Vegan Chocolate Babka

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In the past 2 years I started baking a lot of vegan desserts, cakes and cookies. I try to reduce the amount of dairy and eggs we consume daily, and baking began treats is a good way to do that.

This vegan chocolate babka is made of vegan yeast pastry, and it’s very soft, airy and fluffy – you won’t believe it contains no eggs or dairy.

Vegan Chocolate Babka

Photo: Natalie Levin


Vegan Chocolate Babka

For the dough:

  • 500 grams (3 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
  • 9 grams (2 tsp.) active dry yeast
  • 100 grams (1/2 cup) sugar
  • 70 ml. (1/3 cup) vegetable oil
  • 2 grams (1/2 tsp.) fine salt
  • 240-300 ml. (1-1 1/4 cups) water

For chocolate filling:

  • 100 grams (1/2 cup) melted coconut oil
  • 100 grams dark chocolate
  • 30 ml. (2 tbsp.) soy milk
  • 100 grams (1/2 cup) sugar
  • 50 grams (5 tbsp.) cocoa powder
  • 50 grams (1/2 cup) almond meal
  • Some soy milk for brushing

For the glaze:

  • 70 grams (1/3 cup) sugar
  • 80 ml. (1/3 cup) water
  1. Dough: in a bowl of an electric mixer with a dough hook put flour, yeast, sugar, oil, salt and 240 ml of water and knead on low-medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until the dough begins to form. If the dough is too dry, gradually add a little more water. Knead for another 6-7 minutes until the dough is soft and smooth.
  2. Transfer the dough on a lightly floured work surface, and create a round shape of it.
  3. Put the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise for about 1-2 hours or until the it doubles in volume.
  4. Chocolate filling: put coconut oil, chocolate and soy milk in a bowl and melt in the microwave or over double boiler until everything is melted and mixture is smooth.
  5. Add sugar, cocoa and almond meal and stir until mixture is smooth.
  6. Cool the mixture in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes or until it reaches the consistency of paste.
  7. Divide the dough to 2 equal parts.
  8. On a floured surface, roll each part into a rectangle about 1/2 cm thick and spread about half of the chocolate filling evenly.
  9. Roll tight and cut the roll lengthwise you get two long strips of dough reveals the filling.
  10. Braid the strips and put in a lightly grease pan.
  11. Repeat with the second part of the dough and the remaining filling.
  12. Cover the cakes with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until it almost doubled its volume.
  13. Preheat oven to 170c degrees.
  14. Lightly brush the cakes with a little soy milk.
  15. Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until cakes are golden and set.
  16. Glaze: in a small pot put sugar and water and heat to a boil. Cook for 2-3 minutes after boiling until the sugar dissolves.
  17. Brush the cakes generously with the syrup, cool slightly and serve at room temperature.
  • It is recommended to serve the cakes warm.
  • The cakes can be frozen, well wrapped, for up to a month.
  • You can add chopped nuts or chocolate chips to the filling.
  • It is important not to give up the syrup which keeps the cakes moist.

Vegan Chocolate Babka

Photo; Natalie Levin