Family Babka

(from Violetdragonfy’s recipe box)

This recipe has floating around my family for years. The cream cheese filling is a modern flair, but it can be left out without changing the flavor or cooking time.

Cranberry alternative:
Follow recipe below, however substitute orange rind for lemon rind, and dried cranberries for golden raisins.

Chocolate alternative:
Follow recipe below, however leave out rind and substitute semi-sweet chocolate morsels for raisins. Add 1-tsp of vanilla extract to scolded milk, and 1-tbls of coca powder to cheese filling.

Cinnamon alternative:
Follow recipe below, however leave out rind and substitute chopped walnuts for raisins. Add 1-tbls of ground cinnamon to cheese filling and substitute light brown sugar for granulated sugar. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on dough before spreading cheese filling.

Prep time: 240 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves 12 people

Categories: Holiday treats, Polish

Ingredients

  • 1/2-cup soft butter
  • 1/2-cup of sugar
  • 4 egg yolks (beaten)
  • 1-tsp of salt
  • 1-cup of scolded milk
  • 1-package of dry active yeast (activate with 1-tsp of sugar and 1/4-cup of warm water, let sit for 10 minutes to activate)
  • Grated rind of 1 lemon
  • 4-cups of flour
  • 1-cup of golden raisins
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 package of softened cream cheese (regular only)
  • 1/2-cup of sugar
  • 2 egg whites

Directions

  1. Mix butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add salt, and yolks to butter and sugar mixture. Blend well.

  2. Add yeast (must be activated first) and lemon rind.

  3. Add flour alternately with milk and beat well to make a smooth batter. Add raisins to batter.

  4. Fold remaining milk and flour into batter. When dough becomes sticky, turn out dough n flour covered tablet-top and knead with hands until batter leaves fingers and raisins “pop” out of batter.

  5. Place dough back in bowl and cover with damp cloth. Let rise in a warm place until dough doubles in size (1½-hours). Punch dough down and let rise again until dough doubles in size (1½-hours).

  6. nerously butter tube pan. Place ½ of the dough in the tube pan, spread cheese filling (blend cream cheese, 1/2-cup sugar, and 2 egg whites until smooth). Place remaining ½ of dough on top of the cheese filling. Coat babka with 2 of the reserved egg whites. Bake for 30 mins at 350.

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