Chocolate Babka Bread

This is the process of making Babka!! It’s actually super easy and so yummy 😋. I need to make more because I can’t get enough!

How do you think it came out? Have you ever made Babka at home?! 🍫🍞

#chocolatebabka #babkabraids #bakersoflemon8 #bakewithkaylee #homemadebread

Ingredients:

Dough

* 3 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour

* 2 teaspoons Instant Active Yeast

* 2 teaspoons Salt

* 1 tablespoon Sugar

* 2 tablespoon Unsalted Butter, Cold

* 2 Eggs

* 1 1/2 cups milk; Lukewarm

Filling

* 1/2 cup Brown Sugar

* 1 cup Unsalted Butter

* 1 tablespoon Cocoa Powder

* 1 chopped chocolate bar

Syrup

* 1/4 cup Water

* 1/4 cup Sugar

Instructions:

* Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar and cold butter in the bowl of a Stand Mixer / food processor/ Dough maker.

* Pulse till the butter disintegrates and mixes with the flour.(but you should see the specks)

* Now on low speed, using the dough hook, Add the eggs one by one.

* Trickle in the ¾ cup of milk . The dough should start to come together now. Process for 1 minute. If it seems to dry add 1 tablespoon of milk in increments till you get a soft dough.

* Take the dough out.

Proofing the Bread

* Use a large greased bowl for this step. It should be big enough to fit a triple amount of the dough.

* The quick way is to keep the kneaded bread in a bowl, covered with wet kitchen towel for 2-4 hours.

* The easier way is to keep the dough in a covered bowl(use cling film) in the fridge for 8-10 hours.

* If in the fridge,Take the dough out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.

* Knead the dough for 2 minutes to make it pliable.Divide it into two halves.

* Make a Ball of the one halve and roll it into a rectangle.About ¼ inch thick.

* Spread the butter in the rectangle by leaving 1 inch space.Sprinkle the chopped Chocolate.Roll it from the longer side to make a long log.

* Cut the log along it's length and then braid it. Take one over the other alternatively.

* Tuck the ends under. Lift this into a prepared loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Cover again with cling film or damp kitchen towel.

* Let it rise for another 30 min-1 hour.

* Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius or 356 F.

* Bake the babka in the oven for about 35-40 minutes.

* Bread is done if the skewer inserted comes in clean.Also when you knock on the back of the bread and it feels hollow.

2025/3/11 Edited to

... Read moreSo you've just pulled your beautiful chocolate babka out of the oven, admiring its golden-brown crust and glossy finish – congratulations! Now comes the moment everyone waits for: slicing into it to reveal those gorgeous braided chocolate swirls. I know the temptation to cut into it right away is strong, but trust me, a little patience goes a long way to ensure you get those perfect, clean slices. First things first, let your babka cool completely. I usually recommend at least an hour, or even two, on a wire rack. Cutting into a warm babka can make the dough gummy and the chocolate filling a bit messy, squishing those lovely layers you worked so hard to create. Once it's cooled, you're ready to make the cut. I find that a serrated bread knife works best for slicing babka. Start with a gentle sawing motion, rather than pressing down hard, to avoid tearing the delicate dough and smudging those beautiful chocolate layers. Aim for slices about 1 to 1.5 inches thick – perfect for a satisfying bite without being overwhelming. Seeing those intricate chocolate layers unfurl with each slice is truly the most rewarding part of baking babka. It’s a testament to the effort you put in, and it always gets everyone excited! Once sliced, chocolate babka is incredibly versatile. It’s fantastic on its own with a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast or a sweet afternoon treat. I've also served it lightly toasted with a dollop of whipped cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a more decadent dessert – it’s a total game-changer. The warmth brings out the rich chocolate flavor even more! If you have any leftover slices (which is rare in my house!), storing them properly will keep them fresh. I usually wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and keep them at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the wrapped slices for up to a month. Just pop them in the microwave or a toaster oven straight from the freezer for a few minutes, and they’ll taste wonderfully fresh, almost like they just came out of the oven. There’s nothing quite like having a stash of readily available chocolate babka slices for an instant pick-me-up! Enjoy your delicious creation!