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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Chocolate and Tahini Babka

2 9-inch loaves

10 hours 2½ hours active, plus cooling

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Jewish-style babkas originated as a way to utilize leftover challah dough. To keep the pastry kosher, no dairy was allowed, so both the dough and filling typically were oil-based. These days, bakeries across the globe have reinvented the classic, crafting buttery babkas with creative fillings and toppings. We set out to make a babka in this style: rich, plush and complete with two flavor variations. The first features dark chocolate and nutty tahini, which complement each other beautifully. For the second, we combine cinnamon, brown sugar and walnuts with a hint of orange. Both babkas are brushed with flavored syrup, which gives them a shiny, sweet crust and locks moisture in the loaves, keeping them fresh for up to three days. Once fully cooled, you also can wrap the babka tightly in plastic wrap, then enclose it in foil and freeze for up to a month. To refresh, thaw the still-wrapped loaf at room temperature (this takes about 30 minutes), then completely unwrap, place on a baking sheet and warm in a 300°F oven for about 15 minutes.

2

9-inch loaves

Tip

Don’t forget to return the dough half that’s waiting to be shaped to the refrigerator so it remains chilled while you shape the first. When baking the loaves, be sure to set the pans on a baking sheet to catch any drips that otherwise would end upon the oven floor. Space the loaf pans a few inches apart to allow air circulation, which translates to more even baking.

10 hours

2½ hours active, plus cooling

For the dough:

  • 2

    large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks, room temperature

Directions

Reviews
JENNIFER C.
August 2, 2026
Soooo good!!
I made this recently with my 8 year-old son. It was our first time making babka, and it was absolutely delicious! He repeatedly said “it’s soooo good”!! We are looking forward to making it again!
SANDIE R.
April 8, 2026
Wow! This is amazing!
Very easy to make and so good to enjoy! The tahini is an interesting addition and is great with the chocolate and espresso. I made one for us and the other for a neighbor. They also thoroughly enjoyed it. Making the recipe again today for another neighbor. The braiding is easy - don't be intimidated.
Maria L.
April 5, 2026
Worth the time!
This recipe was not as complicated as I thought it would be. The dough is gorgeous and glossy, the filling so rich and delicious. I was nervous about the braiding and how to work it into the loaf pan, but everything was just so much easier than I thought that it would be. Don’t hesitate to try!
Ellen C.
April 3, 2026
I'm confused but tantalized
I can't wait to try this recipe but I'm a little confused. Are the amounts shown for each of the fillings sufficient for one or two loaves? In other words, if I want to make two chocolate tahini babkas, doI need to double the amounts shown in your recipe for that filling? I think that is right, but want to check before I start. Thank you!
Deborah A.
December 20, 2024
Gorgeous dough project
The dough was beautiful to work with and the addition of tahini to the filling is next-level delicious. Highly recommend this recipe.

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