No “lesser babka” here. We rounded up several of the county’s best chocolate babka and were pleasantly surprised to find some seriously decadent, beautifully braided breads that pack big chocolate flavor. Here are our top picks.
Third Place
Enrico’s of Hartsdale
214 E Hartsdale Ave, Hartsdale; 914.723.0340
Less than one point separated second and third place, with Enrico’s getting docked a bit for its “rustic” appearance. This “quintessential babka” was “fudgy and rich,” with “delicious, pretty marbling” and “nice chocolate flavor,” but lost points with some tasters, who felt it was “a bit dry.’
Second Place
Susan Lawrence
26 N Greeley Ave, Chappaqua; 914.238.8833
A gift-worthy appearance, including a “pretty drizzle” helped Susan Lawrence beat out Enrico’s. “The texture and chocolate flavor are exceptional,” wrote one taster, while others remarked that it was “very moist” with “tons of chocolate.” If there was one fault, it was that some found it to be “just too sweet,” but for the most part, the consensus was “Yum!”
The Winner
Martine’s Fine Bake Shoppe
10 Fisher Ave, Tuckahoe; 914.346.8650
48 E Pkwy, Scarsdale; 914.722.4949
It’s the babka Jerry Seinfeld bought while filming an episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Ricky Gervais. Turns out, Jerry and Ricky know their stuff. This “gorgeous,” “platonic ideal of good babka” took down the competition by a landslide thanks in no small part to its “so perfect it looks fake” appearance and “perfect zebra stripes.”
But it wasn’t just the picture-perfect braiding that had us swooning. Martine’s babka boasted “just the right amount of chocolate” and a “crystallized, shiny top” added a lovely texture. Creative Director Bob Supina said it best: “mmmm-MMM!”
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