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Spoiler Alert: This BABKA is off the hook amazing 😉
I’ll spare you the love letter I could dedicate to this babka and just tell you straight up – I’m a girl in love. In love with chocolate. In love with butter. And in love with large amounts of both of them baking up into an awesomely intense chocolate overload of a bread.
Have you had chocolate babka? If not – clear your weekend schedule and gather your chocolate and butter, friends. Oh, and sign up for an extra intense bootcamp calorie burning session next week. You’ll thank me later.
On to the topic of my love babka. After some inspiration from this episode, finding a chocolate babka recipe from Martha, and seeing said recipe backed up by the beautiful Deb over at Smitten Kitchen – making chocolate babka was an easy sell. I mean… Smitten kitchen, Seinfeld, and Martha all buzzing about chocolate bread cake? This had to be good.
And it was.
It was glorious. It was addicting. It was nibbled on endlessly for every meal imaginable. But calling this babka just good would be the understatement of the year. After my third slice, I swore surely there must be babka served in heaven. #fingerscrossed
As for the workload: this is not a quick, cheap, whip of your whisk and you’re done kind of recipe. It’s a labor of love. It’s a project. It’s a commitment.
The good news? In the end you’ll be rewarded for all your efforts. Rewarded with soft, fluffy, gooey, chocolatey babka.
The actual process of making and forming the dough is a simple, but complex process that took me from start to finish 6 (!!!) hours. The cost alone for butter and chocolate had me shaking my pockets for change. And can we not even talk about the calories a slice of this buttery dense chocolate glory contains? Let’s not. Instead, I want to talk about how worth it this is. How every cent, calorie, and second spent on making and baking this babka will disappear the minute you sink your teeth into your very first bite. Not making this would be cheating yourself, and we just can’t have that!
This recipe makes 3 hefty loaves. They freeze well in the pan pre-baked or flash frozen right after – I’ve done both – but I can assure you anyone would adore you for a lifetime if you gifted one of these loaves upon them.
Seriously – they get snatched up fast; make sure you save yourself a slice!
Chocolate Babka
Ingredients
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1 and 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 and 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
For the Chocolate Babka:
- 1 and 1/2 cups warm milk, 110 degrees
- 2 (1/4 ounce each) packages active dry yeast
- 1 and 3/4 cups (plus a pinch) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 and 3/4 cups (3 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces, room temperature, plus more for bowl and loaf pans
- 2 and 1/4 pounds semisweet chocolate, very finely chopped
- 2 and 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
For the Streusel Topping:
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, and butter. Using a fork, stir until fully combined with clumps ranging in size from crumbs to 1 inch.
For the Babka:
- Pour warm milk into a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast and pinch of sugar over milk; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, and egg yolks. Add egg mixture to yeast mixture, and whisk to combine.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flour and salt. Add egg mixture, and beat on low speed until almost all the flour is incorporated, about 30 seconds. Change to the dough hook. Add 2 sticks butter, and beat until flour mixture and butter are completely incorporated, and a smooth, soft dough that's slightly sticky when squeezed is formed, about 10 minutes.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead a few turns until smooth. Butter a large bowl. Place dough in bowl, and turn to coat. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Place chocolate, remaining cup sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl, and stir to combine. Using two knives or a pastry cutter, cut in remaining 1 1/2 sticks butter until well combined; set filling aside.
- Generously butter three 9-by-5-by-2 3/4-inch loaf pans; line them with parchment paper. Beat remaining egg with 1 tablespoon cream; set egg wash aside. Punch back the dough, and transfer to a clean surface. Let rest 5 minutes. Cut into 3 equal pieces. Keep 2 pieces covered with plastic wrap while working with the remaining piece. On a generously floured surface, roll dough out into a 16-inch square; it should be 1/8 inch thick.
- Brush edges with reserved egg wash. Crumble 1/3 of the reserved chocolate filling evenly over dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Refresh egg wash if needed. Roll dough up tightly like a jelly roll. Pinch ends together to seal. Twist 5 or 6 turns. Brush top of roll with egg wash. Carefully crumble 2 tablespoons filling over the left half of the roll, being careful not to let mixture slide off. Fold right half of the roll over onto the coated left half. Fold ends under, and pinch to seal. Twist roll 2 turns, and fit into prepared pan. Repeat with the remaining 2 pieces of dough and remaining filling.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush the top of each loaf with egg wash. Crumble 1/3 of streusel topping over each loaf. Loosely cover each pan with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place 20 to 30 minutes.
