BABKA RECIPE

This recipe will teach you how to make Babka recipe. Babka is a sweet spongy yeast cake. This recipe is sometimes called a bread but I prefer to call it a cake, it is made all different ways like chocolate Babka but this fruit one is my favourite. The flavour of currant, raisins, lemon and orange zest and the orange liqueur are just some of the ingredients that go into making this cake an exceptional tasting cake.

Babka Ingredients

2 cups milk
1 cake yeast
5 eggs
4 egg yolks
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup warm water
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
grated zest of 2 oranges
grated zest of 1 lemon
9 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 1/4 cups margarine softened
1 Tbs orange flavoured liqueur
1 cup chopped slivered almonds
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup all purpose flour extra

Babka Method

In a bowl place the yeast and pour warm water over it. Break up the yeast with a spoon and set aside for 3 minutes. In a small saucepan scald the milk and add 1 cup margarine and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and let cool until lukewarm. In a large mixing bowl beat together 4 eggs and egg yolks with an electric mixer with a paddle attachment and then add sugar and salt and continue to beat until mixture is thick and pale and then add vanilla, orange flavoured liqueur, zests and yeast mixture. Combine all these ingredients well. Gradually beat in 4 cups flour then add the milk mixture alternately with the remaining 4 cups flour while beating on medium speed. Add extra flour if dough is to sticky. Next thing to do is mix in the currants, raisins, golden raisins and almonds then transfer the dough to a clean large bowl and knead it using a large wooden spoon until the dough pulls away and doesn't stick to the spoon usually about 10 minutes. After you finnish that put the dough into a large buttered bowl and turn it around so all sides are covered with the butter then cover and place in a warm place until dough rises to the top of the bowl usually takes about 2 hours.

After the dough has risen punch it down and cover the bowl and let it rise again. While the dough is rising butter 3 angel food cake pans. In a small bowl mix 1 cup flour, 4 tablespoons margarine, brown sugar, and cinnamon this will form the crumb topping. Take this mixture and sprinkle evenly in the 3 pans. Now preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Now take the dough and punch it down again and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 1 minute. Cut the dough into thirds and transfer to prepared pans. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise to the top of the pan. Bake the Babka for 50 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Leave cakes to cool in pan for 4 minutes then turn out onto cooling rack and let cool. Sprinkle cake with powdered sugar if desired.

Enjoy your freshly made Babka!