Instructions

For the Dough:

1. In a small bowl or measuring cup, warm the milk and butter until it’s warm to the touch (about 105-110℉)
2. Place the flour, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of a standing mixer. Mix until just combined. 
3. Add the milk mixture, egg, and salt to the flour mixture. Mix with the dough hook for about 2 minutes on low.
4. Increase the speed of the mixer to the next notch up. Knead for another 5-6 minutes. 
5. Scrape the the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead lightly into a ball. 
6. Grease a clean bowl. Place dough into bowl, and cover. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for about 2 hours or until doubled in volume. 

For the Filling:

1. While the dough rises, make the filling. 
2. Preheat the oven to 300℉. Place a single layer of pecans on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10 min, then stir nuts (turn as you stir).Bake for an additional 10 min. Allow nuts to cool before proceeding with the recipe.
3. In the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add the nuts, salt, and brown sugar. Pulse until chopped. Add the vanilla, and proceed to pulse until a clumpy crumble-like texture forms. 
4. Set aside until ready to assemble the knots. 

Forming the Knots:

1. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out into about a 9×14 inch rectangle.
2. Spread butter on the middle third of the dough. Sprinkle with 1/3 of chocolate chips and nut mixture.
3. Fold one side of the dough over the filling. And again spread 1/3 of butter, 1/3 of chocolate, and 1/3 nut mixture. 
4. Finally, fold the last third of the dough over. Now you have 3 layers of dough. 
5. Roll the dough out into a longer rectangle. 
6. Cut the dough vertically into 8 equal strips. Cut each strip in half. 
7. Take one half strip and form a teardrop with one end over the other. Tuck another half strip into the first loop to create the knot. For photographic directions, please see Thida Bevington’s Instagram Story Highlights for Babka Knots. You can find her profile here.

Baking and Finishing the Knots:

1. Place the formed knots on a lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for about 30 min or place in fridge overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 340℉. 
3. Brush tops of knots with egg wash. 
4. Bake for 24 min. Flip the pan half way through baking. 
5. While knots are in the oven, warm the maple syrup over a low heat. 
6. Brush warm knots out of the oven with warm maple syrup.