Chocolate Cinnamon Bread Recipes

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON PULL-APART BREAD

Steps:

• Roll and stretch the dough into a 12-inch square on a lightly floured surface. Combine the chocolate, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
• Combine the butter, vanilla and salt in a separate bowl then spread over the 12-inch square of dough. Sprinkle with the chocolate mixture, pressing lightly. Cut the dough into 16 small squares and make 4 stacks of 4 squares each.
• Place each stack on its side in a buttered 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Gently separate the dough layers so the dough fills the pan. Sprinkle with any fallen pieces of chocolate.
• Cover the loaf loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until the dough rises by half its size, 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350. Bake the loaf until it's browned and cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes (tent with foil if it's browning too quickly). Let cool 15 minutes in the pan, then loosen the edges with a knife. Remove to a plate and let cool 30 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON-SWIRL BREAD

Steps:

• Dough: Whisk together 1/3 cup bread flour, 1/3 cup milk, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan until smooth. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until thickened slightly but still pourable (it should have the consistency of loose pudding), 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; let cool until warm to the touch but no longer hot, about 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 3 cups flour, granulated sugar, salt, and yeast. Make a well in center of mixture. Add cooked milk-flour mixture, remaining 1/3 cup milk, melted butter, and whole egg to well; stir until a dough forms.
• Transfer to a lightly floured work surface and knead until dough is smooth and elastic and springs back when lightly pressed, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl brushed with butter, turning dough to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in volume, 45 minutes to 1 hour; or refrigerate up to 1 day and return to room temperature before rolling out.
• Filling: Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush a standard 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with butter. Stir together butter, brown sugar, cocoa, and cinnamon until smooth.
• Punch down dough. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Spread brown-sugar mixture evenly over top of dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border at edges. Sprinkle evenly with chocolate. Starting at one short end, roll up dough into a tight log, pinching ends and seam to seal after rolling. Starting 1 inch from one end of log, cut through dough vertically all the way through opposite end (dough should only be attached at one end).
• Twist the two sections of dough outward 5 times, then braid together, starting at attached end, pinching ends together to seal. Compress braid slightly with your hands to approximately 9 inches; transfer to prepared pan. Cover and let rise until doubled in volume (dough should rise about 1 inch above rim of pan), about 45 minutes. Whisk egg white with 1 teaspoon water; brush over top of dough.
• Bake until bread is puffed and brown on top (if browning too quickly, tent with foil), 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes. Carefully remove bread from pan and let cool completely on rack, about 2 hours. Slice and serve.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON TOAST

Steps:

• Spread both sides of bread with butter. In a small skillet, toast bread over medium-high heat 2-3 minutes on each side, topping with chocolate chips after turning. Remove from heat; spread melted chocolate evenly over toast. If desired, top with fruit.

CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together into a bowl. Whisk buttermilk, water, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl.
• Combine butter and sugar in a third, large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until egg is completely incorporated. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk mixture, beating batter briefly after each addition until just blended. Divide batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool completely.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease two 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pans and line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
• Chocolate Batter: in bowl of electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar with paddle attachment on medium speed, until light and creamy about 5 minutes.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating until each egg is completely incorporated before adding the next and scraping down sides of bowl several times.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
• In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, water and vanilla.
• With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to butter, beginning and ending with flour and beating just until blended.
• Divide batter between the two pans, shake pans to even tops and set aside.
• Cocoa Spice Sugar Crust: in another small bowl, whisk together sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, ginger and cloves.
• Sprinkle surfaces of both batters with decorating sugar.
• Sprinkle with cocoa sugar mixture, dividing evenly.
• Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 45 to 50 minutes.
• Let cool completely, run thin knife around sides to release breads and remove from pans.

