Go Back
+ servings
Homemade chocolate babka on a wooden board with a French press coffee pot.
Print Recipe
4.75 stars (4 ratings)

Chocolate Babka

Easy chocolate babka recipe! Moist & pillowy bread swirled with rich dark chocolate in every bite. Follow this simple step-by-step tutorial!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Resting Time:2 hours 5 minutes
Total Time3 hours 35 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Eastern European
Keyword: babka chocolate, Chocolate Babka, chocolate babka recipe
Servings: 1 loaf
Calories: 3625kcal

Ingredients

For the Bread

  • 3 1/3 cups bread flour divided (you may need slightly more or less)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2/3 cup milk warm, not hot (aim for 105 degrees F)
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream warm, not hot (aim for 105 degrees F)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast (1 packet or 1/4 ounce)
  • 2 eggs large

For the Filling

  • 6 ounces chocolate chopped
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

To Make the Bread

  • Stir about half the flour together with the salt in a large bowl.
  • Make a well in the center, and pour in the milk, cream, melted butter, and sugar.
  • Sprinkle the yeast on top of the liquids and allow it to dissolve (approx. 5 minutes).
  • Stir together until combined, then add the eggs.
  • Stir until fully incorporated, then add the remaining flour, a little at a time, until the dough is no longer sticky. (It should gather itself into a ball and pully cleanly away from the sides of the bowl. You may need slightly more or less flour.)
  • Cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume (approx. 1 hour).
  • Punch the dough down and roll it out to a thin, wide rectangle.
  • Spread the filling on top, leaving a bare margin around the edges for sealing.
  • Starting at one of the short sides of the rectangle, roll into a short, tight log.
  • Starting near the top of the log, slice the log in half lengthwise.
  • Twist the two long halves around one another and place in a loaf pan.
  • Cover lightly and set in a warm place to rise a second time until doubled (approx. 1 hour).
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake the bread until it registers an internal temperature of around 195 degrees F (approx. 1 hour).*

To Make the Filling

  • Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-safe bowl.
  • Heat the cream (either in the microwave or in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat) until steamy.
  • Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and allow it to stand for 5 minutes.
  • Stir the cream and chocolate together until smooth and combined.

Notes

*Tent with foil if the babka is getting too brown on top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1loaf | Calories: 3625kcal | Carbohydrates: 456g | Protein: 80g | Fat: 175g | Saturated Fat: 102g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 49g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 624mg | Sodium: 2014mg | Potassium: 1489mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 137g | Vitamin A: 4187IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 461mg | Iron: 10mg