Babka knot

This round plait with chocolate-peanut butter filling looks amazing, and you can make it, bake it and eat it in the same day.

Credit: The Chocolate Queen

• serves

  8

• prep

  30 minutes

• cook

  30 minutes

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

Chocolate peanut filling

• 70 g unsalted butter
• 65 g caster sugar
• 20 g Dutch processed cocoa powder
• 50 g good quality dark couverture chocolate 54%
• 75 g crunchy peanut butter

Brioche dough

• 75 ml full cream milk
• 1 tsp caster sugar (A)
• 30 g caster sugar (B)
• 8 g instant yeast
• 290 g plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• pinch of salt
• 50 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Syrup

• 50 ml water
• 65 g caster sugar

Dough rising and chilling: 2.5-3 hours

Rising time after shaping: 1.5 hours

Instructions

1. For the filling, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar and whisk until completely dissolved.
2. Add in the cocoa powder, dark chocolate and peanut butter and whisk until completely incorporated.
3. Remove from the heat and transfer the mixture into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap touching the surface. Allow to cool at room temperature until it reaches a spreadable consistency, approximately 30 minutes.
4. For the dough, in the microwave, heat the milk with the tsp of caster sugar (A). Add the yeast to the milk and whisk to combine. Set aside at room temperature for 5-10 minutes until it begins to froth.
5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the caster sugar (B), flour, eggs, vanilla and salt.
6. Add in the melted and cooled butter followed by the milk and yeast mixture. Mix on low speed for 3 minutes until the dough comes together.
7. Increase to medium speed and continue to mix for 8-10 minutes, until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl and looks shiny.
8. Transfer the dough onto your workbench, fold the edges into the centre and flip the dough over so that the seams are underneath. Roll the dough to create a smooth ball and transfer into a lightly greased bowl.
9. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to sit at room temperature for 1.5 – 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions and transfer them into separate lightly greased bowls. Cover with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare a 230 mm springform cake tin by lining the base with baking paper and greasing the sides. Lightly oil the workbench and roll each portion of dough into a square, approximately 280 mm x 280 mm in size.
10. Leaving a 3mm border, spread the filling out evenly over the 2 squares of dough.
11. Roll each square of dough into a log. With your hands, roll the logs until they are 400 mm in length. Cut each log in half, lengthways.
12. Arrange the 4 strips of dough into a basket weave formation, ensuring the cut side is facing up. Working your way around the formation in one direction, place the 4 strips of dough that are underneath another strip over the following strip. Working in the opposite direction, repeat this process. Fold the ends of the strips underneath and transfer the braided dough into the prepared springform tin.
13. Cover the tin with plastic wrap and allow to proof at room temperature for 90 minutes.
14. While the dough is rising, heat the oven to 190˚C (170˚C fan forced).
15. Bake risen babka in the pre-heated oven for 30 minutes.
16. Prepare the syrup while the babka is in the oven. In a saucepan over medium heat, boil the water and sugar until the sugar has completely dissolved.
17. Once baked, remove the babka from the tin. Brush the top of the babka with the syrup and serve warm.

Notes

• To make this recipe nut free, replace the peanut butter with 30 ml (1 fl oz) of a mild oil.
• If the dough is too soft, don't try to plait it. Instead, place it in the fridge or freezer until it firms up before plaiting.
• If the babka is colouring too quickly in the oven, turn the oven down 10-15˚C or cover the top with foil.
• Store at room temperature. The babka is best eaten within 4 days.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.