Chocolate Babka Recipe (Easy Homemade Chocolate Swirl Bread)
Try this chocolate babka recipe for a soft, rich bread with beautiful chocolate swirls. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or holiday baking—easy and bakery-style at home.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Rolling Pin
- Baking pans (loaf pans)
- Parchment paper
- Serrated knife
Ingredients
- Enriched dough (flour, yeast, eggs, butter, sugar, milk)
- Chocolate filling (dark chocolate, butter, sugar, cocoa powder)
- Sugar syrup (sugar, water, optional vanilla)
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: Mix flour, yeast, eggs, butter, sugar, and milk. Knead until smooth. Let rise until doubled.
- Make Chocolate Filling: Melt chocolate with butter, sugar, and cocoa. Cool slightly.
- Roll & Fill: Roll dough into a rectangle. Spread filling evenly.
- Shape & Braid: Roll into a log, slice lengthwise, and twist strands together. Place in loaf pan.
- Proof Again: Let rise until puffy.
- Bake: Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 40–45 minutes until golden.
- Finish with Syrup: Brush hot babka with sugar syrup for shine and moisture.
Notes
- Use high-quality dark chocolate for best flavor.
- Don’t skip the syrup—it keeps babka moist and glossy.
- Babka freezes well; slice before freezing for easy portions.
- Experiment with fillings: Nutella, cinnamon sugar, or fruit preserves.
- Slice with a serrated knife to preserve the swirls.