Chocolate Babka: Soft Braided Sweet Bread with Fudge Swirl (62) 2026

Chocolate babka is a soft, braided sweet bread with a rich chocolate filling swirled through every slice. This Jewish tradition is also beloved across Eastern Europe, where it often appears on the Easter table. Just the aroma filling your kitchen makes it worth baking.

The dough is enriched with butter, milk and egg, then rolled with a smooth chocolate cream, cut and braided before baking. A simple powdered sugar glaze finishes it off. If you love sweet doughs, this one is a must.

It takes a little patience for the rising time, but the hands-on work is short. You will be rewarded with a glossy, tender loaf that is perfect for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon coffee.

Ingredients for Chocolate Babka

Makes 10 servings

• 4 g dry baker's yeast (or 12 g fresh yeast)
• 30 g warm water
• 20 g white sugar
• 60 g whole milk
• 1 medium egg
• 260 g wheat flour
• 50 g soft butter
• 60 g soft butter
• 75 g melted chocolate
• 10 g cocoa powder
• 15 g powdered sugar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 50 g powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons water

How to Make Chocolate Babka Step by Step

1. Activate the Yeast

Mix 4 grams of dry baker's yeast with 30 grams of warm water and 20 grams of white sugar. Let it rest for 5 minutes until the mixture begins to form small bubbles.

2. Make the Dough

Put 60 grams of whole milk, 1 medium egg and 260 grams of wheat flour into a mixer bowl or a bowl for kneading by hand, along with the yeast mixture. Knead for 10 minutes, until the dough is homogeneous.

3. Add the Butter

Add 50 grams of soft butter and knead for another 10 minutes, until you get a smooth and elastic dough.

4. First Rise

Shape the dough into a ball and leave it in a warm spot until it doubles in volume.

5. Deflate and Rest

Once it has doubled in volume, deflate the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes so it loses its tension.

6. Prepare the Filling

Prepare the filling by mixing 60 grams of soft butter, 75 grams of melted chocolate, 10 grams of cocoa powder, 15 grams of powdered sugar and 1 pinch of salt. Mix these ingredients until you have a homogeneous cream.

7. Roll Out the Dough

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin into a rectangle of about 30 x 40 cm and roughly 1 cm thick.

8. Spread the Filling

Spread the filling cream over the dough and carefully even it out with a spatula.

9. Roll Up the Dough

Roll up the dough into a log, keeping it tight.

10. Cut in Half

Cut the roll of dough in half lengthwise with the help of a knife.

11. Braid and Second Rise

Braid the dough by twisting the two halves around each other and transfer it to a greased mold of about 23 x 10 cm. Let it ferment again until it doubles in volume.

12. Bake the Babka

When it has doubled in volume, preheat the oven to 180 ºC with top and bottom heat and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack.

13. Make the Glaze

Meanwhile, prepare the glaze by mixing 50 grams of powdered sugar with 1 or 2 tablespoons of water, until you get a texture you can brush on.

14. Glaze the Babka

When the babka is completely cool, brush it with the glaze.

15. Serve

Slice and serve the babka once the glaze has set. The soft crumb and chocolate swirl are best enjoyed fresh.

Tips for the Best Chocolate Babka

Let the Dough Rise Fully

Wait until the dough truly doubles before shaping and again before baking. Rushing the rise gives a dense loaf instead of a light, tender crumb.

Use Soft Butter

Both the butter in the dough and the butter in the filling should be soft so they blend smoothly. This keeps the dough elastic and the chocolate cream even.

Cool Before Glazing

Brush on the glaze only when the babka is completely cool, otherwise it will melt and slide off. A thin, even coat gives the glossy finish.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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