C is for Cute Cousins . . . and CHOCOLATE “Babka”

Nicole commented:  Kepler's 1st Easter...is completely un-Eastery lol:) but I will take one 

for the team and eat chocolate for him ;)

Nicole was hoping for something a bit traditional when she suggested I make Martha Stewart's Babka recipe for Easter.    

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Someday, hopefully, Kepler will meet some of his many, many cousins.  Here are just two of the ones closest to his age:

Andrew

 

Sofia

                                               

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Martha Stewarts’ Chocolate Babka (which is delicious even if it isn’t really a babka

 at all)

Dough:

1 tsp sugar

¾ cup warm milk

2 ¼ tsp yeast

3/8 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

3 cups flour

½ tsp salt

4 ounces softened butter

Filling:

1 pound semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

3 ounces softened butter

Streusel Topping:

½ cup icing sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 ½ ounces butter

Prepare dough:

·        Stir 1 tsp sugar into warm (not hot) milk and sprinkle yeast on top.  Let stand 5 minutes.

·        In a large bowl, beat eggs with salt, 4 ounces butter, and 3/8 cup sugar.

·        Add in yeast and milk.

·        Mix in flour and turn onto floured surface to knead.  Dough will be soft and a bit sticky. 

·        Butter a bowl and put dough in it to rise, covered, for an hour.

Prepare Filling:

·        Chop the chocolate chips finely in a food processor.

·        Cream together ½ cup sugar, cinnamon, and 3 ounces butter.

·        Blend the chocolate into the sugar and butter mixture.

Prepare Topping

·        Blend together flour, icing sugar, and butter in food processor.

Make Chocolate Swirl Loaf 

·        Butter a large 9 inch loaf pan and line the bottom with waxed paper.

·        Turn dough onto floured surface and pat into a 16 inch square.

·        Crumble ¾ of the chocolate mixture onto the dough.

·        Roll dough up like a jelly roll. 

·        Hold one end of the dough and twist it twice.  Repeat with the other side.

·        Pat remaining chocolate mixture on top of the dough.

·        Fold the long 16 inch roll in half, over the mixture.   The roll will now be about 8 inches long.

·        Give the loaf a couple of twists on each end and place into the loaf pan.

·        Sprinkle with Streusel Topping.

·        Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.

·        Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

·        Bake loaf for one hour and ten minutes.

Serve hot out of the oven.   Yum!