Chocolate Walnut Challah

Mix the [strong flour], [all-purpose flour], [salt], [fast-action dried yeast], and brown sugar (2 tbsp) in a large mixing bowl.

Pour in the lukewarm almond milk (300 ml) and stir everything together with a large wooden spoon. Then add the olive oil (1 tbsp) and combine.

When the mixture has mostly stuck together, turn it out on to a work surface or bread board. Knead the mixture by holding one end of the dough in one hand and stretching it out with the other hand. Reform the dough, turn it 90 degrees and start again. Repeat this for 10 minutes. Start 10m timer

When the dough is shiny and smooth, put it in a large mixing bowl, coat in a thin layer of [olive oil] and cover the bowl with a tea towel. Leave it in a warm place for between one and two hours (until it has doubled in size). Start 60m timer

Empty the dough out on to a work surface and push the air out with your fingertips.

Split the dough into three equal parts. Roll one part of the dough flat until it is 30 cm long and 8-10 cm wide. Then: 1) Coat the dough with [olive oil], covering its entire surface. 2) Sprinkle a thin layer of [brown sugar] on the dough. 3) Sprinkle a layer of [chopped dark chocolate] on the dough. 4) Sprinkle a layer of [chopped walnuts] on the dough. 5) Starting from the bottom, roll the dough tightly so that you have one horizontal 'dough snake'. Seal it well.

Repeat steps 1-5 for the remaining 2 dough parts.

Plait the bread by arranging the 3 plaits. Take the very leftmost plait and fold it over the middle plait. Take the very rightmost plait and fold it over the middle plait. Repeat until the 3 plaits are knotted together.

Place the finished challah (covered with a kitchen towel) to prove again for another hour. Before the hour is up, preheat the oven to 180° C / 350° F. Start 60m timer

Coat the challah with [olive oil] for a golden colour. Place it in the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Start 25m timer

Glaze the still warm challah with a mixture that is 50% [almond milk] and 50% [olive oil]. This gives it an extra shine.