Celebrate “challahween” with challah shaped ghosts, broomsticks and pumpkins

This past year, we’ve baked a lot of challah! We’ve made unicorn challah, challah heart-pops, apple pie stuffed apple buns, traditional mini challahs, pumpkin challah and “painted” rainbow challah ! The secret to almost all of these challah recipes is using frozen bread dough rolls - really! One of these days, I’m going to find the perfect challah dough recipe, but in the meantime, what I love most about baking challah is treating it like a craft - creating the shapes and of course decorating - especially when baking with a little!

When I made pumpkin challahs last week, I thought about other shapes we could make for the season. So say “hello” to little challah ghost, challah broomstick, and yes, challah pumpkin, I see and included you too!

Ghost roll, broomstick roll, pumpkin roll — Hi, friends.

These three challah shapes all started with one soft dough roll ready about 30 - 45 minutes outside the freezer on a plate (misted with cooking spray and covered in plastic wrap). The amount of time it takes for the dough to get soft depends on the temperature of your kitchen.

The magic happens just as they begin to get pliable but before they begin to rise. I grab a little extra flour for my working surface, kitchen scissors and then make the shape! Afterwards, I place them all on a baking sheet on the counter and again cover in plastic wrap that has been misted with cooking spray. After rising for another hour or so (they will puff up), I remove the plastic wrap and place in a preheated 350 degree oven.

Bake bread for Halloween, broomstick, ghost, pumpkins

Before going into the oven, I brush with an egg wash. Then bake for about 15 minutes, until golden.

When they’re cooled, they’re ready for decorating!

If you’d like to make your own challahween rolls, we share the process for ghosts, broomsticks and pumpkins too! I think it’s fun to make a dozen - four of each shape, and if you make more, they’re wonderful to share with friends, and super adorable at a fall party - like our Witches and Broomstick Arty Party! Older kids should be able to make the shapes and decorate with some adult supervision, and littles are the best decorators! So let’s go bake for Challahween!

Challahween Ghosts, Broomsticks and Pumpkins

bake ghst rolls, broomstick rolls and pumpkin rolls for fall

Here’s what you’ll need for a dozen challaween treats:

12 frozen bread dough rolls (we used Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls)
Egg mixed with 1 TBS of water

Icing and toppings

1/2 cup confectioners sugar mixed with 1 TBS of milk or water
Candy eyes
Crushed Oreos
Orange sprinkles
Coconut shreds
Thin breadsticks or pretzel sticks

Here’s how to make each shape:

Challaween Ghosts

I made the ghosts by flattening the round dough with the palm of my hand, gently stretching into an oval and snipping “v’s” at the bottom. So cute and easy!

Once baked, I spread the homemade icing on top of the ghostie, and…

top with shredded coconut and candy eyes.

Challaween Broomsticks

Next up are witches’ broomsticks. I first snipped a small piece from the dough ball, and rolled both pieces into a log. The shorter log was wrapped near the bottom of the broomstick, and then just underneath, I used the scissors to cut bristles - four narrow strips of dough.

Once baked, the broomhandle was covered in icing, sprinkled with crushed oreo cookies, and…

finished with candy eyes.

Challahween Pumpkins

Pumpkin challah rolls are just so simple. Take your roll and make 6 - 8 cuts going all the way around and place a thin breadstick or pretzel stick in the center.

Once baked, top with icing,…

orange sprinkles and candy eyes. Here’s a pumpkin challah roll post with detailed instructions if you want to read more!

Halloween isn’t a Jewish holiday, but we can make connections to Jewish values when we celebrate the day. Like welcoming trick-or-treaters at your door with a happy hello (Hachnasat Orchim - Hospitality) and by sharing freshly baked challah with family and friends (Chesed - Kindness).

Would you make these cute challaween treats? Let us know in the comments, and let us know if there are any other shapes we should try. I am thinking birds will be next, for Shabbat Shira (Shabbat of Song) which comes right before the holiday Tu B’Shevat (the Birthday of the Trees), and also for the Shabbat where we read the story of Noah’s Ark (which was just a couple of weeks ago)! Let us know if you have any other challah ideas too!

We hope you have a fun fall, and be sure to visit our Witches and Broomstick Arty Party for more fun crafts for the season!

~ Jennifer