- Bake loaves, rotating halfway through, until golden, about 55 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake until babkas are deep golden, 15 to 20 minutes more. Remove from oven, and transfer to wire wracks until cool. Remove from pans and serve.
I just looked at the amount of butter in this. I shouldn’t have. But oh MY god does it look amazing. Just the word “babka” is amazing actually. I mean how fun is it to just say that out loud? I kind of want to spend a whole Sunday making this. Babka, babka, babaka…
that extra “a” is just for fun 😉
fun just like you, girl!
Just pretend you didn’t see the butter amount! And in it’s defense: it’s divided between three loaves.
And Babka is one of the funnest words ever! My friend said babka about 130 times the first time I made this!
It is a Ukrainian word meaning “grandmother”.
DR
Lots of butter and chocolate, no wonder it was so delicious. It make increase the motivation to go for an intense calorie burning exercise:)
I always use dessert as work out inspiration 🙂 No better way to get my booty to the gym like eating a half pound of butter and chocolate…
Absolutely yummy babka! I am mesmerised by the technique involved and you did it so well!
Thank you! It was easier than it looks, and I knew once I was eating that first slice it would all be worth it 🙂
Wow. This looks extremely fun to make (and eat, I bet!)
Both were totally fun to do… and totally tasty!
Well, you know I’m the weirdo that doesn’t like chocolate, but this is beautiful! (And impressive!)
I’ve got some “non-chocolate” desserts coming up soon, with you and little miss caroline in mind 🙂
xx
You’re the best. 🙂
Aw Caroline! No… you are 🙂
How middle school was that?!
I just picked one up at Publix and it have cinnamon in it instead of chocolate it was to die for
I bought hazelnut and its delicious Today I bake my own… and this recipe… I am so curious how will be
Yum, that looks delicious. I love chocolate.
Me too! Total chocoholic here.
Oh MY… your babka looks extraordinarily good and, I do indeed, love dark chocolate so you know a post like this gets me *rather* excited. I might try making this using slightly less sugar – as I am want to do – but it may take some experimenting to get anywhere close to your gorgeous and no doubt delectable version. Your pictures….stunners!
Thank you, Kelly! I think you could probably cut down the sugar and chocolate to be honest. I just like to be a little “over indulgent” at times. Let me know if you try it cutting back on the sweet stuff 🙂
xx
I saw chocolate and I came running over here to this amazing post. This Chocolate Babka looks amazing.. and I love how you rolled it. I don’t think I can do that but i will definitely try
You totally can, doll! I promise, it sounds far more complicated than it is.
It is really worth your effort! Gorgeous and so rich, I want to grab those slices right away…
Totally worth the efforts! Each slice is like a little taste of heaven.
Wow, this looks amazing. Chocolate, bread and streusel topping, sounds like my idea of heaven. I’ve never heard of Chocolate Babka, but after reading your post, I know I have to make one!
Make one!!! Or three…
Your kitchen will smell amazing, and your taste buds will be partying within seconds of that first biite!
That looks crazy good and I’ll admit it my first thought was the Seinfeld episode. Most of my other thoughts went like mmm, oh, um.
I’m a total Seinfeld dweeb…
I drooled over Deb’s recipe and pictures when I initially saw them. Wow. What a recipe. Yours looks gorgeous too! And you have tempted me to make this all over again!! I am most definitely going to do this, but it won’t be anytime soon. Almost a pound and a half of butter and over two pounds of chocolate will have to wait until I have a LOT of people nearby to take this off my hands. I’d like to though, oh man, I would so love to make this today. It sounds heavenly!
It’s great to make around the holidays, as you can share at meals, or gift them off 🙂
*** I’m a girl in love. In love with chocolate. In love with butter***
Love that! Me, too.
This definitely looks like something God would serve. Oh, Myyy. Xx
I hope God here’s our request for this 🙂
xx
Sold! Holy freakin’ crap, I’m in love from afar. This is going on the to-make-immediately list!
Yay! I hope you do make it!!!
Wow! What a delicious recipe. Thanks for sharing. This looks great.
Thank you, Patricia! It was a splendid treat to have around, and went great with coffee in the mornings.
