Chocolate babka is a delicious bread with chocolate swirls and a fluffy texture similar to coffee cake. Sometimes it’s topped with crumbs of halva, a sesame-based sweet. To reinvent these flavors, I was joined by celebrity chef Eden Grinshpan to make a chocolate babka tahini ice cream cookie sandwich. Get ready to have your tastebuds rocked.

Chocolate Babka Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

  • Prep Time:15 minutes
  • Cook Time:1 hour 15 minutes
  • Total Time:1 hour 30 minutes
  • Servings:6
  • Advanced

    Ingredients

  • 3 sticks of unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 semisweet chocolate bar, chopped
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/4 all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 challah bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream
  • 1 spoonful of tahini
  • Sesame seeds for rolling
Photo by Max Bartick
  • Step 1

    Preheat your oven to 350°F.

  • Step 2

    In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: 2 1/2 cups of flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 3

    In a separate bowl, beat 2 sticks of butter with granulated and brown sugar until it is fluffy.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 4

    Add both eggs one at a time. Then add vanilla extract.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 5

    Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 3 parts until combined.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 6

    Roughly chop the chocolate bar into small chunks. Then cut the challah bread into 1/2 inch cubes.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 7

    Add challah cubes and chocolate pieces to the dough and mix until incorporated.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 8

    Dollop the cookie dough onto a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 9

    While the cookies bake, make the crumble by combining 1 stick of butter, 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, and 3/4 cups of powdered sugar.

  • Step 10

    After 10 minutes, take the cookies out of oven and add crumble topping. Bake again for 3-5 minutes.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 11

    Cool the cookies on a baking sheet for 30 minutes to 1 hour until room temperature.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 12

    For the tahini ice cream, soften the ice cream and add in a spoonful of tahini. Mix until well combined and then place in the freezer to harden.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis
  • Step 13

    Once your cookies are cool and ice cream has re-hardened, you are ready to assemble your ice cream sandwich. Scoop the ice cream in between two cookies, roll the edges in sesame seeds and enjoy.

    GIF by Courtney Lewis