When it comes to Boston challah, our local bakers rise to the occasion. Here are 10 favorites for your holiday feasts. Reminder: Always confirm kosher status and delivery dates before ordering.
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Best variety: Mandylicious
Sharon baker Mandy Silverman celebrates her 10th anniversary this year. With thousands of loyal fans, Silverman is renowned for unusual challah flavors: cookie dough, peanut butter cookie, caramelized onion, spiced oat- baked apple and more. (She has more than 470 recipes.)
Bread specialists: Clear Flour Bread
Plain, poppy or sesame: Clear Flour’s challah, available after 10 a.m. on Fridays, has an earthy, dense texture. There are no pre-orders; they’re baked fresh and available on a first-come, first-served basis, alongside longtime staples like pizza dough. This is where many notable Boston bakers (such as Bagelsaurus owner Mary Ting Hyatt) got their start.
Classic feast: Mamaleh’s
Mamaleh’s in Brookline and Cambridge serves classic round and raisin challah ($10) as part of an extensive Rosh Hashanah menu, complete with all the signatures: noodle kugel, brisket, potato latkes and lots more. Order by Monday, Sept. 11.
Challah specialists: Zucker Foods
Originally a hit in Montreal, Zucker’s now brings its eggy, plain or raisin challah to Peabody in a variety of shapes and sizes. Go big with the ceremonial kiddush, or treat yourself to a four-ounce mini challah. Can’t make it to the North Shore? You can also often find its breads at Lexington’s Wilson Farms and Waban Market.
Foodie favorite: Fornax Bread Company
This Roslindale bakeshop (named after the Roman goddess of ovens!) has lines out the door thanks to its globe-trotting bread menu, from baguettes to boules to Irish soda bread. Those in the know visit Thursday through Saturday to stock up on its super-buttery challah, baked fresh every morning.
Great for sensitive stomachs: Blacker’s Bakeshop
A great choice for allergy-sensitive diners, Blacker’s is nut-free (and kosher). It offers challah by pre-order or first-come, first-served walk-up—so don’t despair if you didn’t plan ahead. The bakery’s soy-, dairy- and nut-free challah doesn’t skimp on flavor, either: it comes in plenty of varieties, from chocolate chip to cinnamon sugar.
Kid-friendly: Hi-Rise Bread Company
The quintessential, character-filled Huron Village bakery—where everyone from Harvard profs to stroller-wrangling families have lined up since 1996—offers raisin challah made laced with wildflower honey, as well as plain versions, for pre-order. But that’s not all: Even on non-holiday visits, you’ll find a kids’ menu stocked with challah sandwiches aplenty: Nutella and powdered sugar, peanut butter and jam, grilled cheese and even hot dogs on challah buns.
Neighborhood staple: Rosenfeld’s Bagels
A kosher mainstay in Newton Centre since 1973, Rosenfeld’s is mainly known for bagels—although people also rave about its challah, which comes in raisin, onion, whole grain, sesame, poppy … or chocolate. Expecting a crowd? Get its celebration challah, weighing in at a healthy three pounds.
Newish and notable: Bakey
It’s no secret that we at JewishBoston love the fresh-baked, aromatic, kosher treats at Bakey, with locations in Boston and, now, in Brookline. (Check out our full ordering guide.) It offers “festive challah,” served in ceramic keepsake bowls—plus honey cake and apple babka for the holiday. The restaurants were founded by renowned Israeli Danish baker and cookbook author Uri Scheft.
Sweet and savory: The Challah Queen
Shop an impressive array of challah from this Swampscott online retailer: fig and rosemary, sun-dried tomato and garlic, devil’s food cake … the list goes on, with the ability to customize your very own flavor combo. It also offers special holiday styles, such as round apple with a center dip bowl. Order online for shipping, or pick up at its headquarters.
