Fermented Sourdough Babka

Carrie Vitt

Makes 1 loaf

Fermented Sourdough Babka

See the video above for step-by-step instructions.

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Ingredients

For the Sweet Levain:
• 100g organic all-purpose flour
• 100g water
• 125g bubbly starter ( here's a recipe to make your own starter)
• 23g organic cane sugar
For the Dough:
• 210g unsalted organic butter, melted and cooled
• 250g spelt flour
• 250g organic all purpose flour
• 250g sweet levain (from above)
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 75g organic cane sugar
• 45g whole milk, room temperature
• 9g Celtic sea salt
For the Chocolate Filling:
• 110g organic cane sugar
• 75g unsalted butter
• 70g bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 25g cocoa powder
For the egg wash:
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. For the Levain: The night before you want to make the dough, combine flour, water, starter, and organic cane sugar. Stir the ingredients together until combined. Cover with a clean cloth and let sit overnight for at least 8-10 hours.
2. The next day: Place the butter, spelt, flour, sweet levain build (from above), eggs, cane sugar, whole milk and sea salt in the bowl of a standing mixer. Mix on low using the beater attachment for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the beater attachment and put on the dough hook. Mix for 8 minutes on medium.
3. Stretch and Fold: Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let sit for 30 minutes. Stretch and fold the dough four times (see the video above at the 1:15 mark). After you stretch and fold the first time, place a clean cloth over the dough and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, stretch and fold the dough again, place a clean cloth over the dough and let sit for another 30 minutes. Repeat two more times for a total of four times.
4. After the stretch and fold process, cover the dough really well with plastic wrap (or a lid, if you have one) and place the dough in the refrigerator. Let the dough ferment for 48-72 hours. I've tested this recipe at both the 48 hour and 72 hour mark and they both turned out beautifully!
5. To assemble the babka: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the sugar, chocolate and cocoa powder. Let cool to room temperature, but still spreadable.
6. Remove the dough from the fridge and cut about 1/4 of it off and set aside*. Roll the remaining 3/4’s of the dough on a floured surface into a rough 12x16-inch rectangle (if it's a bit bigger than this, it's ok). Using an offset spatula, spread the filling in an even layer over the dough within 1/2 inch of the edges. Tightly roll up the dough and transfer it to a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Place the dough in the fridge for about 20 minutes (I accidentally said 45 minutes in the video, and if you refrigerate for 45 minutes that's fine, but 20 will also do).
7. Using a sharp knife, cut the log in half lengthwise. Twist to form a spiral and then transfer to a buttered, 9x4-inch loaf pan. Cover with a towel and let sit at room temperature for 4 hours.
8. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and adjust the rack to the middle position.
9. Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon water. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg wash on the top of the unbaked loaf. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until golden brown on top. Let cool for 10 minutes. Gently remove the loaf from the pan and cool completely on a cooling rack.
10. *There will be a bit of leftover dough, so I like to divide it into 2-inch balls, put them in a buttered muffin tin and bake for about 20 minutes at 350. The rolls are amazing with some butter and jam!