Chocolate Swirl Babka Food

CHOCOLATE-SWIRL BABKA

Steps:

• Combine flour, yeast and 1/4 cup sugar in large bowl. Add cream cheese, butter, milk, whole egg and egg yolk; beat with mixer until mixture forms soft dough.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface; knead 5 min. or until smooth and elastic. Shape into ball. Place in bowl sprayed with cooking spray; turn. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in volume. Meanwhile, combine chopped chocolate, cinnamon and remaining sugar.
• Punch down dough; place on floured surface. Roll out to 16-inch square. Reserve 1/4 cup chocolate mixture; sprinkle dough with remaining chocolate mixture to within 1 inch of edges.
• Line 8x4-inch loaf pan with parchment; spray with cooking spray. Roll up dough into log; pinch ends together to seal. Hold both ends of log, then twist several times in opposite directions. Bring both short ends together to fold dough in half; pinch ends together to seal. Hold both ends to twist roll twice; place in prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place 30 min. to 1 hour or until nearly doubled in volume.
• Heat oven to 350ºF. Uncover dough. Bake 40 to 45 min. or until bread is golden brown, sprinkling with reserved chocolate mixture after 20 min. Cool bread in pan 10 min. Remove to wire rack; cool completely.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE BABKA

Steps:

• For the Mexican chocolate babka dough: In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast, salt and cinnamon. Add the milk and eggs and mix with the dough hook to combine. With the mixer running, add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time until it is incorporated into the dough. The butter should be soft and pliable but not melty. When all the butter is incorporated, knead/mix, stopping to scrape the hook, sides and bottom of the bowl every few minutes, until the dough is smooth and slightly sticky, another 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, flip over to coat and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest and rise until it's doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
• For the Mexican chocolate babka filling: In a medium bowl with a stiff rubber spatula, mix together the sugar, butter, cocoa powder, cinnamon, chili powder and salt until combined. Add the oil to smooth it out to a spreadable consistency. Taste and add more chili powder if you like more heat. Reserve at room temperature.
• Grease a pullman loaf pan or standard loaf pan with cooking spray and line with parchment so that it comes up 2 of the sides and overhangs by an inch. On a clean countertop, roll the dough out into a 10-by-22-inch rectangle. The dough should be slightly sticky, but if it's too sticky to work with, you can dust with a little flour. Spread a thin even layer of filling all over the dough, reserving about 2 tablespoons of it. Roll the dough the long way into a tight log and cut it in half so you have 2 shorter logs. Spread the top of one of the logs with the reserved filling and then twist the logs together. Transfer to the prepared loaf pan, cover with plastic, and let rise until puffy and risen by about half, another 30 to 40 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Gently brush the top of the babka with heavy cream. Bake until the top is deep golden brown, about 50 minutes.
• For the simple syrup: Meanwhile, combine the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan and warm until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• When the babka comes out of the oven, brush the simple syrup over the top. Cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a rack to continue cooling. Of course, you should try it while it's still warm!! To store, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and keep at room temperature. This is best within a day or two--after that, use it for French toast!

CHOCOLATE BRAIDED SWIRL BREAD (BABKA) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and warm milk and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• In large mixing bowl, add the egg, egg yolks, vanilla, sugar, and honey and whisk to combine.
• Add in the milk and yeast mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
• Gradually add in the flour and mix until fully incorporated.
• Gradually add in the butter and mix until fully incorporated.
• Cover with a towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Bring out the dough onto floured work surface and knead until smooth.
• Divide the dough into two equal parts and place in bowls and cover each with plastic wrap. Let the dough sit at room temperature for at least two hours, or when it has doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• For the chocolate sauce, combine bittersweet chocolate, butter, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, espresso powder, and turbinado sugar in a medium sized mixing bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes. Stir to combine and set aside.
• Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer to a floured work surface and roll both pieces of dough into a rectangle roughly 10x15-inches.
• Cover the dough with half of the chocolate sauce leaving an ½ inch - 1 inch of room on all sides.
• Gently roll the dough up and repeat with second piece of dough and remaining chocolate sauce.
• Using a bench scraper or a knife, carefully cut each log vertically in half making sure the seam is side down.
• Lay one piece of dough horizontally and lay another piece over it vertically so you have a rough 'plus sign'.
• Lay another piece horizontally over the vertical piece and above the other horizontal piece.
• Lay the final piece vertically on the right of the other vertical piece having it go over the top horizontal piece but weaving it under the lower horizontal piece.
• Starting with the bottom vertical piece on the right side, bring it to the left layering it over the other vertical lower piece.
• Follow this method around the dough clockwise.
• Once returned to the bottom lower vertical pieces. Take the original piece you crossed over (the lower left vertical piece) and cross that over to the right layering it over the last piece you used. Continue this counterclockwise until back at the bottom or you are unable to layer the dough anymore.
• Tuck in the excess pieces of dough under the bread.
• Transfer the bread into a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and brush with egg wash.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through.
• Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE BABKA

