She Strengthens

Indulge in the Rich Flavor of Housemade Nutella Babka

Imagine sinking your teeth into a tender, buttery pastry infused with the deep, velvety flavor of Nutella. Sounds like a dream come true? With this recipe, you can create your own heavenly Housemade Nutella Babka at home.

The Magic of Babka

Babka is a traditional Eastern European pastry that consists of layers of buttery dough, often filled with sweet or savory ingredients. In this recipe, we’ll be using a rich, homemade Nutella spread as the star of the show.

Gathering Ingredients

Before we begin, make sure you have the following ingredients at your disposal:

• 1 recipe Master Brioche Dough (see below)
• ¼ cup blanched hazelnuts
• Homemade Nutella (see below)
• 1 ½ ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• Hazelnut Syrup (see below)

Crafting the Master Brioche Dough

To create the foundation of our babka, we’ll need to make a batch of Master Brioche Dough. This involves combining:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups high-gluten bread flour
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 large eggs
• 18 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 10 to 12 pieces

Mix the ingredients together, then let the dough proof in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Assembling the Babka

Once your dough is ready, it’s time to bring everything together. Follow these steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare two 9 × 5-inch loaf pans.
2. Roll out half of the brioche dough into a rectangle, then spread half of the Nutella evenly over the surface.
3. Sprinkle half of the chopped hazelnuts and half of the chocolate over the Nutella.
4. Roll the dough tightly, then repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling ingredients.
5. Twist the two dough rolls together, forming a beautiful braid.
6. Place the babka in the prepared loaf pans, cover with plastic wrap or a lint-free towel, and let proof for 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Adding the Finishing Touches

Once your babka has proofed, bake it in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and brush with Hazelnut Syrup while still warm.

Tips and Variations

• For an extra-special touch, try adding a sprinkle of sea salt or chopped nuts to the top of your babka before baking.
• Experiment with different types of chocolate or nuts to create unique flavor combinations.
• Store your babka in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day, or freeze for up to 2 weeks.

The Final Result

With its tender, buttery crust and rich, chocolatey center, this Housemade Nutella Babka is sure to become a new favorite in your household. So go ahead, indulge in a slice (or two, or three…), and experience the pure joy of pastry-making.