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON ROLL WOOL BREAD

Steps:

• For the dough: Microwave 3/4 cup of water in a small microwave-safe bowl or liquid measuring cup until it reaches 100 to 110 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Sprinkle the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar over the top and stir to dissolve. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together the bread flour, milk powder, salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment until combined. Whisk the melted butter and egg yolks into the yeast mixture, then pour into the stand mixer over the flour mixture. Beat on medium speed until a shaggy dough ball forms. Increase the speed to medium-high and continue to knead until a smooth but slightly sticky ball forms, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir together the cocoa powder and 5 teaspoons of hot water in another small bowl until a thick paste forms; set aside. Split the dough in half and place one half in a medium bowl greased with butter, turning to coat; cover tightly with plastic wrap. Return the other half of dough to the stand mixer and add the cocoa powder mixture. Beat on medium speed until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed into the dough. Transfer the chocolate dough to another buttered medium bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• For filling and finishing: Mix the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and flour in a small bowl until evenly combined; set aside.
• Punch down both the plain and chocolate proofed doughs, then cut each into 6 equal portions (12 total pieces). Dust a clean work surface lightly with flour. Use a rolling pin to roll 1 piece of plain dough and 1 piece of chocolate dough into two long rectangles, about 4 inches wide and 8 inches long. Place the chocolate dough directly on top of the plain dough. Using a bench scraper or chef's knife, cut thin strips (about 1/8-inch wide) lengthwise along half of the dough (leave the other half uncut). Spread 1/2 tablespoon of softened butter on the un-cut side of dough, then sprinkle evenly with a heaping 2 teaspoons of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Fold about 1/4 inch of the dough inward on both sides to help hold the cinnamon mixture in, then roll the dough tightly from the uncut end to the sliced-end, making sure to finish with the seam-side down. The result should look like a roll of wool; set aside. Continue with the remaining dough pieces, butter and filling, so there are a total of 6 rolls.
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Place the dough rolls around the perimeter of the pan (they will fit snuggly and should be touching). Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Uncover the proofed bread and brush with the beaten egg. Bake until puffed, golden brown and the bread reaches an internal temperature of 190 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes in the pan, then run an offset spatula around the edge. Unlock the springform pan and unmold the bread. The bread can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
• For the cream cheese icing: Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and beat until combined. Cover and keep at room temperature until ready to serve. Cut the bread into slices and serve with a smear of cream cheese frosting.

CINNAMON-CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coat the inside of a large bowl with cooking spray.
• Add warm milk, melted butter, egg, and salt to yeast mixture; whisk for 1 minute. Gradually stir in flour until dough is no longer sticky.
• Knead dough by hand on a lightly floured surface or in a stand mixer fitted with a bread hook for 10 minutes. Transfer to the prepared bowl and turn until dough is covered in cooking spray. Cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Mix together sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl; set aside.
• Remove dough from the bowl. Punch it and fold in the sides. Flatten dough with a rolling pin into a 9x18-inch rectangle. Brush on melted butter and sprinkle with all but 3 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar mixture. Sprinkle with chopped chocolate. Roll dough carefully, starting at the short end, and pinch closed at the seam. Place seam-side down in the prepared loaf pan. Cover the pan and set in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Brush beaten egg on top of dough and sprinkle with remaining 3 tablespoons cinnamon-sugar mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven until top is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Carefully tip loaf out of pan onto a work surface and let it cool on a wire rack.

BABKA

Steps:

• Heat the milk; stir in the butter until melted; cool to lukewarm. Proof the yeast in the warm water.
• Beat the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until thick. Add the salt, grated rinds, vanilla, and Grand Marnier. Add the milk-butter mixture to the egg mixture. Stir in the yeast.
• Add the flour, a cupful at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon. The dough should not be dry, but it should not be sticky. Too much flour will make a dry, crumbly cake. Add the almonds and raisins.
• Turn the dough onto a floured board and knead for about 5 minutes, until dough comes away from your hand. Butter a very large bowl and put dough in bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk. Punch down and let rise a second time until almost doubled.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the pans generously. (You can sprinkle pans with a tablespoon of sugar if you wish.) Divide the dough into 3 portions. Arrange evenly on the pans and cover loosely. Let rise to top of pans.
• Bake cakes in oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until golden brown. There should be a hollow sound when you tap the top with your knuckles. Cool for 5 minutes in the pans, then turn out onto racks to cool.