Chocolate Babka

Name: Chocolate Babka
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups (12⅓ ounces), bread flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons, instant or rapid-rise yeast; 1/2 cup, whole milk; 2 , large eggs; 1 tablespoon, grated orange zest (optional); 1 teaspoon, vanilla extract; 1/4 cup (1¾ ounces), granulated sugar; 1/2 teaspoon, table salt; 6 tablespoons, unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces and softened, plus 1 tablespoon for greasing pan; 8 ounces, bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine; 8 tablespoons, unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces; 1/2 cup (2 ounces), confectioners' sugar, sifted; 1/2 teaspoon, table salt; 1/2 cup (1½ ounces), unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted; 1/2 cup (3½ ounces), granulated sugar; 1/4 cup, water

Desserts or Baked Goods

Chocolate

Breads

This rich, tender, yeasted bread with swirls of chocolate is an impressive holiday treat.

SERVES8

TIME3 hours, plus 6 hours rising, chilling, and cooling

SEASON 15

has video

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

For a rich, chocolaty babka loaf, we started with a yeasted dough that we flavored with orange zest and vanilla. Then we made a luscious chocolate filling by microwaving butter and chocolate together and stirring in confectioners’ sugar, co...