Description
This Best Chocolate Babka Bread is a rich, sweet, and buttery yeast bread swirled with luscious chocolate filling. Each slice reveals beautiful layers of soft dough and melty chocolate, making it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. With its golden crust and tender crumb, this homemade babka is guaranteed to impress anyone lucky enough to enjoy a piece.
Ingredients
For the dough:
-
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-
1/4 cup granulated sugar
-
2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
-
1/2 tsp salt
-
2 large eggs
-
1/2 cup warm milk (or almond milk)
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
-
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
For the chocolate filling:
-
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
-
1/4 cup unsalted butter
-
1/4 cup powdered sugar
-
2 tbsp cocoa powder
For the syrup:
-
1/4 cup water
-
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
-
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
-
Add eggs, warm milk, and vanilla. Mix to form a soft dough.
-
Knead in the butter gradually until the dough is smooth and elastic.
-
Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
-
Meanwhile, melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in powdered sugar and cocoa until smooth. Let cool.
-
Roll out the dough into a rectangle. Spread the chocolate filling evenly.
-
Roll the dough into a log, then slice lengthwise. Twist the two halves together, keeping the cut sides up.
-
Place into a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise again until puffy.
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until golden.
-
While baking, prepare the syrup by boiling sugar and water until dissolved.
-
Brush syrup over the hot babka as soon as it comes out of the oven.
-
Let cool before slicing and serving.
Notes
-
For a nutty twist, add crushed hazelnuts or walnuts to the filling.
-
You can prepare the dough the night before and bake fresh in the morning.
-
If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes