Sourdough Chocolate Babka

unsalted butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil reduces saturated fat while providing moisture.

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

granulated sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index.

chocolate

🥗Healthier: dark chocolate

💰Cheaper: chocolate chips

Dark chocolate has less sugar and more cocoa.

Mix 45 g active sourdough starter, 45 g flour, and 45 g water and let it sit for 3 to 4 hours to create a leavain.

In a medium bowl, add 8 g salt and 29 g sugar.

Pour in 90 g milk and add 2 eggs.

Add the leavain (138 g) to the mixture.

Finally, add 310 g strong all-purpose flour and mix with a spatula.

Cover the bowl and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Add 100 g room temperature butter to the dough and mix it in.

Perform slap and fold technique to develop the dough's strength.

Let the dough rest for 30 minutes, then perform a coil fold.

Round the dough and let it rest for another 30 minutes.

After another 30 minutes, perform another coil fold.

Let the dough ferment for 1 hour until bubbly.

Transfer the dough to the fridge for an overnight cold fermentation or let it finish fermentation for 2 to 3 hours.

Prepare the chocolate filling by mixing 100 g sugar, 65 to 70 g butter, and 20 to 25 g dark cocoa powder in a small bowl.

Add 60 g dark chocolate to the filling and mix until smooth.

Roll out the dough and spread the chocolate filling, leaving 1 cm at the bottom.

Roll the dough tightly and wrap it, then freeze for 20 to 30 minutes.

Cut the dough in half lengthwise and braid it, keeping the chocolate sides up.

Place the braided dough on baking paper and let it proof in a warm place for about 4 hours.

Preheat the oven to 180° C (350° F).

Egg wash the dough with a mixture of 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water.

Bake for around 40 minutes, checking for doneness.

Let it cool for 10 minutes, then brush with maple syrup before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens