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S'mores Babka

S’mores Babka

Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine Eastern European
Servings 3 babkas

Ingredients
  

For the dough

  • 1 tbs. dry active yeast
  • 1/3 cup sugar plus 1/2 tsp.
  • 1/2 cup lukewarm water
  • 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 cup whole or 2% milk (or almond milk)
  • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine melted
  • 2 large eggs

For the filling

  • 1/3 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
  • 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
  • 1/4 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs

For the topping

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter melted
  • 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt

Instructions
 

  • To make the dough: Place the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl. Add the lukewarm water and stir gently to mix. Set aside until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes. In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the flour, 1/3 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla.
  • In a medium saucepan, scald the milk (bring almost to a boil, until milk is just simmering). Allow to sit for 1 minute to cool just slightly.
  • With mixer on low, add the water-yeast mixture, milk and melted butter. Add eggs one at a time.
  • When the dough begins to come together after 2 to 3 minutes, turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides. Raise the speed to high and mix for another 5 to 10 minutes until the dough is shiny, elastic and smooth. It may seem like a long time to mix, but the result is worth the wait. (You can also knead vigorously by hand for 10 minutes if you don’t have a stand mixer.)
  • Place dough in a greased bowl with a damp towel on top. Allow to rise 1 to 2 hours.
  • Prepare the 3 greased loaf pans.
  • To make the crumb topping: Place all ingredients in a bowl. Using a wooden spoon, mix until crumbs form. Cut the dough into 3 equal parts (use a food scale for precision). Roll out one part into a rectangle. Spread with one-third each of the chocolate hazelnut spread, then marshmallow fluff, and then sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs and roll up along the shorter side.
  • Once the dough is formed into a swirled log, cut it straight down the middle so the filling is exposed. Cut 1/2 inch off each end. Layer each cut piece on top of one another and twist. Place in a greased loaf pan.
  • Repeat with the other 2 pieces of babka dough. Lightly drape a kitchen towel over the top of pans.
  • Allow to rise another 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 F. while the dough rises. Top with crumb topping. Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Using a butter knife, loosen sides of the babka from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool. Makes 3 babkas.

Notes

Suggested equipment: stand mixer, 3 medium sized (8  1/2-by-4  1/2) loaf pans.
(Shannon Sarna is the editor of The Nosher.)  
The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com.