Churak Recipe Iraqi traditional sweet bread (2024)

Churak\cho*reg is absolutely my favorite bread/pastry to make. In my country, Iraq, this kind of bread is sold in almost all bakery shops and can be found being sold in streets bystreet hawkers.
It's a sweet bread topped with sesame seeds and served with tea as an afternoon snack (Asrunia).
sometimes Churak stuffed with dates paste ( pressed dates) and sometimes with halkum/Turkish delight.

Image credit :Buha

I have habit recently (or whatever it's called) that I google Iraqi recipes to do a little research about that recipe and what it's origins. So I googled Churak/Cho*reg and here is what I found out.
Iraqi Churak has a very similar version of it ( if not the same) in Armenia and it has the same name ( Cho*reg) and it's a traditional Armenian sweet bread that usually made for Easter time.

Image credit: White Coat Pink Apron

When I got married and moved to US, few years ago, I've looked everywhere for this bread but I was unlucky, I couldn't find it anywhere so I decided to learn to make my own Cho*reg.
And the journey of finding the right recipe starts. I've tried several recipe and none of them worked for me for several reasons until I found the right one.
I've made this recipe so many times, several times a year. And now I decided to share it with you.

I like to gather all my ingredients in stand mixer bowl, pour everything in that bowl except milk.
then add yeast and start adding milk gradually.
transform the dough to a greased large bowl, kneed it a little and form a ball.
Cover it with plastic wrap and kitchen towel and place it in warm place. I like to place mine in the oven with oven light on to make the oven warmer. sometimes I turn my oven on on lowest degree while I'n preparing my ingredients only for 5 to 10 minute and leave oven door slightly open while preparing the dough if I feel it was too warm.

45 minutes later your dough should be doubled in size, if not leave it for 20-30 minutes more.
Place the dough on the table, I like to use my wooden cutting board or this lazy Susan ( shown in pictures). This dough doesn't need to be on floured surface, plus the flour will prevent churak from sticking to it self.
divide the dough into even balls ( the size you like or prefer ) then roll each ball into long ropes using your hands.

Coil each rope around itself to make a snail like shape. and place pieces into a baking sheet lined with baking paper, leave about 2-3 inches in between. cover them and let them rest while you preheat your oven to 350f or 180c.
In a small bowl beat egg yolk, brush them and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or when turns golden, remove from oven and let it cool slightly and serve warm with a cup of tea.
Store churak in an airtight containers for about a week in room temperature or in the freezer for few months.

Churak RecipeIngredients:
- 3 cups all-Purpose flour
- 1\2 cup granulated sugar
- 1\2 cup lukewarm milk

- 1\3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp ground cardamom

for topping:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp sesame seeds

Directions:
- In a small bowl or glass of water add lukewarm water, 1 tbsp of sugar, and yeast, stir, cover and sit aside for 5-10 minutes or until double in size.
- In a large bowl add all other ingredients except milk.
- Add yeast to other ingredients and start mixing for 1 minute ( if using stand mixer, and a little more if by hand).
- Add milk gradually and keep mixing, keep mixing until it form a slightly sticky dough.
- Place it into a greased large bowl, knead it by hand for few minutes and form into a ball. cover it with a plastic wrap and a towel and sit it in a warm place for 45-60 minutes to rise or until it double in size.
- After it doubled in size, place the dough into a floured surface and divide it into even balls about 2 inches each ( it depends on how big/large you want your Churak pieces).
- Cover the balls with towel and start with the first ball you formed, roll each ball into ropes and coil each rope around itself ( to look like a snail ).
- Place them into a greased baking sheet, cover and sit it to rest for 10 minutes.

- Preheat oven to 350f or 180c.
- Brush the pieces with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle sesame seeds over.
- Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Let it cool slightly, and served warm with a cup of tea.