Chocolate Babka
Death by chocolate in the very best way
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- mixing bowl & spoon
- 2 12" loaf pans
- stand mixer with paddle attachment
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/2 oz active dry yeast or two envelopes
- 1/2 cup white sugar plus an additional 1 tsp
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 sticks margarine (which is 1 cup)
- 2 eggs plus 1 white keep the yok for glazing
For the Filling
- 2 cups margarine or butter 4 sticks
- 2 cups white (granulated) sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips mini work best
Instructions
Prepare the Dough
- Whisk together the warm water, yeast and 1 tsp of sugar.
- Let sit 10 minutes to proof the yeast, until bubbles form.
- Add 1/2 cup sugar, flour, 2 sticks butter or margarine (softened to room temperature), 2 eggs and the egg white.
- Mix in stand mixer until dough comes together
- Cover bowl with plastic and let rise 2-4 hours, until dough has increased in size.
Prepare the Filling
- Combine the last two cups of sugar, cocoa and the last 4 sticks of margarine (softened to room temperature).
Assemble and Bake
- Preheat oven to 375f
- Grease 2 12-inch loaf pans
- Divide dough into four pieces.
- Roll each piece to a 10x7 rectangle and spread 1/4 of the filling and 1/4 of the chocolate chips on it.
- Roll into a log.
- Repeat with the next dough piece, and then twist two logs together and tuck ends under.
- Place a twist (two logs) into each loaf pan.
- Brush with yolk and a little water.
- Bake 45 minutes or until very brown on top.
- Cool for 20 minutes in the pan. Don't try to eat it right away or you'll burn your tongue on boiling butter or margarine!