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the milk in a liquid measuring cup; add a pinch of sugar and set aside until bubbly, about 7 minutes. Combine the flour, the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, the eggs, yeast mixture, salt, vanilla, nutmeg and lemon zest in a large bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead until soft and smooth, about 5 minutes. Knead in the butter in three additions, dusting the dough with flour if it's too sticky. Transfer the dough to a large bowl; cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down the dough, re-cover with plastic wrap and let rise in the fridge overnight.
• Make the filling: Heat the sugar, heavy cream and salt in a saucepan until scalding. Pour over the bittersweet chocolate chips, butter and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk until smooth and shiny. Let cool to room temperature.
• Make the topping: Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a separate bowl; work in the butter with your fingers until the mixture is sandy and chunky. Stir in the mini chocolate chips; set the topping aside.
• Form the loaves: Cut the dough in half with a bench scraper or chef's knife. Using a rolling pin, roll each half into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Using an offset spatula, spread the filling on both dough rectangles, all the way to the edges. Starting from a long side, tightly roll each rectangle into a log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate 15 minutes. Unwrap the logs; cut each in half lengthwise with a bench scraper or chef's knife. Twist the halves together a few times, starting from the middle. Coat two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray and line with parchment, then spray the parchment. Place a dough twist snugly in each pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 1 1/2 hours.
• Finish and bake the babka: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush each loaf with butter and sprinkle with the topping. Bake until browned, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, make some simple syrup: Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan; simmer, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Let cool. Pull the loaves out of the oven and immediately poke a bunch of holes in each with a wooden skewer. Pour 1 1/4 cups simple syrup evenly over the loaves.
• Let sit 10 minutes, then remove the babka from the pans, remove the parchment and let cool completely on a rack.

BUTTERMILK CHOCOLATE SWIRL BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F; coat an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and flour lightly.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Whisk buttermilk, eggs, egg white, oil and extracts in medium bowl; stir into flour mixture just until blended.
• Melt chocolate in microwave on high about 1 minute, stirring every 15 seconds; stir in 1 1/3 cups batter.
• Working quickly (chocolate batter will become firm and hard to swirl if you let it stand too long), pour some of the white batter over bottom of pan, then dollop with chocolate batter.
• Fill pan by alternating dollops of white and chocolate batter.
• Pull knife through batter to swirl.
• Bake 1 hour or until pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan; put cake right side up on rack to cool.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON BABKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 and grease two loaf pans.
• To make chocolate filling:
• In the bowl of a food processor (I use a mini-prep for this), chop the broken up chocolate, cinnamon and sugar until the mixture looks coarse and sandy. If you do not have a food processor, simply chop the chocolate finely and mix with cinnamon and sugar.
• Cut in the butter or margarine with a fork.
• To make streusel:.
• In a medium bowl, combine the confectioner's sugar and flour, then cut in the butter or margarine until it resembles coarse crumbs.
• To assemble:.
• Roll out the dough as thinly as possible on a lightly floured surface to form a 15x4 inch rectangle (the thinner you roll out the dough, the greater the swirl effect inside).
• Sprinkle the dough evenly with the filling then roll up tightly lengthwise so that you are left with a long log. Seal the seam if you can.
• To create the swirl: fold the log in half (it should look like a squished letter 'U') and then twist the 'U' a few times so it looks like a twisted rope.
• Immediately place the shaped loaf into a greased loaf pan and set aside to rise for 30 min or so.
• Brush the loaves with the egg wash, then sprinkle heavily with the streusel topping.
• Place the loaves on a baking sheet (never bake without something underneath - as the cake rises, the streusel can tumble out of the pan onto the oven floor, creating a smoky mess) and bake for 30-40 min, depending on the size of your loaves. They should be a deep golden brown on top.

