Hi! Welcome to another HomeBaker Episode on Rasoisaga! We visited the home of a bread artist and baker in Bangalore, Rekha Joseph who makes this pastry bread for the video.
Follow and order from Rekha’s Venture here-
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Chocolate Babka Wreath Bread with Semolina and nuts.
Ingredients – For bread dough
Semolina/Chiroti Rava- 130 gm
Whole wheat flour- 150 gm
Cane sugar- 50gm
Instant yeast- 1 tsp
Lukewarm milk(or water)- 85ml
Eggs- 2
Unsalted room temp butter- 75gm
Salt- 1/2 tsp
Oil for greasing bowl
For the chocolate filling
Dark chocolate chips- 90gm
Unsalted butter- 70gm
Powdered sugar(white or cane sugar)- 50gm
Cocoa powder- 20gm
Grated nutmeg a pinch
Cinnamon powder 1/4 tsp
Other filling- Assorted roasted and chopped nuts: 1/2 cup or as required
Syrup
40ml water
40gm sugar
Method
*In a small bowl mix the Luke warm milk, cane sugar and the instant yeast- and let it bloom for 5 min.
*In a mixing bowl, mix the flours with the salt.
* Add in the eggs, activated yeast mixture, butter and knead in stretch and fold method for 8 to 10 min till stretchy and non sticky. Form it into a smooth ball.
*Oil a bowl lightly and place the dough in it, coating all sides with oil.
*Cover it with a wet towel and let the dough proof for 1.5 hours till double in quantity. Or you could do a cold/ long fermentation, which enhances the flavour. For this, place the bowl of dough into fridge and let it proof for around 6 hours.
* While dough is proofing, prepare the chocolate filling and the syrup.
* Once first proofing is done, remove the dough from bowl, roll out into a long rectangle. Apply the chocolate paste as a thin layer and sprinkle the toasted chopped assorted nuts.
* Roll it along the long side into a tight log. With a sharp knife, slit the log in two along the length, to reveal the layers.
* Braid the two halves with layers facing up and place it into a well greased and dusted Bundt pan to create your wreath. You can also use a normal loaf tin.
* Bake in preheated oven @ 180 degC for 30 min.
* Once done, remove it from oven and pour the sugar syrup over it while warm in the pan itself. Brush top with melted butter.
* After 5 min, remove the bread from the pan onto a cooking rack and let it cool completely.
* Slice and enjoy this lovely pastry bread with friends and family and spread the cheer of Christmas!
Chocolate filling
*In a pan melt the butter.
* Add the chopped chocolate chips, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar.
* Mix on low heat till a smooth paste is formed.
*Do not over heat the mixture.
Sugar syrup
* In a pan boil the water and sugar till the sugar melts.
Merry Christmas and Happy Baking!