A classic Eastern European bread popular in Poland and Russia and your bread machine makes it easier.
I was pleasantly surprised with the wonderful taste of this bread, but you should know -it’s not a simple recipe. It requires some process steps that your bread machine can make simpler, but you have to be patient. Most of the time for this recipe requires time for various process steps for the starter and the dough to rise plus a final blending step done by hand. This recipe is also intended to be finished in the oven.
A “starter” is a yeast and flour combination that is sometimes referred to as a “sponge.” This gives a head-start to the rising process.
It also uses a yeast that’s referred to as a “cake yeast.” A cake yeast can be found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. It’s usually a small cube or cubes of yeast wrapped in foil with the consistency of cream cheese. You might have to ask someone at the store where to find it because it can be a bit obscure.
INGREDIENTS:
Step #1: The “sponge”
1 cup of warm milk (110° F./ 43° C.)
1 ½ teaspoons of sugar
1.5 ounces of cake yeast
1 cup of all-purpose flour
Step #2: The Basic Babka Dough
5 egg yolks
1 whole egg
¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/4 cup of melted butter
½ teaspoon of salt
¾ cup of sugar
2 cups of all-purpose flour
Step #3: Chocolate Babka Bread Filling
5 egg whites
2 tablespoons of soft butter
14 ounces of almond paste (optional)
8 ounces of bittersweet chocolate coarsely chopped
DIRECTIONS:
Step #1: The “sponge”
1A sponge is a combination of yeast and flour that is given some time to rise before you add the other ingredients. Sugar and milk are also added. Here are the ingredients and the directions for making the “sponge.”
2Put the ingredients into the bread pan in the order indicated and select the dough setting. When done, pour the sponge into a bowl and move on to the next step.
Step #2: The Basic Babka Dough
3Put all of the ingredients into the bread pan in the order indicated and select the dough setting.
4Half way through the kneading process add the sponge and then let the cycle continue. While the cycle is continuing you need to make the filling.
Step #3: Chocolate Babka Bread Filling
5Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until fluffy. Add the other filling ingredients and add the dough to the bowl and blend the filling in with a spoon or spatula.
6Preheat the oven to 400° F. and place in a buttered bread pan or pour onto a buttered baking sheet. Let rise for an additional 30 minutes and then bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
7Let rest for 10 minutes and slice or break apart and serve.
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS:
Step #1: The “sponge”
1 cup of warm milk (110° F./ 43° C.)
1 ½ teaspoons of sugar
1.5 ounces of cake yeast
1 cup of all-purpose flour
Step #2: The Basic Babka Dough
5 egg yolks
1 whole egg
¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/4 cup of melted butter
½ teaspoon of salt
¾ cup of sugar
2 cups of all-purpose flour
Step #3: Chocolate Babka Bread Filling
5 egg whites
2 tablespoons of soft butter
14 ounces of almond paste (optional)
8 ounces of bittersweet chocolate coarsely chopped
Directions
DIRECTIONS:
Step #1: The “sponge”
1A sponge is a combination of yeast and flour that is given some time to rise before you add the other ingredients. Sugar and milk are also added. Here are the ingredients and the directions for making the “sponge.”
2Put the ingredients into the bread pan in the order indicated and select the dough setting. When done, pour the sponge into a bowl and move on to the next step.
Step #2: The Basic Babka Dough
3Put all of the ingredients into the bread pan in the order indicated and select the dough setting.
4Half way through the kneading process add the sponge and then let the cycle continue. While the cycle is continuing you need to make the filling.
Step #3: Chocolate Babka Bread Filling
5Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until fluffy. Add the other filling ingredients and add the dough to the bowl and blend the filling in with a spoon or spatula.
6Preheat the oven to 400° F. and place in a buttered bread pan or pour onto a buttered baking sheet. Let rise for an additional 30 minutes and then bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
7Let rest for 10 minutes and slice or break apart and serve.
Chocolate Babka Bread Recipe
AuthorSteve Nubie