CHOCOLATE BABKA (JEWISH CHOCOLATE SWIRL BREAD)

Steps:

• Add yeast to lukewarm milk, stir, and let sit for a few minutes. Meanwhile, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon to a stand mixer. Make a well with your finger, add milk/yeast, vanilla extract, eggs, and egg yolk, briefly mixing the eggs.
• Turn on stand mixer with bread hook extension and slowly add room temp butter, piece-by-piece, until it has all become incorporated. Let the mixer knead for a few more minutes.
• On a floured surface, knead by hand a few times and fold into roughly a brick shape. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1-2 hours at room temp and then 1-2 hours in the fridge.
• When dough is almost finished rising, make the chocolate filling by melting the butter in a glass bowl set over a pot of water on simmer. Add chocolate, piece-by-piece, and stirring constantly, until melting. Stir in powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
• Divide dough into two pieces. On the same floured surface, roll out dough using a rolling pin into a thin rectangle. Scoop half of the chocolate filling onto this and gently spread it over the dough, leaving about a ½ inch on all sides.
• On the long-side, gently roll dough into a swirl. Place on a baking sheet in the freezer for 6-8minutes (you can make the other loaf meanwhile).
• Remove dough swirl from the freezer and cut it in half, longitudinally. With the cut ends facing up, braid the two half swirls together. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and coat with some oil. Place braid into this pan (if the braid is too long, just fold it inwards on both sides). Repeat for the other loaf.
• Let rest, covered with a dish towel, for 2-3 hours. After it has risen, preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30-35 minutes. Meanwhile, bring the water with sugar to a boil and then take off the heat. When the bread is ready, spoon over the simple syrup you made onto the top of the bread. Let rest on a cooling rack for a bit but feel free to slice and eat it while still warm.

CHOCOLATE BABKA RECIPE

Steps:

• Make the dough: in a large bowl or in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, place flour, sugar and instant yeast, stir. Add milk, eggs, salt and mix on low speed until combined.Add butter, one cube at the time, while mixing until incorporated. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let rise in the fridge, overnight.Make the filling: In a large heatproof bowl place chopped chocolate, butter, cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (double boiler), melt, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool slightly.Grease two 9x4 inch (23x10 cm) loaf pans with oil and line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper. Divide dough in half, while working with one portion, keep the second, covered in the fridge.Place the dough onto silicone mat or a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle about 15x10 inches (38x25 cm). Spread half of the chocolate mixture over the rectangle, leaving a ¾ inch (1/2 cm) border all around. Roll up tightly from one of the longer sides into a sausage shape. If at this point the dough is too soft, refrigerate for 20 minutes.Using a serrated knife, cut the dough in half lengthwise, so you have two long pieces with the inside exposed. Turn each piece so filling faces upwards. Starting from one end, lift one piece across the other, twisting together but keeping the filling exposed, to make one long twisted braid. Push ends of the twist together to make the length shorter, then squeeze the dough into the prepared loaf pan.Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a wet tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours, puffy. Repeat with the second part of dough.Preheat oven to 350F (175C).Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.While babka is baking make the syrup: in a small sauce pan heat sugar and water. Cook until sugar is dissolves.Remove the cakes from oven and immediately brush with the syrup. Allow to cool before serving.What is chocolate babka?A babka is a sweet braided bread or cake which originated in the eastern European Jewish communities. Babka developed in the early 19th century. Extra challah dough was rolled up with fruit jam or cinnamon and baked as a loaf. Chocolate was not originally used, as it was not generally available; the chocolate babka was likely a mid-20th century American development. Its name may be related to a type of Easter cake popular in Poland and western Ukraine known as baba or the diminutive babka, which means "grandmother" in Polish. Beginning in the 2010s the popularity of babka increased across the United States, especially in New York, where a handful of traditionally Jewish-owned bakeries began to sell their own versions of babka, filled with traditional fillings such as cinnamon, alongside non-traditional fillings such, chocolate, Nutella and apples, as well as savory variations. They became well known for their chocolate babka.What can we use instead of dark chocolate?You can fill your chocolate babka with almost every filling that you like; you can use milk chocolate, you can use Nutella (in this case leave the butter, cocoa and sugar out), you also can add cinnamon, crushed nuts or chocolate chips to the filling.How to store chocolate babka?Store chocolate babka in an airtight container or a plastic bag, in room temperature for up to 4 days. Heat in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.Is it mandatory to rise the dough overnight?Rising the dough overnight helps the dough to get the better texture and more convenient to work with. If you do not have the time and patience you can rise the dough for an hour or two at room temperature or until it doubles in volume.More Deseert Recipes:Best Chocolate Cake RecipeCheesecake BrowniesMagnolia Bakery's Banana PuddingChocolate Lava CakeVanilla Cake

