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The beautiful babka loaf is filled with chocolate spread, crushed graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and topped with a graham cracker streusel

S'mores Babka Loaf

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This gorgeous babka loaf features a buttery, rich brioche dough that has been filled with a rich chocolate ganache, crumbled graham crackers, and mini marshamallows, to create a s'mores inspired babka loaf.
Course Baking
Cuisine American
Keyword babka, babka loaf, bread, brioche, s'mores bread, smores, smores babka
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Rising Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings 1 loaf

Equipment

  • Stand mixer

Ingredients

S’mores Babka Loaf

  • 1/2 cup Whole Milk, warmed to 105°F
  • 2 ¼ tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • 1/4 cup White Sugar
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 Egg Yolk
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour, plus more if needed, measured correctly †
  • 7 tbsp Unsalted Butter, cut into small pieces, at slightly warmer than room temperature (should be very soft)

S’mores Filling

  • 5 oz Milk Chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 oz Dark Chocolate, finely chopped
  • 5 tbsp Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Cocoa, preferably dutch processed, sifted
  • 3 Graham Crackers, ground or smashed into a fine crumb
  • 3/4 cup Mini Marshmallows

Graham Cracker Struesel

  • 1/3 cup Finely Ground Graham Crackers (about 2 crackers)
  • 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 tbsp All Purpose Flour
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 3 tbsp Cold Unsalted Butter

Instructions

Making the Babka Dough

  • In a measuring cup add warm milk and yeast together. Stir together to combine, then allow to sit until it becomes foamy, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, add egg, yolk, salt, vanilla, and sugar. Whisk together to combine.
  • Add egg mixture, foamy yeast-milk, and flour to stand mixer. Using a large wooden spoon, mix together the dough until a shaggy dough forms. Place the dough hook onto the stand mixer and turn the stand mixer onto medium. Beat the dough until it has come together and looks uniform.
  • While still beating the dough, begin adding in the butter 1 tbsp at a time, ensuring that each addition is incorporated before adding the next. After all the butter has been added, continue to beat for another 5-8 minutes, or until the dough is smooth, elastic, and tacky.
  • Transfer dough to a greased large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, then place in a warm area to rise for about an hour, or until the dough is doubled in size.

Making the Chocolate Ganache

  • Place a heat proof bowl over top of a small saucepan of simmering water. Add both chocolates and butter to the heatproof bowl. Heat until the chocolate has just melted and is combined with the butter. Remove from heat and add in cocoa powder and brown sugar. Stir to dissolve. The consistency should be a paste like consistency.

Shaping and Braiding the Babka

  • Prepare a 9”x5” loaf pan with grease and parchment paper. Turn the dough out onto a lightly flour work surface, and roll the dough out into a 15”x15” square.
  • Spread chocolate ganache over top of the dough, leaving about a 1” strip along the top. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs and mini marshmallows over top. Brush the bare 1” strip with a bit of water. Roll the dough away from you into a log (try to maintain even thickness throughout).
  • (Optional) For easier and cleaner cutting, place the roll into the freezer for 30 minutes.
  • Using a serrated knife, slice the log in half lengthwise. Place the sliced halves face up and side by side each other. Form an ‘X’ formation with the two strips. Working from center out, interweave the two strips by folding them over one another alternating back and forth. When at the end, pinch the ends together. Repeat on the other half.
  • Transfer the braided dough into the prepared 9x5" loaf pan, cover lightly with plastic wrap, and place into a warm place to rise for another hour, or until doubled in size.

Making the Graham Cracker Streusel

  • Add graham crackers to food processor and pulse until they become fine in texture. Add brown sugar and salt, pulse to combine. Then add cold butter pieces, and pulse until crumbly.

Baking the Babka

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. After the dough has doubled in size, place into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, then sprinkle streusel on, then bake for another 15 minutes (internal temperature of 200°F). When done, allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before cutting into it.

Notes

† to measure flour correctly, use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup, then level off with a straight edge. Do not pack the flour into the cup, or scoop with the measuring cup straight from the bag/container. Alternatively, weigh the flour (1 cup = 120g or 4oz).