Ingredients
- For the dough:
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk, lukewarm
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the chocolate filling:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For the egg wash:
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix lukewarm milk with sugar and sprinkle yeast over the top. Let sit until frothy, about 5–10 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, eggs, softened butter, and vanilla. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead dough for about 8–10 minutes by hand or 5–6 minutes in a stand mixer, until smooth and elastic. Add a little extra flour if too sticky.
- Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1½ hours.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips, cocoa powder, sugar, melted butter, and salt together in a saucepan or microwave. Stir until smooth and set aside to cool slightly.
- Once dough has risen, punch it down and roll it into a 10×16-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread the chocolate filling evenly over the dough. Roll it up tightly from the long side into a log.
- Slice the log lengthwise and twist the two halves together with the cut sides facing up. Place in a greased loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise again until puffy, about 45–60 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush the loaf with egg wash (beaten egg + milk).
- Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Let cool in pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Use Nutella instead of the chocolate filling for a shortcut and hazelnut flavor.
- Chill dough overnight in the fridge for easier shaping the next day.
- For extra crunch, add chopped nuts to the filling.
- Babka is delicious served warm but stores well at room temperature.
- Freeze slices individually for a quick treat later.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
