Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Jack Hazan’s Chocolate Chip Babka Crunch

People who love to bake know how much it makes them feel better. But author, licensed psycho​therapist and master baker Jack Hazan is out to prove that with his new book Mind over Batter: 75 Recipes for Baking as Therapy (Chronicle Books 2023). Look no further than this delicious recipe for proof. Here’s what he has to say about it:

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

I don’t know whether I have made this clear: I love a good crumb. More than I know how to express in words. My next baking book will probably have a recipe that is just a big pan of crumb topping (kidding, I think). My Chocolate Chip Babka Crunch is the best of both worlds: It’s bread and dessert, all at once! The knots are super simple but lend a sophisticated air to this scrumptious dessert. It also freezes beautifully, so feel free to double the recipe.

Makes 6 servings


Ingredients

Bread

  • 1/2 cup [120 milliliters] warm water, about 110°F [45°C]
  • 3 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • ¾ cup [150 grams] plus 2 teaspoon sugar, plus a pinch for the egg wash
  • 4 ½ cups [630 grams] bread flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons table salt, plus a pinch for the egg wash
  • ¼ cup [55 grams] unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 cup [180 grams] semisweet chocolate chips

Crumb

  • ¼ cup [55 grams] salted butter, at room temperature
  • ½ cup [100 grams] sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup [70 grams] all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup [45 grams] chocolate chips

Instructions

Make the Bread:

  1. In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Set aside for 10 minutes while the yeast activates.
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ¾ cup [150 grams] sugar, the bread flour, and salt. Add the melted butter, egg, honey, vanilla, and ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons [150 milliliters] water. Use a wooden spoon to just combine the ingredients, then pour in the yeast mixture. Continue mixing until you have a mostly combined and workable dough.
  1. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Spray a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray and set the dough inside.
  1. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk and a pinch each of sugar and salt to form an egg wash. Use a pastry brush to brush the entire surface of the dough. Reserve the remaining egg wash. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
  1. Punch down the risen dough and cut it into six equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12 in [30.5 centimeters] long strand and use your fingers to sprinkle 2 to 3 Tbsp of chocolate chips down each strand, pinching the dough over them as you go. This will create a gooey chocolate center.
  1. Coat a 9 in [23 centimeters] round pan with nonstick cooking spray and begin forming the dough into knots. Simply grab each end of each strand, tie it into a knot, and pinch the ends together, tucking them underneath the knot.
  1. Place the knots in the pan in a flower shape, with one knot in the middle and five knots spread in a circle around it. The dough will touch and that’s OK!
  1. Brush the entire surface with the egg wash once more, reserving any remaining egg wash. Cover the babka with plastic wrap and let rise a second time for 1 hour. Brush it with the egg wash one more time.
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F [180°C].

Make the Crumb

  1. Place the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl. Use your fingers to incorporate the butter and create a nice crumbly texture with the sugar. Add the flour and continue working the mixture, using your fingers in a pinching motion. Sprinkle the crumb over the babka dough, making sure to get it into the crevices as well. Add chocolate chips on top of the crumb. Don’t be afraid of a thick crumb. It’s your friend!

Bake and Serve

  1. Bake the babka for 35 to 40 minutes, or until it is a lovely golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly, but be sure to eat it while it’s still warm.
  1. Babka can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Tag @pastryathomeblog on Instagram and use hashtag #pastryathomeblog for us to see!

Editors
Editors
Pastry at Home is a hub for elevated dessert recipes for home bakers. Our editors Tish Boyle and AnnMarie Mattila strive to bring you the best curated content to help make you a smarter baker and dessert maker. If you want to be a part of our community, please contribute on the Submit a Recipe page. Or if you have another contribution idea or product you think we would like, shoot us an email at info@pastryathome.com. We would love to hear from you!

Latest Recipes

More Like This