Ingredients

• All-purpose flour - 4 cups
• Granulated sugar - ½ cup
• Active dry yeast - 2 ¼ teaspoons
• Salt - 1 teaspoon
• Whole milk - ¾ cup
• Unsalted butter (softened) - ½ cup
• Large eggs - 2
• Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
• Dark chocolate (chopped) - 5 ounces
• Cocoa powder - ¼ cup
• Brown sugar - ¼ cup
• Ground cinnamon - 1 teaspoon
• Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water) - as needed

Instructions

1. 1.

   In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.

2. 2.

   Warm the milk and butter together until butter is melted and mixture is lukewarm.

3. 3.

   Add milk mixture, eggs, and vanilla to the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.

4. 4.

   Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

5. 5.

   Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

6. 6.

   For the filling, melt the chocolate and mix in cocoa, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth.

7. 7.

   Roll the dough into a rectangle, spread the chocolate filling, and roll up tightly from the long side.

8. 8.

   Cut the roll in half lengthwise and twist the two strands together, keeping the cut sides up.

9. 9.

   Place the twisted dough in a greased loaf pan, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.

10. 10.

    Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

11. 11.

    Brush the top of the babka with egg wash.

12. 12.

    Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.

13. 13.

    Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutritional Facts