Description
Cherry Chocolate Babka is a rich, sweet bread filled with chocolate and cherries, perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 Cup Sweet Cherries, pitted & chopped
- 1/4 Cup Salted Butter
- 1/2 Cup Milk
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Dry, Active Yeast
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 1/2 Cups Unbleached, All Purpose Flour
- 1/4 Cup Salted Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
- 4 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 Tablespoon Water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat together the butter and milk until just simmering. Remove from heat and let cool to 110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and yeast. Add the warm milk mixture and let proof until foamy, about 10 minutes.
- Add the egg and salt. Add 2 cups of flour and mix until the dough begins to form. Add the cherries and more flour if necessary to form a soft dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, adding only the smallest amount of flour to prevent sticking.
- Oil a bowl and place the dough inside, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 60 to 90 minutes.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low-medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate. Stir constantly until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat, whisk in the powdered sugar, mixing until all lumps are removed. Set aside.
- Grease a loaf pan.
- Punch down the dough and turn out to a floured board. Knead slightly.
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to an 11X17 sheet.
- Spread the dough with the chocolate filling, leaving about 1/4″ around the edges.
- Roll up the dough into a loaf and pinch the edges closed.
- Slice the dough in half the long way, exposing the ribbons of chocolate filling inside.
- Twist the halves of dough around each other, exposing some of the chocolate swirls to the top of the loaf. Pinch the ends together.
- Place the twisted loaf into the bread pan. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Make the egg wash by whisking together the egg and water until completely mixed.
- Gently brush the top of the loaf with the egg wash.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes in the bread pan.
- Once cool, remove from the pan and cool completely on wire racks.
Notes
- Eat within 3 days for best flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 192mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 39mg
Keywords: Cherry Chocolate Babka, dessert, bread, chocolate, cherries