I’m a weirdo, just like Kristy, and don’t like chocolate, but this is a fabulous recipe. I’d never heard of babka before. You’re right…there’s no way this was going to be a failure if Marth and Deb approved! xx
Martha and Deb are always steering us right! And I know you gals and your “chocolate issues” 🙂
I hope you’re doing well, Caroline.
xx
wow this looks absolutely delicious! i wish i could make something like this
You totally can!!!
oh…my! A little speechless. Wow, 6 hours? It may have been a labor of love with a hefty price tag but so so worth it. Great pics too!
I like my weekend mornings spent in the kitchen, so it didn’t bother me much. And, once I ate the first slice all the work was washed away with it’s deliciousness 🙂
Oh my goodness, that looks amazing!
oh man… it was! thanks, rach!
“Simple, but complex.” That’s like my life motto.
That fourth to last photo reminds me of some sort of delicious giant shrimp fetus. And it makes me hungry. 😀
Looking back at it now, it kind of does look like a giant shrimp!
seriously, WOW. this looks sooo good. i love baked bread. love the swirls and the crumble topping here. great step by step picture! 🙂
Thank you! I felt the step by step might help a little more for people baking this for the first time.
xx
I can sum this in one word, YUM!!!!
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I love your blog, it really is amazing.
Thank you, dear!! And yes – yum totally sums that babka up 🙂
Wow, your Babka looks amazing! I love the step by step pictures. And that last one…I want to bite into my laptop screen!
Haha! Just bake one up… it will taste better than the screen – promise 🙂
xx
I remember the Seinfeld episode with the babka! 🙂 I had no idea there was such a thing as chocolate babka, though — in fact, I’ve never had any kind of babka. I LOVE chocolate, though, so am sure I would fall in love with this! 🙂
I think you would too… like head over heels in love!
Wow… You are so detail oriented… The cake looks delicious!
Thank you, dear! It was divine 🙂
I am in love! Chocolate, butter, yummy looking babka 🙂
Chocolate and butter are the most amazing combo! And baked into bread… forget about it!!!!!!
I followed your link here from the comment you left on my blog. I love your photos and ambiance of your blog. 🙂
Thank you SO much, Kate! I’m happy you’re here!
Good recipes are always worth the wait 🙂
I made a peach pie from scratch a few months ago that took me hours and hours, but it was one of the most delicious desserts I’ve ever had. I’m sure if I made this it would join the peach pie on that list of time consuming, but worth it!
Totally agree! In life, the things that take some effort are usually worth the reward. Mmmm… peach pie sounds amazing right now 🙂
Oh sweet jesus – what more can be said but “wow”? One of the pictures reminds me of something they sell in France called a “torsade au chocolat” – it’s a bit like like a small chocolate twist made with croissant pastry and vanilla cream too I think. This looks incredibly good. Screw sharing it with anyone – if I make this I’m saving this baby all for myself 😀
Love it, Charles! They freeze great, so screw sharing indeed 🙂
PS – I just booked my flight to Paris is April (squeals of joy and excitement!!!) I think I will gain 20 pounds while i’m there. whatevs.
You did a great job of selling me on that bread! Seriously, if smitten kitchen loves a recipe, it has to be good. I’ve used so many of her recipes and they’re all terrific.
Agreed: Deb is a recipe rockstar!
Anything with such amounts for chocolate and butter in it must be delicious 🙂 I love the Callebaut chocolate pic – I want to eat that chocolate by itself! Your have such gorgeous step-by-step pictures here, and the babka looks mouthwatering!
It took great amounts of self control to stop myself from eating that 2 and 1/2 pound block of chocolate straight up… But this babka was worth the will power!
This looks amazing. Maybe breakfast worthy for my birthday next week 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my blog…looking forward to exploring yours, it’s beautiful!
Thank you, Anna! And Happy Birthday in advance; I think a breakfast babka is definitely in line 🙂
xx
Mercy. Forget the chicken noodle soup (thanks so much for your sweet offer), THIS is what will make me whole! Think about this: I come over and we bake together. Brilliant, yes?? We can wait until I’m finished with the whole cough-up-a-lung business, but not a second longer. I’m certain the WH can hold down the fort while I’m gone. I’ll leave him a chicken. 🙂
Brilliant! Love this idea 🙂
Hope you’re all better now?!
oh dear.
I’m ruined.
This has to be done. Sigh.
Yippee 🙂 You’ll love love love it!! xx
Oh, I so wish you had lied and said it was super easy to whip up – and only took an hour… because then I would be making it RIGHT NOW. But alas, that is not to be… not yet anyways. I seriously wish you could mail me some.
If I had any left I would!! xx
Your babka looks absolutely fantastic, better than the ones I get from the bakery! I wish had a big slice to pull apart and devour!
