Chocolate tahini babka

Majed have you ever made babka before? 

My sister asked me  while she’s peering through living room window watching her kids playing in our front yard.

I’ve had it before but I’ve never tried to make it.

I replied after a few seconds of thinking

The word babka took me back in time 2013 to be accurate in NYC, and it was my first time to set a foot in US.

it was a cold morning as we amble down in east village area, I was with my favorite traveling partners Eissa & Hisham.

Tearing off hunks of  Russ & daughter chocolate babka loaf and cram it in our mouth like there’s no tomorrow. 

With slight of chocolate stains around my   face ( I'm not ashamed ) 

It was buttery, pillowy and the delicate flavor of the chocolate will make your mouth ask for more.

NYC is oceans away from UAE and not to mention the pandemic & violating my nose sanctity is out of the question, traveling for pleasure is challenging and somehow forbidden on these days.

you see, babka method is somehow similar to cinnamon buns but instead of slicing the log into slices, you go the other way around and sliced it lengthwise.

This babka might be different but not in a bad way. I might not be as skilled as jew on making babka.

But this one unquestionably made me reminiscing fondly of NYC.

For the dough :

(250ml) 1 cup of whole milk

(110g) 1 stick of butter (softened)

(100g) 1/2 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon of dry yeast

(500g) 4 cups of AP flour

1 teaspoon of salt

2 large eggs

1 vanilla bean (scrape the seeds) or 2 teaspoons from vanilla extract ( good quality)

Filling :

(110g) 1 stick of butter (melted)

(60g) 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

170g bittersweet chocolate (melted).

(140g) 1/2 cup tahini

(35g) 1/3 cocoa powder

(35) 1/4 black sesame seeds

For egg wash1 large egg1 tablespoon of water

Method :

In a small saucepan, warm the milk with seeds of vanilla bean until it’s lukewarm(about 110 degrees). Add yeast and a pinch of sugar and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, until slightly foamy.the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine flour, sugar.

With mixer on low speed, add eggs, yeast mixture. Beat until incorporated , 2 to 3 minutes.With mixer on medium speed, add butter, 1 tablespoon (14 grams) at a time, letting each piece incorporate before adding the next. Add salt.Keep beating for 3 minutes until combined.

Increase mixer speed to medium, and beat until a smooth and elastic dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. (If dough does not pull away from the bowl, add more flour, 1 tablespoon [8 grams] at a time.)Place dough in oiled bowl, grease the top of the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 hour After dough has risen, refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up a little bit so you could roll it.

For the filling:

Toast black sesame seeds then grind it using coffee grinder.Mix the melted butter, confectioners sugar, bittersweet chocolate, tahini, and cocoa powder with black sesame seeds into a smooth mixture.

For egg wash: In a small bowl, lightly beat together egg and water.Spray 2 (9x5-inch) loaf pans with cooking spray, and line with parchment paper.Divide dough in half. On a heavily floured surface, roll half of dough into a 16x22-inch rectangle. Brush edges of dough with egg wash. Spread with the filling (not too much) , leaving a 1-inch border on long sides of dough. Starting at one short side, roll up dough, and press edge to seal. Using a sharp knife, cut roll in half lengthwise. Carefully twist dough pieces around each other, and place in prepared pan, cut sides up. Repeat procedure with remaining half of dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1½ hours.Preheat oven to 180c. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Cover with foil, and bake until a thermometer in center registers 95c.

Notes :

You can cover the dough and place it in a fridge for overnight if you wanna bake for the next day.The filling recipe is a little bit extra so don’t try to fill the the dough with it.If the loaf browned too quickly during the baking cover it with aluminum foil.You can make you own filling or use Nutella or PB.