Delicious Chocolate Babka Recipe
I absolutely love Babka, any variation of it makes me happy. Chocolate Babka in particular can really brighten my day and you’ll see exactly why.
This chocolate babka recipe is made of rich brioche dough and has a decadent chocolate filling. It’s a delicious treat and one that’s enjoyed by every member of my family. It’s hard to resist a warm piece of this chocolate babka.
When I first tried Babka many years ago, it instantly became one of my favorite things to eat. I always wanted to recreate it at home so we could eat it whenever we wanted to.
If you haven’t tried Babka before, it’s kind of like half bread, half cake, and just incredibly delicious.
It may seem like it is labor-intensive to make Babka from scratch, but the process is surprisingly straightforward! This recipe comes out so delicious and it’s one where you can get the kids involved too. It’s so much fun to put together.
What is Babka?
Babka is made of a rich brioche braided dough, usually with a cinnamon or chocolate filling. It originated in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. There are so many variations of this traditional sweet bread.
Tips and tricks for making perfect chocolate babka
- Use milk instead of water in the dough to add a bit more richness.
- Use good-quality chocolate for the filling. The filling really takes it to a whole different level.
- Make sure the filling is a thickish consistency. You want it to stick to the dough and not be runny. If the chocolate filling becomes too firm, warm it up a bit in the microwave. Don’t use it hot, though, since it can warm the dough and cause the butter to melt.
Delicious and Easy Chocolate Babka Recipe
Ingredients
For the dough
- 250 gm flour
- 65 ml milk
- 9 gm yeast
- 50 gm sugar
- 1 egg
- 40 gm butter
- pinch of salt
For the chocolate
- 200 gm dark chocolate (60% or more)
- 25 gm butter (cutinto cubes at room temperature)
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 15 gm cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 1 tbsp heavycream
For the Glaze
- 1 egg
- 20 ml cream
Instructions
For the Glaze
- Add yeast and sugar to the milk (lukewarm). Give it a stirand let it sit aside for a few minutes.
- Add flour and salt to a stand mixer fitted with a doughhook.
- Add butter, adding a few cubes at a time, mixing onlow-medium speed, until incorporated.
- Continue mixing for about 5 minutes on medium speed, until the dough is completely smooth, elastic and shiny.
- Dust some flour onto a surface and form the dough into anice smooth ball.
- Coverand let rise for about 30 minutes.
Make the Chocolate Filling
- Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water.
- Add in the butter, vanilla, cocoa powder, heavy cream and mix well. The mixture should be nice and thick. Let this mixture cool down.
Rolling and shaping the dough
- Roll out the dough evenly into a rectangular shape and spread the chocolate mixture evenly onto it.
- Use both hands to roll up the rectangle dough like a roulade, starting from the side closest to you and ending at the other long end. Press to seal the dampened end onto the roulade, then use both hands to even out the roll into a perfect thick log. Rest the rolled dough on its seam.
- Cut the roll into half using a sharp serrated bread knife, lengthwise. The layers of dough and filling should be visible along the length of both halves. Then weave two parts together making sure the side with the chocolate mixture always faces the top.
- Transfer the braided dough to the prepared pan and let it rise for an hour or until it has doubled in size.
Make your glaze and bake
- Whisk an egg with heavy cream well and brush the dough with this mixture right before baking.
- Preheat oven to 160 deg celsius. Grease your baking pan. This could be a loaf pan, a round cake tin, anything that you have handy. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until done and golden brown on top.
Make the syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Once the Chocolate Babka is ready, immediately brush or drizzle the syrup over top. The syrup helps to add a nice sheen to the loaf while also keeping the babka moist.
- Once it has cooled down, take it out of the pan and slice it. Enjoy!
Variations for Babka
- Nutella Babka: This irresistible babka is filled with delicious Nutella!
- Cinnamon Babka: This babka recipe is filled with cinnamon and sugar.
Looking for more delicious recipes, check them out here
Bon Appetit!
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