babka bread

8/15/2019 Babka Bread

1/23

Babka 1

Babka(Grandmas Bread)This is an Eastern European bread, rather sweet and cake-like, traditionally baked at

Easter and other holidays. Everyones grandmother (babci, babca) had her own recipe,

which she would defend as the only true babka. This recipe is based on what my own

grandmother (a Carpathian Russian) had made for decades. I tweaked it for the particular

tastes of my own family.

The process: We make a rich mixture of milk, eggs, butter, yeast, and sugar, then add

flour to make a soft, kneadable dough. We work in the raisins, let the dough rise once in

a bowl, then a second time in the loaf pans. It bakes for 30 to 40 minutes.

Time: From start to baked loaves, about four hours. (Or, about an hour one day, an

overnight rise in the fridge, then two hours the next day.)


2/23

Babka 2

Hardware

Two 9x5 loaf pans, glass, metal, or stoneware

Two big mixing bowls, wooden spoon or stout spatula

Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients, for two loaves

1 to 1 1/2 cups 'golden' raisins

2 cups whole milk

1/2 stick butter

5 egg yolks (no whites)

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

Vanilla extract

2 pkgs active dry yeast, regular or rapid-rise (Comes in 3-pkg strips)

5-6 cups bread flour (better) or all-purpose flour (About 1/3 of a 5 lb. bag)

To brush on baking loaves: 1 beaten egg, 1 Tbs milk, 1 drop vanilla extract


3/23

Babka 3

Plumping the Raisins

In a small bowl, cover raisins with hot tap water and let them soak while you continue.


4/23

Babka 4

The Liquids

In a large mixing bowl, blend together:

2 cups whole milk, warmed to about body temperature or so. (At least take the chill off it.)

5 egg yolks, no whites

! cup sugar

" stick melted butter

1 tablespoon salt

! teaspoon vanilla extract

To this mixture, add two packages of yeast. Sprinkle in and let stand for a minute or two to dissolve.


5/23

Babka 5

The dough: About 20 minutes

Take about two cups of the bread flour, and add it to the milk mixture. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon to

form a smooth paste. Dont worry about lumps.

Then mix in more flour, about a handful at a time, to create a soft dough. (You may need to abandon the spoon

and use your hands.)


6/23

Babka 6

Add just enough flour to form a shaggy, slightly sticky dough that you can just about pick up.

In general, softer and stickier is better than stiff and dry.


7/23


8/23

Babka 8

Raisins

Pour off the water from the raisins, and pat them with a paper towel to remove excess water. They will be

plump and soft.

Spread the raisins onto your flattened dough.


9/23

Babka 9

Now fold the dough to incorporate the raisins.

Knead the dough for a minute or two to work in the raisins. If some raisins try to escape, just tuck them back

in. Eventually theyll stay.


10/23

Babka 10

First Rising: 1 hour or so

Liberally coat a large mixing bowl with oil or butter.

Form your dough into a ball and place it in the bowl. Then flip the dough over, so the uppermost surface is

coated with butter. This prevents the dough from crusting over during the rising.


11/23

Babka 11

Cover the bowl with a towel, and leave it in a warm place (such as the oven with just the light on) for about an

hour.

Or, place the covered bowl in the fridge overnight, and continue the next day. In the cold, it will take the

dough 8-10 hours to rise.


12/23

Babka 12

After an hour or so, the dough will rise to double its original size. Sort of like this.

To see if it has risen enough, poke two fingers deep into the dough. If the holes remain, and dont spring back,

the dough is ready.


13/23

Babka 13

Forming the Loaves: Second Rising (About 1 hour)

Liberally butter the insides of your two loaf pans. More butter is better than less. You dont want sticking.

Turn the risen dough onto a well-floured work surface. Knead a few strokes to press out the bubbles. Divide in

two. Form loaves by pressing the dough into a rough oval. . . .


14/23

Babka 14

. . . .and rolling it up into a short loaf shape.


15/23

Babka 15

Pinch the seams together and drop into the loaf pan. (The loaves wont fill the pans, but they will rise again.) If

any raisins pop out of the dough, pick them off. They will burn in the oven.


16/23

Babka 16

Cover the pans with a towel and return to the warm place for about an hour.

Until they have about doubled in volume.


17/23

Babka 17

The dough should be about 1 inch above the rim of the pan. (Not to worry, they will rise still more in the oven.)


18/23

Babka 18

Baking: About 35 minutes at 360

Preheat oven to 360 degrees.

In a small bowl, beat one egg, 1 Tablespoon milk, and one drop of Vanilla extract.

Brush onto the loaves.


19/23

Babka 19

Now slide the loaf pans onto middle shelf of the oven.


20/23

Babka 20

After about 10 minutes, they will blossom nicely.

If they begin to brown unevenly, just rotate the pans every ten minutes or so, to even out the browning.


21/23

Babka 21

After about 40 minutes theyll look like this.

They are done when the loaves are a rich glossy brown, and have firm hollow sound

when tapped. Or they look like Babka. If in doubt, bake five more minutes. Five

minutes over is better than five minutes too little.


22/23

Babka 22

Remove from oven, and tilt the loaves out of the pans. If theyre reluctant to come out, run a knife around the

edges of the pan to release them. (And use more butter next time.)

Let the loaves cool on a wire rack before slicing or storing in plastic bags.


23/23

Babka 23

Eat.

babka bread

Documents