Basic Sweet Babka

Want an alternative to a cake, or a pie, or a bread? A sweet Babka can be a great choice of food for parties. The following recipe will yield 3 loaves.

Ingredients

For the dough

• 1 tbsp dry active yeast
• ⅓ cup + ½ tsp sugar
• ½ cup lukewarm water
• 4 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp vanilla
• ½ cup milk
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter (or margarine), melted
• 2 eggs

Suggested fillings

• 1 - 1 ½ cups chocolate filling, cinnamon sugar, or other filling of your choice

For the sugar syrup

• ⅔ cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

• Mix yeast, ½ tsp sugar, and lukewarm water in a small bowl, mix, and let it foam up for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix flour, ⅓ cup sugar, and 2 tsp vanilla.
• Scald milk, allow to sit for 1 minute to cool slightly.
• Add water-yeast mixture, milk, and melted butter to flour mix.
• Add eggs one at a time.
• When the dough comes together, mix for another 2-3 minutes and scrape down the sides.
• Mix on high for another 5-10 minutes.
• Place dough in a greased bowl wit ha damp towel on top and let it rise for 1-2h.
• Make the sugar syrup while the dough is rising.
• Combine water, sugar, and vanilla in a small sauce pan.
• Bring to a low boil until thesugar has dissolved.
• Set aside and cool.
• Prepare three 8½-by-4½-inch greased loaf pans. Alternatively, prepare 2 large round babkas to be baked on a aking sheet.
• Cut dough into 3 equal parts. Roll out one part into a rectangle, and spread a third of the filling onto the rectangle. Roll up along the shorter side.
• Cut dough straight down the middle so the filling is exposed.
• Layer each cut piece on top of one another and twist.
• Place in a greased loaf pan.
• Lightly drape a kitchen towel on the top of the pans, and let them raise for another 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 180ºC / 350ºF.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Brush each babka with two layers of sugar syrup.
• Place back in the oven for approximately 15 minutes.
• Add another 3 layers of syrup immediately when they come out of the oven.
• Allow to cool down for 5-10 minutes before removing from the pan and place on top of a wire rack to cool.