CHOCOLATE BRAIDED SWIRL BREAD (BABKA)

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and warm milk and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• In large mixing bowl, add the egg, egg yolks, vanilla, sugar, and honey and whisk to combine.
• Add in the milk and yeast mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
• Gradually add in the flour and mix until fully incorporated.
• Gradually add in the butter and mix until fully incorporated.
• Cover with a towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Bring out the dough onto floured work surface and knead until smooth.
• Divide the dough into two equal parts and place in bowls and cover each with plastic wrap. Let the dough sit at room temperature for at least two hours, or when it has doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• For the chocolate sauce, combine bittersweet chocolate, butter, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, espresso powder, and turbinado sugar in a medium sized mixing bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes. Stir to combine and set aside.
• Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer to a floured work surface and roll both pieces of dough into a rectangle roughly 10x15-inches.
• Cover the dough with half of the chocolate sauce leaving an ½ inch - 1 inch of room on all sides.
• Gently roll the dough up and repeat with second piece of dough and remaining chocolate sauce.
• Using a bench scraper or a knife, carefully cut each log vertically in half making sure the seam is side down.
• Lay one piece of dough horizontally and lay another piece over it vertically so you have a rough 'plus sign'.
• Lay another piece horizontally over the vertical piece and above the other horizontal piece.
• Lay the final piece vertically on the right of the other vertical piece having it go over the top horizontal piece but weaving it under the lower horizontal piece.
• Starting with the bottom vertical piece on the right side, bring it to the left layering it over the other vertical lower piece.
• Follow this method around the dough clockwise.
• Once returned to the bottom lower vertical pieces. Take the original piece you crossed over (the lower left vertical piece) and cross that over to the right layering it over the last piece you used. Continue this counterclockwise until back at the bottom or you are unable to layer the dough anymore.
• Tuck in the excess pieces of dough under the bread.
• Transfer the bread into a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and brush with egg wash.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through.
• Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE SWIRL BABKA

Steps:

• Combine first 2 ingredients until smooth. Add sugar and blend. Add flour and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle yeast over warm water and add 1 tsp sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add sugar, milk, salt, vanilla and butter. Add 2-1/2degrees cups flour and mix to blend. Beat on medium until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes). Separate 1 egg and save white for the glaze. Beat yolk and whole eggs one at a time into mixture. Add 1-1/2 cups more flour. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board or cloth. Knead for 10-15 minutes until small bubbles appear in dough. Continue adding small amounts of flour as is necessary. Turn dough into a greased bowl and cover. Let rise until doubled, about 30-45 minutes. Punch down dough and invert bowl over dough. Let rest for 10 minutes. Divide dough in half and roll out into two 10" x 20" rectangles. Brush half of melted butter over each rectangle, leaving 1/2" margin around all edges. Blend cocoa and sugar until there are no lumps. Sprinkle half of cocoa mixture over each rectangle, then sprinkle half of nuts over each. Beginning with long sides, roll jellyroll fashion and pinch to seal. Place zig-zag style to fit in 4-1/2" x 8-1/2" loaf pans. Let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat egg white with 1 tsp water. Brush dough with glaze. Mix topping ingredients to form coarse crumbs and sprinkle over loaves. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Carefully remove from pans and let cool on rack.