I think the freshness of having it baked right in your kitchen is what really sets it apart from bakery babkas. And it fills your house with the most amazing smell for days!
OMG good!! wow, this is something I must bake! My coworkers will go crazy over this!!
Yay, Linda! I hope you do make it; your co-workers will be singing your praises 🙂
I’ve never had Babka before but now I’m very alert on this special sweets. This looks good, I blame myself I’m not a baker who just starts whipping this up as soon as seeing this post. I really wish. I am really intimidated unless I make it with someone else. I just want one small slice of this…or else I know I’ll be finishing everything with no doubt. 1 week of boot camp won’t be enough… Beautiful post and Babka…I’m trying to find it somewhere…
Thanks, Nami! I wish I could make it with you… I would totally take the other loaves off your hands 🙂
I have never eaten a Babka before. With the amount of butter it must have such a great taste. I’m a chocolate lover, I think I would not stop eating this.
It’s pretty hard to just have one slice 🙂 And yes, the butter definitely adds to the amazing taste.
I have been wondering.. where was THAT post that made me obsessed about chocolate swirl type of bread… it was you!
Guilty 🙂
Wow…very clearly a labor of love! But I am a firm believer in that anything worth doing is worth doing well. This bread is a beauty! Your pictures are outstanding! And now…I feel like I can’t stop thinking about it either! : )
Anne, you’re too sweet 🙂 Thank you – it was as delicious as it looks.
I love chocolate babka! The streusel topping looks sensational.
Oh Angie, it was divine! Big rich crumbles of streusel topping can be pretty addicting…
i’ve heard of babka but never had a chance to eat them..i guess the only way would have to do it myself. You sounded them really good, i just got to make these someday. Happy Halloween!!
Happy Halloween, dear!
Do it 🙂
Me too 🙂
Cash.It.In.Girl!!!
Hey Movita! Did you end up doing it today?!? I hope so!
xx
Goodness me! I’m craving chocolate so badly after looking at this beautiful masterpiece.
It’s the perfect cure to a chocolate craving 🙂
For my first time visiting your culinary place…wow, you’ve got me hooked into this labour of love which quite honestly never crossed my interests bar.
I’m usually not enthusiastic about rolling out any dough, even when chocolate is the star of the show. However, the more I read your post and the rest of the ingredients…well, let’s just say, I got the strong feeling that I’ll be caving on this one. I bookmarked your post and will certainly have to get a friend to join me in this future adventure ;o)
Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Hi Claudia! Rolling out the dough really isn’t as bad as it seems, and I think grabbing a friend or two to join you in the baking fun is brilliant! 🙂 Hope you make it soon!
I come from an all Ukrainian and Polish family. This is a must-have! 😀
Perfect-o to whip up for the holidays 🙂
Oh my goodness. Oh my GOODNESS. These pictures have literally just made my mouth water. How have I lived for twenty eight long years and not known that this exists?!
I was asking myself the same question when I finally discovered this! It’s amazing!!
Although I never had babka…the way you presented cannot be ignored…looks awesome!
Beautifully done Ashley 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
Thank you, Juliana! I know, babka’s a pretty unknown gem in the dessert world, but anyone I know that’s tried it has fallen in love – dangerous stuff 🙂
I remember that Seinfeld episode and cracked up. Thanks for that. Now, for this gorgeous, Bon Appetit cover worthy dessert…oh heavens. I. Must. Have IT. I have perused the blogosphere alot today and honestly there is nothing more worthy of a calorie load than this beautiful delicious looking bread right here. Amazing.
Isn’t that episode hilarious?! I seriously spend way too many hours side split laughing to that show…
And THANK YOU for your sweet compliments – you rock 🙂
In love with chocolate and butter? A girl after my own heart.
Except this recipe looks too complicated for me, eek! Bread like recipes always scare me a little. And the phrase “dough hook” makes me run. 🙁
Ingrid – I should have mentioned this: I made this ALL by hand. No mixer at all!! You can do it!
xx
Wow, I’ve never heard of this but it looks so good!
It’s pretty ridiculous how delicious it really is. I have so many family members requesting these for christmas gifts! Score.
Gimmie!!!!
Haha!! I think I may need to do a Babka giveaway 🙂
OMG!!! That looks ridiculously yummy! Ditto about chocolate, butter and everything in between 🙂
This bread is chocolate and butter baked into bliss. Like whoa!
