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slices of babka
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The best Chocolate Babka Recipe

This tasty chocolate babka is a classic Eastern European bread that’s lightly sweet and swirled with chocolate. So easy to make and a real work of art!
Course Bread, Pastries
Cuisine European, Jewish
Keyword babka, babka recipe, Chocolate Babka
Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 16 servings
Calories 400kcal
Author Natalya Drozhzhin

Ingredients

Babka Dough

Babka Chocolate Filling

Babka Syrup

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
US Units - Metric

Instructions

Babka Dough

  • Add all-purpose flour, sugar, active dry yeast, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir to combine.
    dry ingredients for the babka
  • Stir in the eggs and water. Knead until the ingredients are well-incorporated.
  • Cut the butter into small cubes. Add one cube in at a time as you knead the dough until it's shiny and elastic.
    babka dough with butter
  • Place the dough into a large, oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours. Remove the dough from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for at least 40 minutes.
    babka dough in a bowl

Chocolate Babka Filling

  • When using a whole chocolate bar, chop the chocolate into pieces and set it aside. If using chocolate chips, keep them as is. In a heavy saucepan over medium-low, combine the butter, sugar, chocolate, and cocoa powder.
    ingredients for chocolate babka filling
  • Cook and stir until the chocolate sauce becomes creamy. Set in the fridge so it cools and thickens into a spreadable consistency.
    Chocolate filling for the babka

Making Chocolate Babka

  • Butter two 9-inch bread pans. Line them with parchment paper.
    two bread pans lined with parchment paper
  • Divide the dough into two pieces. Roll each piece into a rectangle.
    babka dough rolled out
  • Use a knife to spread the filling on each rectangle of dough.
    babka dough with a filling spreaded
  • Starting from the long side, roll the dough rectangle into a roll and pinch the end to seal it.
    babka rolled up and sealed
  • Use a sharp knife to cut the roll lengthwise into two pieces. With the cut side facing up, twist the two pieces together. Pinch the edges and gently press them together to seal.
    babka dough twisted between each other
  • Move each babka into a loaf pan. Cover with a towel and let it rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.
    babka in a pan covered
  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Remove the towel from the loaves and place them in the preheated oven. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
    baked babka in a pan

Babka Syrup

  • Combine the sugar with water in a heavy bottom pot. Bring it to a simmer and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
    pot with water and sugar
  • Once the babkas are fully-baked, brush the tops with the syrup. Remove the babkas from the pan and allow them to fully cool before serving.
    Baked babka on counter

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 464IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 3mg