Chocolate and Cherry Babka
I like the imagery that plays in my mind when I hear the word babka. I see a young child screaming in delight as grandmother carries the twisted sweet bread out of the old kitchen. How many other foods can completely delight both ends of the age spectrum? And how many other foods are so perfectly named (babka means grandmother in Polish)?
A babka is an old Jewish recipe made from enriched bread and filled with something sweet – most notably fruit jams and spices. The twists in the bread create visually stunning interiors – each as unique as a
Subscription Required For This Content
I like the imagery that plays in my mind when I hear the word babka. I see a young child screaming in delight as grandmother carries the twisted sweet bread out of the old kitchen. How many other foods can completely delight both ends of the age spectrum? And how many other foods are so perfectly named (babka means grandmother in Polish)?
A babka is an old Jewish recipe made from enriched bread and filled with something sweet – most notably fruit jams and spices. The twists in the bread create visually stunning interiors – each as unique as a fingerprint. These types of bread are versatile; there’s great latitude in creating distinctive variations by using whatever ingredients are available…anything from apples to zucchini.
My recipe uses ingredients familiar to another classic dessert: the Black Forest Cherry-Torte. I use black cherry jam (with chunks of fruit) and combine it with rich, non-fat cocoa powder and ground hazelnuts to create…well, in my opinion, the perfect filling for a babka!
Difficulty: moderately difficult
Yield: makes 8-12 servings