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Chocolate and Tahini Babka
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
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:
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2
large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
Directions
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01To make the dough, in a 1-quart liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk the eggs plus yolks, milk, yeast and vanilla. In a stand mixer with the dough hook, mix the flour, sugar and salt on low until combined, about 30 seconds. With the mixer running, slowly add the egg mixture, then knead on medium until a wet, slightly lumpy dough forms, about 2 minutes, scraping the bowl once or twice.