Nutella Braided Bread
Nutella Braided Bread is a warm yeast bread full of rich chocolaty Nutella & crunchy hazelnuts. It’s a gorgeous treat that is simple to make!
Why We Love Nutella Braided Bread
- A beautiful and eye-catching confection, Nutella Braided Bread, also sometimes called Chocolate Babka, is almost too pretty to eat!
- An easy-to-make dough, filled with sweet Nutella and hazelnuts, makes a wonderful any-time treat but is an especially showstopping breakfast or brunch addition.
- This Nutella bread recipe starts with a fool-proof dough, followed by a layer of delicious Nutella and a sprinkling of hazelnuts that is then braided and formed into a wreath to make a holiday treat the family will rave about!
- Nutella Braided Bread also makes a great gift when you’re not sure what to bring to get-togethers! This chocolate Nutella bread is perfect for breakfast, brunch, snack, or dessert!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Nutella Bread Recipe
DRY INGREDIENTS: To make this bread you will need all-purpose flour, fast-acting dry yeast, granulated sugar, a little salt, and chopped hazelnuts.
WET INGREDIENTS: For this recipe, you will also need lukewarm milk and lukewarm water, an egg, melted unsalted butter, and Nutella or store-brand chocolate hazelnut spread.
TOPPINGS: You will need to make an egg wash for the bread, which is a simple mix of one egg yolk whisked with water. This will help the bread turn golden brown and give it a shiny finish. Be sure to have a little powdered sugar on hand to sprinkle over the finished bread too if you like.
How to Make Nutella Wreath Bread
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Combine the water, milk, sugar, and yeast in a bowl or a stand mixer. Whisk the mixture until the yeast has dissolved and allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes, until foamy.
STEP 2 Once the yeast is ready, add the egg, salt, melted butter, and 1 cup of flour to the bowl. With the dough hook attachment in place turn the mixer to low speed. While the mixer is running, add the rest of the flour 1 cup at a time. Once it’s incorporated, turn the mixer to medium speed and knead the dough for 5-8 minutes.
STEP 3 Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise for about 2 hours in a warm place until it has doubled in size.
STEP 4 Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it to the side. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle – about 14 inches x 18 inches. Spread the Nutella in an even layer over the dough, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the top.
STEP 5 Starting on one of the long sides of the rectangle, tightly roll the dough into a log. Cut the log in half lengthwise, leaving one end intact. Then twist the two dough strands together, shape the twist into a wreath, and pinch the ends together to seal them. Transfer the wreath to the parchment-lined baking sheet and cover it loosely with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise again for around 30 minutes.
STEP 6 After the dough has risen, brush the wreath with the egg wash and bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown. Remove the bread from the oven and allow the Nutella wreath to cool on a wire rack before dusting it with powdered sugar and slicing.
Tips & Tricks
- Be sure to check that your yeast is good before you make the dough. Old yeast is the most common reason people have problems with their dough not rising.
- After twisting the dough together, you can leave the Nutella braid in a line instead of a wreath, if you prefer. Just be sure to pinch the ends together.
- Nutella braided bread is a wonderful treat to serve for special occasions, like Christmas breakfast or Easter brunch. It’s great with your morning coffee or as an after-dinner treat too.
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, prepare the dough as directed in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer. Then turn it out onto a floured work surface and knead the dough by hand for 25 minutes before putting it in the bowl to proof.
Chocolate Babka Recipe FAQ
What is chocolate babka?
Chocolate babka is a much-loved and traditional sweet bread that originated in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. Sweet dough with a layer of chocolate, babka is braided and then placed in a loaf pan to bake. This swirled bread is sliced and enjoyed as a dessert or a snack with coffee and is most often made in honor of Easter Sunday. While chocolate is the most common and beloved ingredient, it can also be made with Nutella or fruit.
Is Babka braided?
Yes, babka is braided before it is placed in a pan to bake. Braiding is what gives this bread a swirled look and the beautiful lines of chocolate all throughout the bread. The loaf pan that babka is baked in also holds the bread, preventing the dough from spreading, which makes the chocolate layers rich and decadent.
Other Recipes You May Like
- Maple Bacon Monkey Bread
- Eggnog Bundt Cake
- Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Lemon Ricotta Fritters
- Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread
Nutella Braided Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup whole milk lukewarm (105-110F)
- ½ cup water lukewarm (105-110F)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 0.25 ounces instant yeast (1 envelope)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup Nutella
- ½ cup hazelnuts roughly chopped
Toppings
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon water
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large mixing bowl)< combine the warm milk, warm water, sugar, and yeast. Whisk to dissolve the yeast. Let rest for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- To the yeast mixture, add the egg, salt, melted butter, and 1 cup of flour. With the dough hook attachment in place, turn the mixer to low. Add the rest of the flour, 1 cup at a time, while the mixer is running.
- Once the flour is just combined, turn the mixer speed up to medium and knead for 5-8 minutes. (You can also knead the dough by hand for 25 minutes.)
- Transfer the dough to a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm area of your kitchen until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Once the dough has doubled, dump it out onto a floured work surface. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle (about 14×18 inches).
- Spread the Nutella over the dough in a single layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle the chopped hazelnuts all over the Nutella.
- Tightly roll the dough into a log, starting on the longer side. Using a sharp knife, cut the log in half lengthwise, leaving the last inch on one end intact.
- Twist the two strands of dough around each other, and then form the twist into a wreath. Pinch the ends together to seal the circle.
- Carefully transfer the wreath to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest until the dough is soft and nearly doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Beat the egg yolk and water together in a small bowl. Brush the eggs wash over the top of the bread. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. Dust the bread all over with powdered sugar before cutting it into slices and serving.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.