Recipe for: Homemade Chocolate Babka – Step-by-Step Recipe for Braided Bread
Ingredients:
For the dough:
- 800 g (28 oz) all-purpose flour (sifted 3 times)
- 150 ml (5 fl oz) warm whole milk
- 3 eggs + 1 egg white (room temperature)
- 200 g (7 oz) sugar
- Juice from 1 orange (room temperature)
- 40 ml (1.4 fl oz) vegetable oil
- 14 g (0.5 oz) active dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- Zest of 1 orange (orange part only)
- 1 ampule rum essence
- 1 ampule vanilla essence
- 100 g (3.5 oz) butter (room temperature)
For the filling:
- 200 g (7 oz) dark chocolate, melted
For brushing:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp whole milk
For sprinkling:
- Sugar
- 50 g (1.8 oz) walnuts, chopped
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Instructions:
Activating the yeast:
- In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and the active dry yeast. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes until the yeast is activated.
Mixing the dough:
- Add the sugar, eggs, orange juice, vegetable oil, orange zest, vanilla essence, and rum essence to the activated yeast mixture. Stir well. Gradually add half of the flour, mixing constantly with a whisk until a smooth batter forms. Add the salt and the remaining flour. Knead until you have a smooth, soft, and slightly sticky dough.
Adding the butter:
- Gradually add the butter to the dough, kneading constantly until all the butter is incorporated. The dough should become soft, sticky, and elastic.
Rising the dough:
- Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, coat it with oil, and cover it with a lid. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
Shaping the babkas:
- Divide the risen dough into 4 equal parts and shape them into 4 balls. Take one ball, roll it out into a rectangle about 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) in size. Spread the melted chocolate on one end of the dough and seal it tightly. Roll up into a log, press the ends together, and twist gently. Repeat the process with the remaining three balls.
Braiding the babkas:
- Take two of the finished logs and pinch them together at one end. Wrap them around each other to form a babka. Place it in a loaf pan measuring 32/13/7 cm (12.6/5.1/2.8 inches). Repeat the process with the remaining two logs.
Second rise:
- Cover the babkas with a towel and let them rise for another hour.
Brushing and baking:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of whole milk. Brush the babkas with the egg mixture and sprinkle with sugar and chopped walnuts. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit), without a fan, in the lower part of the oven, for about 40-50 minutes.
Cooling:
- Turn off the oven, open the door slightly, and let the babkas cool inside for 20 minutes. Then remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
Enjoy!
Here are some additional tips:
- For a richer flavor, you can use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.
- You can also add other ingredients to the filling, such as chopped nuts, dried fruit, or spices.
- If you don’t have active dry yeast, you can use instant yeast. Just follow the instructions on the yeast package.
- To make the babkas even more flavorful, you can brush them with melted butter after they are baked.
- Serve the babkas with a side of coffee or tea.
I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Recipe for: Homemade Chocolate Babka – Step-by-Step Recipe for Braided Bread
