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The Best Chocolate Babka Recipe

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★★★★

4 from 170 reviews

This Chocolate Babka is a rich, sweet, and tender braided bread filled with a luscious chocolate filling. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, it features a soft, buttery dough swirled with a smooth, glossy combination of cocoa, melted dark chocolate, and sugar. Baked to a golden brown with a shiny egg wash crust, this babka delights with every bite and can be garnished with powdered sugar, toasted hazelnuts, or a simple glaze.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 3 ¾ cups (480g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup (135g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
  • ¾ cup (180ml) whole milk, lukewarm
  • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp salt

Chocolate Filling

  • 6 tbsp (85g) unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup (50g) cocoa powder
  • ⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
  • 4 oz (115g) dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate (60% cocoa or higher)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Finishing

  • 1 egg (for egg wash)
  • Optional: powdered sugar, toasted hazelnuts, or glaze (powdered sugar mixed with milk) for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: Warm the milk until just lukewarm, then sprinkle the active dry yeast over it. Let it bloom for about 5-10 minutes until frothy. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Add the eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
  2. Knead the Dough: Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot until it doubles in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
  3. Prepare the Chocolate Filling: While the dough rises, melt the butter gently. Mix in cocoa powder, granulated sugar, melted dark chocolate, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
  4. Roll Out the Dough: Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently and roll it into a large rectangle, approximately 12 by 16 inches, on a floured surface. Spread the chocolate filling evenly over the entire surface of the dough to ensure a consistent swirl.
  5. Shape the Babka: Starting from the long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Use a sharp knife to cut the log lengthwise into two long pieces. Twist the two dough strands together carefully, keeping the cut layers facing upward to showcase the chocolate ribbons. Pinch the ends to seal. Place the twisted loaf into a loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
  6. Final Rise: Cover the loaf loosely with a towel and allow it to rise again for 30-45 minutes while you preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  7. Prepare for Baking: Brush the top of the babka with beaten egg wash to achieve a glossy, golden crust.
  8. Bake the Babka: Bake the babka for 40-45 minutes, until cooked through and the top is deep golden brown. If the crust browns too quickly, tent the babka with foil to prevent burning.
  9. Cool and Serve: Let the babka cool completely in the pan before slicing. This prevents the filling from oozing and helps maintain its beautiful shape. Optionally garnish with powdered sugar, toasted hazelnuts, or a glaze made from powdered sugar mixed with milk.

Notes

  • Ensure the milk is only lukewarm to avoid killing the yeast.
  • Kneading the dough well is key to developing gluten and achieving a tender crumb.
  • You can substitute dark chocolate chips with chopped bittersweet chocolate with at least 60% cocoa.
  • Egg wash gives the babka a beautiful glossy crust; don’t skip this step.
  • If the babka browns too quickly in the oven, use foil to tent it to prevent burning.
  • Allow the babka to cool fully before slicing to keep the filling intact.
  • Optional garnishes add extra flavor and texture but are not required.

Keywords: chocolate babka, braided bread, sweet bread, chocolate swirl bread, homemade babka, Jewish dessert

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/the-best-chocolate-babka-recipe/