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Chocolate Banana Bread Babka

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what to make in a kitchenaid mixer: Chocolate Banana Bread Babka
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

Top-notch babka—the kind that’s rich, moist and not too dense—is hard to come by. That’s why we suggest you make Erin McDowell’s chocolate banana bread babka immediately. It’s like a cross between a traditional banana bread and a fancy bakery-style babka and it’s unequivocally delicious.

“Chocolate babka already tops my list of favorite breads to bake and eat,” McDowell says, “but add banana into the mix and it’s seriously killer. The dough itself is like a yeasted banana bread, and chunks of banana mixed into the streusel give it an extra boost of fruity flavor.” The bananas also add tons of moisture to the dough, so the end result is basically the opposite of the sad, dry babka you might be used to.

If you have any leftovers, which is unlikely, they make for a mean French toast.


Ingredients

Dough

⅔ cup (127g) whole milk

2⅔ cups (316g) all-purpose flour

¾ cup (85g) whole-wheat flour

⅓ cup (71g) light brown sugar

2 teaspoons instant yeast

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 medium (240g) ripe bananas, mashed

1 large (57g) egg

1 large (22g) egg yolk

Filling

½ cup (115g) heavy cream

6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter

½ cup (106g) light brown sugar

5 ounces (142g) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Streusel

½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour

¼ cup (53g) light brown sugar

2 tablespoons (11g) cocoa powder

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

5 tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, melted

1 medium (120g) ripe banana, finely chopped

Directions

1. Make the Dough: In a small pot, heat the milk over medium heat until it is just warm to the touch, about 2 minutes. Check the temperature with a thermometer; it should be around 95°F. If needed, let it cool before proceeding.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, mix the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, brown sugar, yeast, salt and cinnamon on low speed to combine.

3. Add the warm milk, mashed bananas and eggs; mix on low speed for 3 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes more. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour. It may not double in size, but it will look noticeably puffy.

4. Meanwhile, Make the Filling: In a medium pot, combine the heavy cream, butter, brown sugar, chocolate and vanilla extract. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate and butter are melted and the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool to a spreadable consistency.

5. Make the Streusel: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Add the melted butter and stir with a silicone spatula until the mixture forms moist crumbs. Gently stir in the banana pieces.

6. When the dough has risen, lightly grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle about 14 by 18 inches.

7. Dollop the filling all over the dough and then use an offset spatula to spread it into an even layer across the dough, all the way to the edges. Sprinkle three-quarters of the streusel evenly over the filling.

8. Starting on one of the shorter sides, roll the dough into a tight spiraled log. Use a bench scraper or a knife to cut the log in half lengthwise. Twist the two halves together (this can get a bit messy, but never fear!) and then transfer to the prepared loaf pan.

9. Sprinkle the remaining streusel over the loaf. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until it looks noticeably puffy, 35 to 45 minutes.

10. Toward the end of the rise time, preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the loaf until it is browned on the surface and appears fully set all the way through. (The best way to tell is to take an internal temperature; it should be around 200°F.)

11. Let the loaf cool inside the pan for 20 minutes, then unmold onto a wire rack and cool completely before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Facts
  • 440 calories

  • 19g fat

  • 64g carbs

  • 7g protein

  • 30g sugars

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Note: The information shown is Edamam's estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.

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erin jeanne mcdowell

Freelance Food Editor

Erin Jeanne McDowell is a recipe developer, food stylist and author of multiple cookbooks, including The Fearless Baker, which was named one of the Best Baking Books of 2017 by the New York Times. She studied baking and pastry at The Culinary Institute of America in New York, and in addition to developing recipes for PureWow, her work has appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Food Network Magazine, Food52, The Kitchn and more.