Chocolate Hazelnut Babka
April 19th, 2008 by chuck
Babka is one of those specialty breads that are traditionally made during the holiday seasons. For me, I think Babka, especially with chocolate and hazelnuts, is good anytime of the year. This tasty recipe is using the Jewish version which is more like a bread than a cake. I used a rich dark chocolate with 72 percent cocoa in it. I have to admit that it was very tempting to eat the chocolate before it went into the bread. I did manage to get “most” of the chocolate into the bread. Yum!
I also used hazelnuts in this recipe too. Frankly, I believe that chocolate and hazelnuts work together like apple pie and ice cream. The perfect marriage! The hazelnuts were toasted before using in the Babka. Toasting brings about an tantalizing change in flavor. The difference between an untoasted hazelnut and a toasted one is like eating a chocolate cake without the rich buttery icing. Good, but much better with the icing.
The drizzling of the icing adds a real sweetness to this specialty bread, and the crunch of the toasted hazelnuts is very appealing and tasty to say the least. Of course we ate a whole loaf the first day and it was delicious. We had some people over the next day and I sliced up the second loaf. I have to say it was even better the next day, after the chocolate had hardened …. simply the best!
For a step by step class of this great tasting Chocolate Hazelnut Babka click here.
For a printable recipe card of this Chocolate Hazelnut Babka click here.
For more free bread recipes go to our parent website at Cookingbread.com.
Posted in Sweet Breads | Edit |




Wow…every women’s wish is to have some bread with chocolate in it. It looks great, and I bet it smells great too. I think this will be a big a hit with some of my friends and co-workers. Great job!
I will be back to see your step by step demo on this delicious looking bread when we have some folks visiting. Looks wonderful. I love your step by step demos. They’re very helpful for us novice bread bakers
I totally agree w/ what you said about toasted vs. non-toasted nuts. A completely different league!
Delicious! I would love a slice to go with my coffee this morning!
Since I’m Polish I grew up with Babka. It’s very close to my heart and this one is a beautiful example of those special memories.
babka always makes me think of seinfeld, but there’s nothing funny about those pictures…good heavens, they’re gorgeous! kudos to you for holding off on that second loaf!
babka makes me think of seinfeld too
the one you made looks absolutely scrumptious! wish it was right in front of me right now…i’d have a big slice with my coffee…nice job!
That looks so good!! I really like the swirls on the inside.
I can’t agree more – chocolate and hazelnuts go great together! what a nice looking bread – a must try!
Now this is just plain naughty!
…But very delicious with the chocolate/nut combo.
Wow that chocolate babka looks delicious!
re: your comment on my site, the cupcakes are as delicious as they look! you’re right, the pictures on their website are pretty amazing! next project, hopefully baking something sweet…perhaps this babka?
That looks so good!
this is the blog i was waiting for….beautiful
Yonkers! I want to eat my screen. Nice work on the chocolate hazelnut babka — and thanks for hooking up on iFood.tv!
Oh good lord CHUCK!!!! How do I have to bribe you to get you to send this to me… and for a girl who has had no breakfast this is a huge tease! The pictures and sure barely do it justice… BEAUTIFUL…
I haven’t had babka in ages, and of all the kinds you could possibly post, it has to be a chocolate babka? I now have some severe babka envy…that looks amazing
I just discovered your blog and I am utterly impressed. Those vanilla sugar rolls….wow. Your photography and step-by-step instructions are perfect! Thanks for such a great resource!!!!
Hi Chuck! I am so glad you stopped by my blog and left me a comment because now I have found this beautiful blog of yours. The photos and the recipes are so gorgeous! Those lemon brioche croissants have my name written all over them. I will come to visit again, no doubt about that and you are going on my blog roll!
First of all, that first photo is stunning! I can practically smell it! And I’m so glad you made this – I hate it when foods are only made for certain holidays. I believe all good food should be enjoyed year round! Sounds and looks absolutely divine!
Chuck – your blog is absolutely gorgeous. I’ll be back for sure.
incredible! You are such a talented baker. I’ve never baked bread before… its a little intimidating but id like to try sometime.
One of the most beautiful loaves of bread I have ever seen! Luscious.
Only a word to this SPECTACULAR!!!! I will try soon! Gloria
Wow, gorgeous photography and recipe. I LOVE hazelnuts!
Oh My Gosh! Your blog is unbelievable! If you hadn’t stopped by my blog, I never would have found you!
Your photography is out of this world! I want to lick my computer! You’re definitely being added to my blog as one of my new favorites!
Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!
Curious, how did you find me?
Silly me! I knew I’ve seen your blog before! I’ve had you on my blogroll for over a month!
That shows you where my head is right now!
You still ROCK!
That is one delicious looking babka, I wish I could have a piece right now.
Have been lucky enough to find this blog thanks to you winnin on http://www.ifoods.tv I get sent so many links and requests to read blogs that I normally just dont have time but this is one that I will be following! The pictures are what make it so special I think, well done!
Just finished watching the Seinfeld Babka episode again and had to finally find out what babka looked like. Google Images brought me here. I am so glad! Thank you for the tantalizing pictures and the directions to make the babka. It’s my next baking project. Your blog is now in my favorites.