the babka.

Yum.

The Babka.
Its a delicious rolled chocolatey bread.
I don't know why its called that, but its amazing.
My only regret with this one is not making it sooner.
It is a new favorite. I got greedy with it. I shared about four slices, and then ate the rest. It is really that good.

The Babka:
DOUGH:
1 teaspoon sugar
1 package yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
3/4 cup warm milk
6 Tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk
2 2/3 plus 1/4 cup flour
5 Tablespoons butter, cut into pieces, and room temperature

FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons Cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 oz chopped chocolate

STREUSEL:
2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon flour
1 Tablespoon Butter, softened

Chop the chocolate

Sprinkle on filling

Roll up like a jelly roll

Twist like wringing out a towel

Squeeze in pan, then let it rise. Add streusel topping before baking.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until perfectly golden.

 
Dissolve teaspoon of sugar and yeast into warm milk. Let it stand 5 minutes.
Whisk in 6 tablespoons sugar, vanilla, salt, and egg yolk.
Add flour, but withhold 1/3 cup. Mix until combined.
Add chopped butter, and using your hands, combine well. This is messy! But fun.
Sprinkle counter with remaining 1/3 cup of flour, and scrape dough out onto flour. Begin to knead, until all the flour is incorporated. Knead for 10 minutes, adding more flour to the counter if the dough is sticking too much.
Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 90 minutes.

Remove the dough and roll out into a 16x16 circle.
Combine all of the filling ingredients, and evenly sprinkle over rolled out dough, leaving a 1/4inch border. Roll up the dough like a jelly roll. Then, twist the dough as though you are wringing out a towel.
Line the bottom of 9x5 inch bread pan with parchment paper. Grease the sides with cooking spray. Manuever the bread to fit it into the pan (see above).
Cover, and let it rise for another 45 minutes.

Mix streusel ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the bread.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
Remove from pan and let it cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Let it cool completely before slicing and serving.
It is best warmed up and spread with butter.

Be prepared to encounter greed.