Best Ever Chocolate Babka Bread
This best ever chocolate babka bread is soft, pillowy, and layered with rich chocolate swirls. Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or gifting, it’s a bakery-style treat you can make at home. Step-by-step instructions for the ultimate homemade sweet bread.
Ingredients
- For the Dough:
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup warm milk
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast 1 packet
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- Pinch of salt
- For the Chocolate Filling:
- 8 oz dark chocolate or chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- Optional Glaze:
- Simple syrup equal parts water and sugar for brushing
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit until foamy.
- Add eggs and softened butter, then gradually mix in flour and salt.
- Knead until smooth and elastic (8–10 minutes by hand or in a stand mixer).
- Cover and let rise 1–1.5 hours, until doubled in size.
- Make the Chocolate Filling
- Melt chocolate and butter together until smooth.
- Stir in cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Cool slightly for spreading.
- Roll and Shape the Babka
- Roll dough into a 10x14-inch rectangle. Spread chocolate filling evenly, leaving a small border.
- Roll tightly into a log. Slice lengthwise down the middle.
- Twist the two strands together, cut sides facing up.
- Transfer to a greased loaf pan, cover, and let rise 45 minutes.
- Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake 30–35 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Optional: Brush with simple syrup for a glossy finish. Let cool before slicing.
Notes
- Use high-quality chocolate for best flavor.
- Don’t skip the second rise — it creates the soft, layered texture.
- Keep dough cool while shaping to prevent filling from oozing.
- Add nuts or cinnamon for extra flavor.
- Make ahead: refrigerate dough overnight and bake fresh the next day.