• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
Γ—

Home Β» Recipes Β» Yeast Bread Recipes

Chocolate Babka

Published: Apr 2, 2014 Last Updated: Dec 11, 2020 by Marye 730 words. | About 4 minutes to read this article.

A buttery, rich sweet yeast bread with a generous swirl of chocolate ganache running through it.
Total time 13 hours 30 minutes
Jump to Recipe

B is for Babka - this chocolate babka is filled with chocolate, chipotle, and roasted cinnamon then a thick layer of streusel is added on the top. Better get a drip cup , though. You will be salivating by the time you've finished reading this. I love this for Easter brunch - right along with the Italian Easter bread!

babka - chocolate and chipotle

Babka is an Eastern European sweet bread made with a rich, yeast leavened dough that is similar to brioche. It is often served for Easter and, I have to say, this would be an awesome addition to your Easter table! It is not quite a dessert but not really a bread either. 

The bread is buttery and tender with a chipotle, roasted cinnamon ganache swirled through it. It's topped with a not too sweet streusel and it really is a treat for brunch or as an afternoon treat with a cup of Earl Grey. Although it takes quite a lot of time to make very little of it is hands on. You make the dough and then let it rise overnight in the refrigerator. Hands on time is maybe 30 minutes, if that.

Steps to Shaping Chocolate Babka

When you shape the dough you twist it. It is a little complicated to explain but you can see how it's done in the images below.

steps for shaping chocolate babka
  1. Roll it into a rectangle.
  2. Spread with the filling.
  3. Roll up from the long side.
  4. Fold in half.
  5. Twist a couple of times.
  6. Brush with butter.
  7. Put in loaf pans.
  8. Sprinkle with streusel.
babka slices

This should freeze just fine for up to three months as long as you keep it tightly wrapped.

I've seen all kinds of recipes for babka with all kinds of ingredients but I like this one best. It is simple, it is do-able, and it's delicious. You may want to try all kinds of fillings once you make one. I've seen cream cheese and strawberry babkas, nut babkas, and almost everything else that you can imagine.

babka close up

You can't begin to imagine how the house smells when this chocolate babka is baking in the oven! 

babka
5 from 1 vote

Chocolate Babka

Print Save Go to Collections
Prevent your screen from going dark
A buttery, rich sweet yeast bread with a generous swirl of chocolate ganache running through it.
Prep Time: 12 hours
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 13 hours 30 minutes
Servings:20 servings
Calories:461
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 packet yeast
  • 4 ΒΎ cups all-purpose flour
  • 9 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Chocolate Filling

  • ΒΌ cup dark cocoa powder
  • 1 cup sugar
  • pinch kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • Β½ teaspoon chipotle powder, optional
  • 11/2 tablespoons cream
  • ΒΎ cup butter
  • 1 pound bittersweet chocolate, , chopped

Streusel

  • ΒΎ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 -Β½ tablespoons white sugar
  • 2-Β½ tablespoons brown sugar
  • Β½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Β½ teaspoon chipotle powder, optional
  • 4 tablespoons butter , cut into 1-inch cubes

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Warm the milk until it is 110F.
  • Put the milk into a large bowl and whisk in the yeast.
  • Whisk in 1 cup of the flour.
  • Set aside for 20 minutes. It will foam up.
  • Beat the butter and sugar in the mixer for 4 minutes on medium speed.
  • Add the eggs, yolk, and vanilla.
  • Continue to mix on medium speed - scrape down the sides often.
  • Add the remaining flour.
  • Now, add the milk mixture.
  • Mix on low speed with the dough hook until the dough pulls away from the bowl.
  • Oil the top with a light vegetable oil or butter.
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • The next day let the dough come to room temperature.
  • Separate it into two equal balls.
  • On a floured surface roll each ball of dough into a 12"x 20" rectangle.
  • Spread with the chocolate.
  • Cover with chopped chocolate.
  • Start rolling up from the long side, keeping it tight as you go.
  • Once it is rolled up fold it over so that it creates a "U".
  • Twist it a few times and put it in a well greased bread pan.
  • Brush with butter and sprinkle with streusel.
  • Let rise until the loaves are about 1 inch over the top of the pans.
  • Bake at 325F for 1 Β½ hours.
  • Cool completely.
  • Slice in thick slices.

Chocolate Filling

  • Whisk dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
  • Combine cream and butter in a heavy pan and bring to a simmer.
  • Pour the cream mixture over he dry ingredients.
  • Mix well.
  • Add half the chopped chocolate to the mixture and stir until thick.
  • Set the rest of the chocolate aside.
  • As the mixture cools it will be like ganache.

Streusel

  • Chill the butter thoroghly and cut in one inch squares.
  • Combine all dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
  • Add the butter with your hands or a pastry cutter until it is the size of small peas/
  • Chill until ready to use.

Notes

This bread can be tightly wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 461kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 210mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 575IU | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 3mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.
    chocolate chipotle babka for brunch

    More Yeast Bread Recipes

    • Italian Easter Bread From Scratch: A Deliciously Easy Recipe
    • Best Soup Bread Bowls
    • Farmhouse Bread Recipe
    • No Fail Amish White Bread
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. RenΓ©e J. (RJ Flamingo)

      September 10, 2014 at 6:14 am

      My family is of Eastern European extraction and we grew up with babkas being made and served for holidays and whenever my parents had guests. This one really speaks to me - chocolate and chipotle? I'll be expecting a package from you, any day now. πŸ˜‰

      Reply
    2. Betsy @ Desserts Required

      April 03, 2014 at 9:37 pm

      Babka is one of my favorite sweet breads and I LOVE that you added chipotle to the party! WOOHOO!!!

      Reply
    3. Vicki

      April 03, 2014 at 2:22 pm

      Oh my! Now this I might try to make myself!

      Reply
    4. Corinne

      April 03, 2014 at 12:25 pm

      I am so making this next weekend to have with my coffee while I will be editing my vacation photos....I. Can't. Wait.

      Reply
    5. Maria

      April 03, 2014 at 10:17 am

      Stopping by via the CCN! Love this babka tutorial! I've always wondered how to make it! Looks lush!

      Reply
    6. Lauren Randalls

      April 02, 2014 at 8:41 pm

      I love cinnamon! This sounds amazing!

      Reply
    7. Kathleen Marshall

      April 02, 2014 at 2:51 pm

      OMG that looks amazing. You know, you're making it really hard for me to stick to this low-carb thing. πŸ˜‰

      Reply
    8. Claire @ Lemon Jelly Cake

      April 02, 2014 at 12:48 pm

      I keep seeing babka! I really must try making it one of these days. πŸ™‚ I love your step by step photos . . . such a great help with a more complex recipe like this!

      Reply
    9. Christine

      April 02, 2014 at 10:36 am

      This has always been on my list of desserts to try. Yours came out beautifully!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies.

    More about me β†’

    🐰 Easter

    • Easy Easter Rolls
    • Nutter Butter Easter Chicks
    • Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe
    • Banana Pudding Recipe from Scratch

    πŸ‘‘ Reader Favorites

    • Strawberry Pound Cake Recipe
    • Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • English Muffin Bread Recipe
    • No Fail Amish White Bread

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured in:

    Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

    Contact Marye

    • Contact

    My new blog for bread bakers:

    Love baking bread? Click here to check out my new blog!

    Logo for breadcrumbs in the butter blog.
    Check out my new blog!

    Copyright Β©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC