Chocolate babka

  • Preparation time: 40 minutes, plus proving and cooling
  • Cooking time: 45 minutes
  • Total time: 1 hour 25 minutes, plus proving and cooling

    • Serves:10-12

    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

     

    CHOCOLATE NUT SPREAD

    200g blanched hazelnuts, roasted

    200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), finely chopped

    100g milk chocolate, finely chopped

    150ml whole milk

    3 tbsp cocoa powder

    1½ 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.

    FYI: Babka means grandmother in Polish, and this traditional Eastern European bake conjures up a sense of family, celebration and sharing.

     

    This recipe first appeared in Waitrose Kitchen magazine. myWaitrose members can download the Waitrose Kitchen app edition for FREE. Find out more.

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