Waitrose and Partners
Chocolate babka

Chocolate babka

3 out of 5 stars(1) Rate this recipe
Vegetarian
  • Serves10
  • CourseDessert
  • Prepare40 mins
  • Cook45 mins
  • Total time1 hr 25 mins
  • Plusproving and cooling

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Ingredients

  • 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 150g dark brown soft sugar
  • 10g easy bake yeast
  • 125ml whole milk
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 150g unsalted butter, softened

For the chocolate nut spread

  • 200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), finely chopped
  • 200g blanched hazelnuts, roasted
  • 100g milk chocolate, finely chopped
  • 150ml whole milk
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp honey

Method

  1. Mix the flour, salt and 75g sugar in a large bowl; make a well in the centre and add the yeast. Warm the milk to just before boiling, then pour into the well, followed by the eggs; mix together to a smooth dough. Gradually knead in the butter with your hands – it will be become quite sticky but will eventually stiffen up. (Or mix everything in a freestanding mixer with the dough hook for 6-8 minutes, until smooth). Cover with cling film and leave for 2 hours, until doubled in size.

  2. Preheat the oven to 180C, gas mark 4. Roast the hazelnuts for 10-12 minutes until golden. For the chocolate nut spread, blend 150g hazelnuts, 100g dark chocolate and the remaining ingredients in a food processor until smooth (if made in advance it will thicken, so add a splash of milk to loosen). Roughly chop the remaining nuts.

  3. Knock the dough back, then roll on a well-floured surface to a 60cm x 40cm rectangle. Spread the chocolate nut spread over the dough, then scatter with the reserved hazelnuts and chopped dark chocolate. Roll up tightly like a swiss roll, starting from one of the shorter sides.

  4. Trim the ends and halve lengthways using a floured knife. Tightly twist the 2 strips over each other so that the filling faces outwards. Shape into a round, pressing the 2 ends together, and lay on a parchment-lined baking tray. (See page 93 for step-by-step, illustrated instructions.) Cover with cling film and leave to rise for 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.

  5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden; cover with foil after 30 minutes if it browns too quickly. Put the remaining 75g sugar in a small pan with 75ml water; boil for 2 minutes, until syrupy. Brush ½ the syrup over the babka, then leave for 15 minutes and repeat with the remaining syrup. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Nutritional

Typical values per serving when made using specific products in recipe

Energy

2,571kJ/ 615kcals

Fat

34.3g

Saturated Fat

15.2g

Carbohydrates

64.2g

Sugars

30.6g

Fibre

3.2g

Protein

12.4g

Salt

0.6g

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Overall rating (3/5)

3 out of 5 stars1 rating