Make the dough

• Warm the milk and dissolve the yeast with a little of the sugar.
• Mix the flour, remaining sugar and salt in a bowl, then add the egg, egg yolk and the yeast mixture.
• Knead until the dough comes together, then work in the softened butter until smooth and elastic.

Let the dough rise

• Shape the dough into a ball, cover and leave in a warm place until doubled in size.

Prepare the chocolate filling

• Melt the chocolate with the butter over a low heat.
• Stir in the sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon until smooth, then let cool slightly.

Roll and fill

• Roll the risen dough into a large rectangle on a floured surface.
• Spread the chocolate filling evenly over the dough.

Shape the babka

• Roll the dough up tightly from the long side into a log.
• Cut the log in half lengthways and twist the two strands around each other, cut sides up.
• Place the twist in a lined loaf pan.

Second rise

• Cover the pan and let the babka rise again until puffy.

Bake

• Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C until deep golden and cooked through.

Brush with syrup and cool

• Brush the warm babka generously with the sugar syrup.
• Leave to cool in the pan before slicing.