference between challah and brioche? ›

If you are making a recipe that calls for challah in it (such as a french toast recipe), brioche or another similar light and fluffy white bread would be a good substitute.

Can you substitute brioche for challah? ›

If you are making a recipe that calls for challah in it (such as a french toast recipe), brioche or another similar light and fluffy white bread would be a good substitute.

Which is better for French toast, challah or brioche? ›

Challah. Very similar to Brioche but made without butter. It's less sweet and a bit denser but it's a great bread option for incredible French toast.

What makes challah bread different? ›

Challah is almost always pareve (containing neither dairy nor meat—important in the laws of Kashrut), unlike brioche and other enriched European breads, which contain butter or milk as it is typically eaten with a meat meal.

What is the difference between brioche and bread rolls? ›

Brioche rolls and regular rolls are different in that brioche rolls require more eggs and butter in their recipe than regular rolls. Although both brioche rolls and regular rolls contain eggs and butter, the fact that brioche rolls contain more of these ingredients means that these rolls are higher in fat content.

Which is better, challah or brioche? ›

Both breads are rich, eggy yeast breads, but brioche is definitely richer. (Butter will do that). Challah, by the way, is often a braided loaf. Both make excellent French toast and bread pudding.

What bread is closest to brioche? ›

Challah bread is very similar to brioche, since it is made with eggs. It has a slightly sweet flavor and a soft, pillowy interior. Another substitute for brioche are croissants. Although these are not bread, but pastry, brioche is said to be more similar in texture to croissants than bread.

Why is brioche bread so expensive? ›

Brioche is one of the costliest bakery products because of its high proportion of butter and eggs.

Do French people eat brioche for breakfast? ›

In France, brioche bread is mostly enjoyed for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. After school, French children often like to have a few squares of milk chocolate wrapped in a brioche roll and washed down with a glass of milk.

What's so great about brioche bread? ›

Brioche is a classic French bread distinguished by the addition of butter and eggs, which makes it an “enriched” dough. The high fat content results in a bread with an exceptionally tender crumb, pillowy softness, and rich flavor.

Why do Jews eat challah bread? ›

The term “challah” is applied more widely to mean any bread used in Jewish rituals. On the eve of Shabbat, two loaves are placed on the table to reference the Jewish teaching that a double portion of manna fell from heaven on Friday to last through the Saturday Shabbat.

Why is challah not kosher? ›

In halachic terms, challah is a mitzvah in the Torah to separate a portion of dough from the baker's batch. Any dough meeting the requirements for hafrashat challah , taking challah, must have this portion removed, or the bread baked from this dough is not considered kosher.

What does the Bible say about challah bread? ›

Challah bread has a Biblical history from the time of Moses in Exodus 16, where God instructed Moses to set aside a portion of each loaf and use it as an offering to local Jewish priests. Today this tradition is still upheld where a piece of bread is burnt inside the oven before the other bread is baked.

Is brioche or challah better for French toast? ›

Nearly every French toast recipe calls for either challah or brioche as the base, but most of them leave the choice up to you, the home cook. The constant equating of these two breads, and many recipes suggesting you can swap one for the other, have led many to consider them virtually the same thing.

Why is it called brioche? ›

The origin of Brioche

The name "brioche" comes from the old French word "brier," which means "to crush the dough". Over the centuries, brioches spread to many regions, and there are now over 30 different types of brioche in France, with almost every region having its own specialty.

What does the word "brioche" mean in French? ›

Translation of brioche – French–English dictionary

a sticky bun.

Is brioche the same as egg bread? ›

The texture of egg bread is fine-crumbed and light. Examples include challah, the bread served on the Jewish Sabbath; brioche, the French bread that also gets richness and flavor from butter; and Italian Easter bread, which has a sugar-and-almond coating.

What makes brioche bread different from other breads? ›

What makes brioche different to most breads? Brioche is different to most breads because it's made with an enriched dough and tastes a little sweeter. . Because it's an enriched dough, you get that famous brioche texture of soft bread, the classic golden colour and quintessentially rich taste.

What is the difference between a brioche bun and a regular bun? ›

Brioche buns are better than regular buns but they are extra soft and tender from the added enrichment. Their buttery flavor enhances any burger or sandwich. They are also absorbent but don't get soggy too easily, which makes them perfect for soaking up those burger juices!

Why is brioche not kosher? ›

Brioche is made with dairy ingredients, milk and butter, while hallah -- because of the prohibition to serving milk and meat at the same meal -- is nondairy.

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