CINNAMON CHOCOLATE COFFEE CAKE - OR BABKA

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until smooth.
• Add vanilla and slightly beaten egg yolks and mix about 2 minutes until fluffy.
• Add flour and yeast and stir slightly.
• Add the milk and mix on low speed to make a soft dough, adding flour as needed or milk.
• Knead for 4 minutes before tipping onto counter.
• Stretch the dough into a rectangle and fold letter style top to bottom and side to side.
• Place dough in straight sided container, cover and rest 15 minutes.
• Stretch and fold again, resting 15 more minutes.
• Allow dough to rise 1.5 times its volume to double its volume.
• Roll dough out to a 12 inch by 12 inch rectangle.
• Make filling by placing frozen chocolate chips and cinnamon in a food processor and process to a grandular consistency. Add cold butter and pulse until well mixed.
• Spread mixture on dough, leaving a 1/4 inch rim uncoated.
• Roll dough into a rope like cylinder without stretching the length beyond 15 inches.
• Cut the rope into 2 15 inch half-cylinders and braid to form a loaf, folding in the ends. Place in an 8 inch x 4.5 inch loaf pan well oiled.
• Preheat oven to 350F while letting loaf rise to 1.5 times its volume.
• Brush with egg white glaze if desired and bake for 50 minutes to an hour and 10 minutes, until the internal temperature is 180F to 200°F.
• To prevent over browning due to the sugar in this recipe, cover loosely for at least half the time with aluminum foil while baking.
• Let cool completely before serving.