This looks extremely delicious! Chocolate, butter – what’s not to like?
Maybe the calories… but who worries about those?!
Mer-cy, this is one powerful post! You’ve inspired us all. Babka rules!
You rule!
H.o.l.y. C.o.w. That is unbelievably amazing! I can see how you’d need a work out after that, but it’d be SOoooo worth it!
Sooooo worth it is right! And to be honest, an indulgence like this always keeps me on track with my treadmill sessions – it’s all about balance 🙂
Mmmm, look at all of that butter and chocolate rolled together! This bread looks amazing, though I admit I am daunted by the prep time. Looks like it’s worth the effort!
P.s. love your blog’s header!
Thanks, Kate! Yeah… 6 hours can be an alarming amount of hours to see included in a recipe. But if you have a morning free, and pop on some good tunes, baking this up is actually a pretty fun project with a totally delicious ending 🙂
I’ve never had a chocolate babka, or any babka for that matter, but seeing it here, in all it’s buttery, chocolatey glory, it looks like something I have to try.
Btw, I love that Seinfeld episode!
Magda
It’s one of my favorite episodes! It’s not only hilarious, but also opened my eyes to the glory of chocolate babka 🙂
Three letters…O..M..G. How did I not know what a babka was? I am definitely trying this out – but first I got to schedule in some gym time. Will need it after this :P.
My gym and I have been getting to know each other quite well this week 🙂 But hey – babka is worth the pain of a little more “intense” sweat session.
What a sinful brioche! That is the kind of treat I love to bake and enjoy with a cuppa.
Cheers,
Rosa
Mmmmm… a cuppa sounds perfect right now 🙂
I have always wanted to try making babka myself and now that I see this one it makes me want to try it even more! Gorgeous.
You totally should, Sylvie! It was really fun to make, and heavenly to eat.
This… Is… Omigosh… I’m almost speechless…!
Yeasted dough + chocolate filling + streusel topping + a step by step = I think I love you. No, really – I think… Yeah, I think I love you…
I love being loved 🙂 !!! And I love you too… now bake this and ship me over a loaf?! I’m going through withdraw!
Thanks for the recipe!! It’s great! and they ARE DELICIOUS! can’t stop eating them!
I just don’t know why mines sink in the inside, only the top did rise… any idea of why did it happen?
Hope you can help me 🙂
Greeting from Mexico
That is very strange…
Did you follow the directions step-by-step?
lovely!!!
This looks Delicious!! I’ve had it once at Dean & deluca and it was amazing but cost $15 for a loaf so thanks for the recipe. BTW “Babka” means grandma in Russian.
Hi Helena. Haha, yes babka prices can be outrageous! But in my opinion, it’s worth every dollar 😉 I hope you try making a homemade version soon!
Looks amazing! If you freeze the other two loaves, do you bring them to room temp before baking?
Hi Helena.
Could u plze give us ingredients and recipe for just one loaf cuz it’s a big amount. I think U can do it because ur babka is the best ever.
Best Regards
Hi Lana. I’m sorry but I don’t have a recipe for a single serving chocolate babka at this point. If I develop this recipe to make just one loaf in the future I’ll be sure to let you know 🙂
I made this babka and….it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to be making this every year for Easter as a tradition (and maybe a few more times in between hehehe).
Thank you for this delicious recipe!
This sounds amazing! Mine are baking in the oven as we speak! I’m a little concerned though, is the dough supposed to be very soft and fragile? Because hat is the way mine came out, I hope I didn’t make a mistake!
This may seem like a silly question but I thought I would ask. If I try to use a bread machine to just make the dough do you think it would work? I was thinking if I put all the wet ingredients in the bottom of the machine as usual and then added the dry ingredients and the yeast last – do you think it would work? I have made this recipe by hand dozens of times and love it – I have also substituted cinnamon for the chocolate and it was awesome? I just thought I may be able to try it in the bread machine – at least the first part – what do you think?
Hi Karin. I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe! I have zero experience with bread machines, so I honestly can’t say. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful – but if you try, I’d love to hear how it turns out 🙂 Happy baking!
Can you please convert the ingredients’ measurements into gms or oz??
My nephew asked me to bring Babka for Easter and I had no idea what it was. I decided I better try making it before Easter, so a couple weeks ago I made it and I brought into school for my students to eat. Of course they loved it and one of my girls said, “ I just pray that before I die I get to eat Babka again!” Lol Great recipe and well worth the time and effort.
Excellent! Simple to make out of the world in taste…