Babka

Lorac's Note:

An easier and quicker version of Easter Babka. Denser more cake-like and less complicated if you haven't made bread without a machine. Add the Lucre from the Easter version for a sweeter presentation. Posted by request.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup butter
• 1 ¼ cups milk , scalded
• 2 compressed yeast cakes or 2 (1⁄16; ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 5 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange rind
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon rind
• ½ cup almonds , chopped
• 1 cup raisins
• breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Scald milk and pour over sugar and butter, Cool.
2. Dissolve yeast in a little of the milk mixture and add back to the rest of the milk mixture Add 1/2 of the flour and beat well.
3. Add salt to the eggs and beat until thick.
4. Add eggs to the flour mixture and mix well.
5. Add remaining ingredients and knead for 15 minutes.
6. Cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts until doubled in bulk (about 60 minutes.) Place in a well greased tube pan, sprinkled with breadcrumbs and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.

Reviews

[OddSpirit]

This is the same recipe that has been passed down for at least 3 generations in my family. Every Easter, this bread would be on the table awaiting the blessing from the neighborhood priest. Even today, it's not Easter without a breakfast of hard boiled eggs, kielbasa, and babka.

[Vino Girl]

This was so much fun to make, and very very very delicious. I only made half a recipe and I baked it in a 1.5 Liter Pyrex bowl for 30 minutes. I am sure a traditional loaf pan would also be fine, I just thought a round loaf would be more attractive. I did also make your Lucre. The Polish bakery in town here covers its babka with a liberal coating of powdered sugar, so I dusted a little of that on as well. We loved the citrus flavor, the almonds... Everything. I would not change a thing. I am not Polish but I live in a tiny town that was settled by Polish immigrants. Even today it is so steeped in heritage that I have become very interested in Polish tradition, including cooking. Thank you for posting this so I could learn a little more. I will make this again soon!