Chocolate Babka with Michael Kalanty
December 3 @ 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Chocolate babka is one of the great achievements of enriched bread baking: a tender, buttery dough wrapped around layers of rich chocolate filling and twisted into a beautiful loaf that is as impressive to look at as it is to eat. A favorite for holidays and special occasions, it’s also one of the great weekend treats to share with family and friends.
Whether you’ve admired babka from afar or have tried making it at home with mixed results, this class will guide you through the process step by step.
Designed and taught by Michael Kalanty, former Director of Boulangerie for the Le Cordon Bleu and Art Institute Schools, this class is a deep exploration of the techniques, ingredients, and processes that make chocolate babka one of the world’s most beloved enriched breads.
We’ll focus on the techniques that make babka both beautiful and delicious:
- The Sponge Technique: making a quick starter that improves flavor, texture, and volume
- Emulsifying Butter: incorporating butter properly to create a rich, soft, and tender dough
- Shaping Techniques: rolling, filling, twisting, and shaping babka for an attractive finished loaf
- Streusel Topping: creating a crisp, flavorful topping that complements the rich dough and chocolate filling
By the end of class, you’ll understand the complete babka-making process and feel confident recreating this classic bakery favorite at home.
Each student will take home their own class-made babka.
Instructor Bio
Michael Kalanty is a professional bread baking instructor. He’s written baking curriculums for professional schools across the country, in Italy and in Brasil. His textbooks have won awards like “Best Bread Book in the World”® at the Gourmand Cookbook Awards in Paris and have been translated into Portuguese. When he was the Director of Boulangerie for the Le Cordon Bleu schools in North America, he was awarded “Best Instructor of the Year”. You can find him teaching online at The Great Courses and Craftsy.
Categories: Baking Class, Beginner, Bread, Chocolate, No Experience Necessary
