I’ve been on a purple kick lately.

It’s a little bit crazy how Instagram posts can direct your entire life… ok just kidding, being a little dramatic. But also just a teeny bit serious. Last month, I read a blog post about how to curate your Instagram feed better. It talked about what angles of shots to post next to each other, making sure to leave breathing room, and, of course, color. It’s common to see accounts doing well grouping their posts by color. Up to this point, I’ve just photographed whatever I’ve wanted when I’ve wanted, with not much thought to any of the colors looking cohesive on my feed. (Honestly, this will probably be how I continue living life lol) BUT… for the last few posts – I’ve tried hard to stick to some purple theme. Thus, the invention of the Purple Sweet Potato Challah.

I bought some different naturally colored/flavored powders from Suncore Foods. They are gorgeous and so fun to add to different bakes! The Purple Sweet Potato Powder added a nice, sweet flavor to the challah dough that wasn’t overpowering. And the color when you cut a slice is perfection! If you like Challah and the color purple, this recipe is for you lol.

Pro Tip for using the Purple Sweet Potato Powder –

It needs to be dissolved in water first. Learn from my mistakes! If you add it straight into the bread dough, thinking, “This will be quicker and easier, and it will knead right into the rest of the ingredients, ” you will be wrong, lol. Because it’s a dehydrated sweet potato, which is a starch, it needs quite a bit of water to rehydrate!

Add the 3 tbsp of powder to the cup of warm water and whisk it until it’s nice and smooth. You’ll definitely see what I’m talking about as it thickens up right before your eyes!

The Braid: Art Meets Baking

Challah is often known for its iconic braid, which symbolizes love, unity, and togetherness. Braiding your challah is where you can let your creativity shine. Whether you stick to the classic three-strand braid or go all out with a five-strand (or even six-strand!), each loaf becomes a work of art.

If you’re new to braiding challah, don’t worry. It can feel a bit intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like a masterful baker lol. The trick is to roll each piece of dough evenly and braid with intention. This recipe is based on King Arthur Baking’s Classic Challah recipe, and their website provides a helpful guide for mastering a three, four, or six-strand braid, but feel free to experiment with different techniques.

Fun Fact: Some bakers say that the number of strands you braid can represent different things. For example, a three-strand braid can represent truth, peace, and justice, while a six-strand braid is said to represent the six days of the week leading up to the Sabbath. How’s that for a meaningful bake?

Purple Sweet Potato Challah: Taste and Texture

So what’s the texture and flavor of this vibrant bread? If you’ve ever had traditional challah, you know it’s wonderfully soft, light, and slightly sweet. The addition of purple sweet potato powder doesn’t drastically change the texture, but it does give the loaf a subtly earthy undertone, balancing the natural sweetness of the honey in the dough.

The olive oil used in this recipe helps create a rich, moist crumb that melts in your mouth. Challah’s flavor is often neutral enough to pair with both sweet and savory dishes, and this version is no different. Whether you’re slathering it with butter and jam or using it as the base for a sandwich, Purple Sweet Potato Challah is incredibly versatile.

Pro Tip: Want a sweeter challah? Consider increasing the amount of honey in the dough by a tablespoon or two. Prefer a more savory twist? Add a touch of rosemary or thyme to complement the earthy notes of the sweet potato.

What to do with your loaf

Speaking of versatility, Purple Sweet Potato Challah isn’t just a loaf to be admired—it’s a loaf to be enjoyed in various ways. You could serve it as is, but here are a few ideas to take it to the next level:

• French Toast: Imagine thick slices of this vibrant challah, soaked in a vanilla-cinnamon custard and fried to golden perfection. The purple hue will make your breakfast feel downright luxurious.
• Challah Bread Pudding: Take your leftovers (if there are any!) and turn them into a rich, creamy bread pudding with a hint of vanilla and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• Savory Sandwiches: Pair slices of this challah with your favorite savory fillings. Think roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, and a smear of mustard—perfect for a holiday leftover sandwich.
• Fancy Avocado Toast: Mix cream cheese with some fresh chopped dill and spread that on your sliced challah. Top it with avocado slices, everything bagel seasoning, radish slices, pansies and allium blossoms for a beautiful, fancy toast!

This Purple Sweet Potato Challah isn’t just a gimmick for Instagram.

It’s a genuinely delicious, beautiful take on a classic bread. It’s perfect for both experienced bakers looking for a new challenge and newbies ready to dip their toes into bread making.

I love the braiding part of the process the most. There’s just something about how it comes together, what it looks like while it’s rising, and the surprise of opening the oven and seeing how it looks baked…

If you’ve never tried Suncore’s colorful powders, you definitely should—why not add an extra splash of color to your life?

Thanks for reading. Let me know if you try out this bake and what you think!

Print Recipe

Purple Sweet Potato Challah

Soft, golden challah with a vibrant twist—this Purple Sweet Potato Challah is perfect for any occasion with its unique flavor and stunning color.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Rising Time3 hours hrs

Total Time4 hours hrs

Course: Bread

Servings: 2 loaves

Equipment

• Mixer with dough hook
• Mixing Bowl
• Lightly oiled bowl
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Plastic wrap or turkey roaster bag
• Pastry brush (for egg wash)
• Cooling Rack

Ingredients

Dough:

• 4 1/4 cups 510g all-purpose flour
• 1 cup 200g lukewarm water
• 3 tbsp 27g purple sweet potato powder
• 6 tbsp 74g olive oil
• 3 tbsp 63g honey
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large egg yolk white reserved for the topping
• 1 1/2 tsp 9g table salt
• 4 tsp 12g instant yeast

Topping:

• 1 large egg white reserved from above, beaten with 1 tbsp cold water
• Poppy seeds or sesame seeds for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

For the Dough:

• Stir 3 tbsp of purple sweet potato powder into the lukewarm water. Mix thoroughly until there are no clumps.
• Pour the mixture into your mixer bowl and add honey, yeast, olive oil, eggs, egg yolk, flour, and salt.
• Knead with the dough hook until the dough comes together and looks smooth.
• Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours.

Shaping the Dough:

• Prepare a baking sheet with lightly oiled parchment paper.
• Lightly oil your counter and hands to handle the sticky dough. After the first rise, divide the dough in half, then divide each half into 5 sections.
• Roll each section into a 20-inch rope and braid them together. Repeat with the second half, so you have two loaves.
• Place the loaves on the baking sheet, lightly oil the tops, and cover with plastic wrap (or a large turkey roaster bag). Let them rise for another 60 minutes.

Bake:

• Towards the end of the second rise, mix the reserved egg white with 1 tbsp of water for the egg wash. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Brush the loaves with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired.
• Bake on the middle rack for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and cool on a cooling rack.
• Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

The recipe is Based on King Arthur’s Classic Challah Recipe

Check out their post for instructions on a 5 strand braid! 

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