Craving the delightful flavors of babka but don't want to deal with the hassle of making it? Well, I have the perfect solution for you - Babka Cookies! I came up with this brilliant idea when I was yearning for babka but wanted a simpler option. These cookies offer all the taste of babka in an easy-to-make delectable dessert.
With their marbled appearance and irresistible taste, these cookies offer a unique twist on the classic babka. The combination of the tender cookie base, the swirls of chocolatey goodness, and the crumbly topping create a texture and flavor experience that is simply heavenly. Whether you enjoy them with a cup of coffee, share them at your shabbos meal, or savor them as a sweet indulgence, these Babka Cookies are sure to become a beloved treat in your baking repertoire.
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Why you'll love these Babka Cookies:
- No Mixer Required: One of the best things about this recipe is that you don't need a mixer! It's a simple and straightforward process that you can easily accomplish with a fork or spoon.
- Made with Oil: Unlike traditional babka that uses butter or margarine, these cookies are made with neutral oil, such as avocado oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil. The use of oil adds moisture to the dough and eliminates the need for softening or creaming butter.
- Get Babka Flavor without the Hassle: Love the rich chocolatey swirls of babka but don't have the time for a complicated yeast dough? These Babka Cookies are your solution. They provide the perfect way to enjoy the idea of babka without the lengthy process.
Recipe ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these mouthwatering cookies:
Neutral oil (such as canola oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil), Brown sugar, White sugar, Eggs, Baking soda, Salt, Cornstarch, Flour, Chocolate chips, Cocoa powder
Ingredient notes
Neutral Oil: To preserve the authentic babka flavors, it's crucial to use a neutral oil that doesn't add its own strong taste. Avocado oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil are excellent choices. I recommend staying away from olive oil, the flavor is too strong and will overpower your cookies!
Cocoa Powder: Cocoa powder brings the chocolate flavor to these cookies. Be sure to use a high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best results.
Chocolate Chips: For those seeking a dairy-free option, I recommend using these dairy-free chocolate chips. They provide the same delightful taste but keep the cookies pareve.
How to make babka cookies step by step
Here are some quick visual instructions with a brief explanation. Be sure to read through the full instructions with exact ingredient measurements & steps in the recipe card below!
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the neutral oil, brown sugar, and white sugar. Whisk or mix with a fork to thoroughly.
Add the eggs to the bowl and continue mixing until the mixture becomes smooth and the eggs are fully incorporated.
Stir in the baking soda, salt, cornstarch, and flour, one ingredient at a time, mixing well after each addition. Continue mixing until all the dry ingredients are fully combined and you have a smooth cookie dough.
Add the chocolate chips to the dough. Mix them in gently but thoroughly to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Set aside about two-thirds of the cookie dough for later use. This portion will serve as the base dough for the cookies.
To the remaining one-third of the dough, add the cocoa powder. Mix it in thoroughly until the cocoa powder is fully incorporated and the dough has turned chocolatey in color. This portion will be the chocolate dough used for creating the marbled effect
Take the chocolate dough and place it back into the larger portion of dough. Using a spatula or spoon, gently swirl the two doughs together, being careful not to over-mix. A marbled effect should be created where the chocolate dough is streaked throughout the base dough.
In a separate small bowl, prepare the Babka Crumb by combining the all-purpose flour, white sugar, neutral oil, and a pinch of salt. Use a fork to mix the ingredients together until they resemble a crumbly texture.
Use a 2-inch cookie scooper or your hands to portion out the dough and form it into balls. Take a generous amount of the crumb mixture and sprinkle it over the top of each cookie, gently pressing it into the dough.
Place the baking sheet with the cookies into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
Babka Cookies tips and tricks:
- When preparing the Babka Crumb, use a fork to mix the ingredients. This will help create the desired crumbly texture.
- If the crumb mixture is not achieving the desired texture, add a teaspoon of equal parts flour and sugar until it comes together perfectly.
Frequently asked questions:
A: Yes, you can use other neutral oils such as grapeseed oil or vegetable oil as a substitute for the recommended neutral oils like canola, avocado, or sunflower oil.
A: Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough for later use (just omit the babka crumb until ready to bake). Before freezing form the dough into balls, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze until firm. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to bake, simply place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and add the babka crumb. Add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
A: This recipe is specifically designed to use oil instead of butter, you can experiment with substituting melted butter if you prefer a buttery flavor. Keep in mind that the texture and moisture level of the cookies may vary.
A: To keep the cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
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Babka Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup neutral oil (Avocado Oil, Sunflower Oil, Canola Oil)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 eggs (large eggs)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 ½ cup flour
- 1 ½ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup coco powder
Babka Crumb
- ½ cup all purpose flour (scooped in measuring cup and leveled)
- ½ cup sugar
- pinch salt
- ¼ cup neutral oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the neutral oil, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix with a fork or wisk until well combined
- Add the eggs and mix thoroughly until no streaks of eggs are showing,
- Stir in the baking soda, salt, cornstarch.
- Slowly add in the flour and mix until a smooth cookie dough is formed.
- Mix in the chocolate chips.
- Set aside ⅔ of the cookie dough for later use.
- Add the cocoa powder to the remaining ⅓ of the dough and mix thoroughly until a chocolate dough is formed.
- Place the chocolate dough back into the ⅔ dough and gently swirl the two together to create a marbleized effect
- Prepare the Babka Crumb by combining the flour, white sugar, salt, and neutral oil.
- Use a 2-inch cookie scooper to scoop out dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Top each cookie with the Babka Crumb mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool before indulging!
Emily says
Made these for shabbos and super excited for them! My batter was very liquidy, even after adding in and mixing extra flour, so it was too “soupy” to make cookies but I poured it into a pan instead and have babka “bars!” Doing that did change the baking time to 52 mins with the last 5 mins being at 400 degree. Super excited to serve these at my shabbos meal and these taste so good. I also added some cinnamon to the babka crumble for fun!
Esther Kayla says
Made these for shabbos two weeks in a row they are so tasty! It took me till the second time to be able to swirl the dough nicely to get the marbled effect but now that I got it down I will for sure be making again. It gives the comfort of babka without and hassle!
Esther Ives says
This is my new go to recipe when it comes to baking for other people. In general, I don't like baking because I feel like it never comes out as good as the recipe. This recipe is so easy to follow, delicious and they look so impressive always. Every time I make it and bring it to people they always rave about it!