Description
A sweet braided bread filled with spiced apples and cinnamon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup warm milk (105-115F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar plus 1 tablespoon, divided
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and diced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (for filling)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for topping)
Instructions
- Combine warm milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Add yeast mixture, remaining sugar, and eggs. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Add softened butter. Knead the dough by hand or with a mixer until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled.
- While dough rises, prepare the filling: Combine diced apple, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until apples soften slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Punch down the risen dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle, approximately 12×18 inches.
- Brush the entire surface of the dough evenly with the melted butter for the filling. Sprinkle the cooled apple mixture over the buttered dough.
- Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Pinch the seam closed.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the log lengthwise down the center, exposing the layers. Turn the cut sides up.
- Twist the two halves together, keeping the cut sides facing up. Pinch the ends together.
- Carefully transfer the twisted dough to a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. Cover loosely and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350F (175C). Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a glaze, mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons milk and drizzle over the cooled babka.
- You can substitute pears for apples if you prefer.
- Ensure the apple filling is fully cooled before spreading it on the dough.
- Prep Time: 45 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: apple, cinnamon, babka, sweet bread, braided bread, yeast bread, pastry