The Best Chocolate Babka Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Rich, buttery chocolate babka with soft layers and a glossy chocolate swirl. Easy homemade babka recipe with step-by-step instructions and tips.

Prep Time35

Cook Time30

Proofing time12

Total Time13 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: European

Keyword: chocolate

Servings: slices

Calories: 343kcal

Make the Dough: Place flour, sugar, and yeast in a stand mixer bowl (or large bowl) and mix. Add milk, eggs, and salt. Mix until the dough starts coming together. Add the butter gradually, one cube at a time, and keep mixing until fully absorbed. Knead for about 8–10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
Make the Filling: Combine chocolate, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and melted butter in a heatproof bowl. Melt over a double boiler, stirring until smooth. Let cool slightly.
Roll & Shape: Grease two 9×4 inch (23×10 cm) loaf pans and line the bottoms with parchment.
Divide the chilled dough in half. Keep one half covered in the fridge.
Roll the dough into a 15×10 inch (38×25 cm) rectangle. Spread with half of the filling, leaving a small border. Roll up tightly into a log. If the dough becomes too soft, chill for 15–20 minutes.
Using a serrated knife, cut the log lengthwise. Twist the two pieces together with the cut sides facing up, then place in the loaf pan.
Repeat with the second dough half. Cover and let rise for 1–1½ hours, or until puffy.
Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown on top.
Make the Syrup: While the babkas bake, heat sugar and water until dissolved.
Brush the hot babkas generously with syrup as soon as they come out of the oven. Cool before slicing.

Cold Dough: If the dough becomes soft or sticky while shaping, chill it for 10–20 minutes.
Essential Syrup: Don’t skip the syrup, it keeps the babka moist, glossy, and fresh for longer.
Storage: Keep at room temperature for 2–3 days or refrigerate up to 6 days.
Freezing: Freeze whole or sliced for up to 2 months.
Filling Options: You can use Homemade Nutella, pistachio paste, peanut butter, tahini + chocolate, cookie butter, cinnamon sugar, or even fruit jams for different flavors.