Chocolate Hazelnut Babka Buns

1 hours 0 mins Prep Time

20 mins Cook Time

Written By

Nadia Boachie

Who does not love babka? A doughy and simultaneously cakey bread that is layered with decadent chocolate. These are babka chocolate-hazelnut buns/rolls that make the perfect treat. After making your tender, rich dough, you let rise, fill with a rich and sweet filling and begin twisting and twirling your dough strips to make these hand-sized babka buns. They have a nice golden brown finish to them because of the sugar in the dough and the egg white wash that goes on right before baking. They freeze exceptionally well, so for whatever reason, if you are unable to finish them quickly or perhaps want to make them ahead of time and thaw later, they are perfect for that. If you are in the mood to try out a bread recipe but have been intimidated up until now, perhaps start with this. It is not as difficult as it looks and if you have any issues with forming the buns, I suggest watch a Youtube video to help or follow your intuition and instructions below carefully.

Ingredients

Dough

80 grams (5 1/2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
45 mL (3 teaspoons) milk
1 teaspoon instant dried yeast
50 grams (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
2 eggs, separated
250 grams (2 cups) all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling

100 grams (6 tablespoons) chocolate-hazelnut spread
40 grams (2 3/4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
50 grams dark chocolate
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Directions

Chocolate Hazelnut Babka Buns

16 Steps

Step 1

Melt butter in microwave in increments of 15 seconds. When melted, add milk, sugar, egg and egg yolk. Save your egg white for your egg wash right before baking.
Step 2

Mix together flour, salt and yeast in a bowl and create a well in the middle of the dry ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into well and use wooden spoon to mix.
Step 3

Tip out of bowl and knead on lightly floured surface for about 6 minutes. You can also knead using dough attachment on a stand mixer for about 3 minutes.
Step 4

Grease a bowl and place dough into bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in warm place to rise for 1 1/2 hours.
Step 5

To make filling, put all ingredients in bowl: chocolate-hazelnut spread, sugar, butter, cocoa powder, salt and dark chocolate. Place in microwave in 15 seconds increments until ingredients soften, begin to melt and can be mixed together.
Step 6

When the dough has risen, place on a lightly floured surface and roll into a rough 25 x 40 cm rectangle.
Step 7

Spread your filling on rectangle and fold the dough into thirds like a business letter so you end up with a roughly 25 x 14 cm rectangle.
Step 8

Carefully transfer this onto a baking tray and place in fridge to cool and so everything can firm up.
Step 9

After about 20-30 minutes in the fridge, cut the dough into 8 (25 cm long) strips.
Step 10

Twist each strip along the length (think twirler) and coil around itself (think snail shell) and bring the last bit of length over the whole bun and tuck beneath.
Step 11

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange buns on tray. Lightly grease plastic wrap and cover your buns. Place in a warm place to rise for about an hour.
Step 12

About 20 minutes before it is ready, preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 13

Use your left over egg white with 1 tablespoon of water and brush over buns.
Step 14

Bake for about 20 minutes until it is dark golden-brown in most spots.
Step 15

You can eat warm or at room temperature.
Step 16

Store in an air tight container and eat within 2 days or freeze and thaw before eating.