Sourdough chocolate babka

Read the full method, check the stated equipment and prepare every listed ingredient. Keep dough, filling, wash, topping and handling groups separate. Weigh edible parts as described in the ingredient list.

Mix all dough ingredients except dough butter and any dried fruit. Keep filling, wash and finishing ingredients separate. Cover.

Rest covered for 20 minutes.

Knead on low for 6–8 minutes until the dough begins stretching smoothly.

Add soft dough butter in small pieces and knead for 5–8 minutes until elastic and able to stretch into a thin translucent sheet. Keep dough below about 27°C; if greasy or warm, add a refrigerator pause before continuing.

Allow 5–9 hours in total from adding the starter, including mixing, rests and folds already completed. At 22–26°C use the dough rather than the clock: At 24–26°C aim for 60–75% growth, a rounded surface and an aerated feel. Enriched dough can be slower at 22°C. Keep covered and stop before collapse.

Chill covered for at least 2 hours so the enriched dough is easier to handle.

Melt filling chocolate and filling butter gently. Take off heat and stir in filling sugar and cocoa.

Cool to a spreadable paste rather than a runny liquid.

Roll dough to about 22 × 28 cm. Spread filling leaving a sealing border, roll from the shorter edge and seal the log.

Chill for 15 minutes.

Cut the log lengthways, turn cut faces upward and twist loosely. Put into the prepared loaf tin.

Allow 3–5 hours; the timer is an estimate. The buns or loaf should be clearly swollen and aerated; a gentle press should recover slowly. Begin heating the oven near the end of proofing.

Heat the oven to 160°C fan.

Allow about 15 minutes of heating in total and check that the oven has reached 160°C fan.

Continue covered until ready. The buns or loaf should be clearly swollen and aerated; a gentle press should recover slowly.

Check the oven has reached the stated setting and carefully put in the prepared tray or tin.

Bake at 180°C conventional / 160°C fan for 35–45 minutes, until evenly golden and about 93–95°C in the dough. Cover loosely if browning before the centre is cooked.

Take the bake out of the oven and set it on a heatproof surface.

Heat glaze sugar and glaze water, stirring until dissolved; boil for 1 minute and take off the heat.

Brush the hot bake with the glaze syrup.

Leave in the tin for 15 minutes.

Lift onto a rack.

Cool on a rack for 90 minutes before cutting or serving.