Chocolate Babka

Christmas was 2 days ago and I feel like I've got a holiday hangover.  (The exhaustion is real.)  We had such a great time celebrating with our family and I'm so thankful that we had the opportunity to spend time with the people that we love.  It's always hard to say goodbye and to go our separate ways but there's something about the emotions of Christmas that makes it even harder to leave the ones we love.  

Last week we met my parents and my brother in New York City for some long overdue family time.  It was the first time that my kids had been to NYC so we took in as many of the sites as we possibly could in the 3 days that we were there.  Musicals, broadway shows, empire state building, statue of liberty, ellis island, Rockefeller center, concert at Lincoln center, central park, museums, Brooklyn bridge, 911 memorial, Chelsea pier, Chinatown, Little Italy and Times Square.  Needless to say, it was amazing - and exhausting.  

You can check out the highlights of our trip on the slideshow below if you're interested. 

New York City in December is amazing but family time in December is even better.  It was so great to get away and spend some time with my family and it was a very unusual December for me.  While most people are busy shopping and wrapping, most of MY December days are spent baking, icing, sprinkling and decorating.   Leaving for a vacation in the middle of this busy catering season just felt weird but I've got to say - I never appreciated a break more.  

Starting our Christmas vacation early meant that I had to start my holiday baking early as well.  I feel like I started making cookies, cakes and holiday breads as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey cooled.   I didn't have time to make ALL of my usual Christmas treats this year but I definitely made time to bake a couple of Chocolate Babka loaves.  This bread is soooo good and 1 recipe makes 2 loaves - One for us and one to give away.   

Chocolate Babka

• FOR THE DOUGH:
• 4 cups Unbleached All-purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2-1/2 teaspoons Instant Yeast
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 3 Eggs At Room Temperature
• 1 Egg Yolk, At Room Temperature
• 1/2 cup Whole Milk At Room Temperature
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 10 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, At Room Temperature
• FOR THE FILLING:
• 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, At Room Temperature
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/3 cup Dutch-process Cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 6 ounces, weight Bittersweet Chocolate, Chopped Medium-fine
• FOR THE SYRUP:
• 2/3 cups Sugar
• 2/3 cups Water

Place flour, sugar, yeast and salt in bowl of standing mixer.  

Add eggs, yolk, milk and vanilla and knead with dough hook. 

Add butter, 1 Tablespoon at a time.  Knead 10 minutes. 

Place dough in greased bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. 

Combine butter, sugar, cinnamon and cocoa in bowl. 

Divide dough in half. 

Roll each half into a 10x14" rectangle.  

Spread filling over dough. 

Sprinkle with chopped chocolate. 

Roll up starting with a long side and place on a silpat lined baking sheet.  Freeze for 15 minutes. 

Use scissors to cut each roll, lengthwise down the center. Twist each roll then braid together.  Pinch ends together. ​

Place in a greased, parchment lined loaf pan.  

Cover and let rise 1 1/2 hours. 

Bring sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan.  Let boil 2 minutes. 

Bake bread 40-50 minutes at 350.  Internal temperature should reach 190. 

Poke warm bread with a skewer and pour syrup over loaves.  

Let cool 40 minutes in pan before removing. ​

Obviously, I missed my window of opportunity to get this amazing Chocolate Babka recipe posted before Christmas but it really is a great bread to enjoy anytime.  If you're a fan of chocolate and homemade bread - you've GOT to try this.  Just remember to start the dough the day before you want to make it.  

If you only had time to bake one holiday treat this year, what would it be?  Send me a comment and let me know.  I want to know if you've got a favorite cookie or cake or savory treat that you just can't live without during this Christmas season.   

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe