Chocolate Apricot Bread Recipes

CHOCOLATE-APRICOT BABKA

Steps:

• To make dough, combine flours, salt and all but 1 tablespoon sugar in mixer fitted with dough attachment and mix on medium speed. In a small bowl, stir yeast with one tablespoon warm water and reserved tablespoon sugar just until sugar and yeast have dissolved. Reduce mixer speed to low, add yeast mixture, milk, eggs and vanilla. Beat until dough is shiny and elastic, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add one stick butter by spoonfuls until thoroughly incorporated, then beat on low speed for about 5 minutes. When finished, dough should be silken and rich like very thick ice cream. Transfer to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside. When dough has doubled in size, after 2 hours, flour a cutting board and your hands. Then push dough down on board, cover well with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or overnight.
• To make filling, purée apricot preserves in a food processor until smooth. In a small bowl, combine cake crumbs, preserves and butter; mix until smooth. Set aside. Grate chocolate by hand in large holes of a box grater or in a food processor. If using a food processor, pulse into large chunks. Set aside.
• To make streusel topping, in a small bowl mix flour, sugar and cinnamon. Add cold butter and using your fingers, mix together until crumbly. Set aside.
• To assemble, line one Bundt pan or two 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pans with parchment paper, not letting paper come more than 1 inch above top of pans. Remove dough from refrigerator and divide it in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll one piece of dough into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle.
• Using a metal spatula, spread half the apricot filling over dough within 1/2 inch of edges. Sprinkle with half the grated chocolate. Beginning with long side, roll dough up tightly and fold in ends. Twist babka lengthwise to create a spiral, holding one end of babka in each hand. Place twisted babka in half the prepared Bundt pan or in a loaf pan, pressing dough firmly into pan. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Brush babka top with melted butter and sprinkle with half the streusel. Repeat with second half of babka dough. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let loaves rise at room temperature until they reach top of pan or about doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for about 45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Allow babka to cool for 30 minutes before cutting. Slice babka and serve.

APRICOT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Soak apricots in warm water for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, cream the sugar, butter and egg. Stir in orange juice. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until combined. Drain apricots well; add to batter with nuts. Pour into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until bread tests done. Cool 10 minutes in pan before removing to a wire rack.

CHOCOLATE APRICOT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Trim crusts off bread and cut loaf cross-wise into 3/4 inch thick slices.
• Arrange 8 to 10 slices diagonally in a buttered 8-inch square pan – you may have to overlap them on each other and push and tug a bit to get them to fit without overlapping the edges of the pan, while performing this step, tuck the chocolate and apricots in amongst the bread slices, and scatter some over the top as well.
• Whisk the eggs, half-and-half, sugar, liqueur OR orange juice, and vanilla together until well blended, then gently pour over the bread and soak for about 30 to 40 minutes until its all soaked up – you may need to coax it a bit by spooning some of the liquid over the top.
• Bake in 350 oven for about 30 minutes, or until custard is cooked in the center.
• If desired, very briefly run the pan under the broiler about 3 to 4 inches from the heat for a golden and crusty top (optional).

CHOCOLATE APRICOT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375^F.
• Butter 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Spread the soften butter on one side of each slice of bread and cut into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Melt the chocolate in milk in a small saucepan over moderate heat, whisking until smooth.
• Combine the egg and sugar in a small bowl and add to the hot milk mixture in a steady stream.
• Stir in vanilla, bread, and apricots.
• Transfer to loaf pan and let stand 5 minutes.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
• Serve warm with ice cream.