Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com

Lemon-Cheese Babka

in Diana's Recipe Book

Average Rating: 
(total ratings: 5)
[Read reviews] [Post a review]
Servings: Makes two 8-inch round Babka's
 
Comments:
A great tasting bread (cake) for breakfast or for a snack during the day.

Ingredients:
For Dough:
1 envelope active dry yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup very warm water
3 1/2-4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
1/3 cup warm milk
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup golden raisins
Confectioner's Sugar

For Cheese Filling:
8 ounce package cream cheese
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

For Crumb Topping:
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cups chopped nuts, any type
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:
For Dough:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two (2) 8-inch x 1 1/2-inch round cake pans.

Sprinkle yeast and 1/2 tsp. of the sugar over very warm water in a 1 cup measure. Stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand until bubbly, about 10 minutes.

Combine 2 cups of the flour, salt, lemon rind and the remaining sugar in a large bowl; make a well in the middle. Beat eggs and egg yolks in a small bowl just to mix. Pour eggs, yeast mixture and warm milk into well. Stir liquids into flour until smooth. Beat well.

Add softened butter gradually, beating well. Stir in 1 more cup of the flour.
Beat until dough leaves the side of the bowl.

Knead on a lightly floured surface; until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.

Press dough into a buttered large bowl, turn to bring buttered side up; cover. Let rise in a warm place, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until doubled in volume.

For Cheese Filling:
Beat cream cheese and cottage cheese in a small bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; beat in egg yolk and sugar. Stir in lemon rind.

When dough has doubled, punch down, knead in raisins; divide dough into four equal parts; press two parts into the bottoms and about 1/2 inch up the sides of the prepared pans; spread each with about 1 cup of the cheese filling.

Shape remaining dough into 2 8-inch circles; place on top of cheese filling. Press the handle of a spoon into dough around edges to seal.

For Crumb Topping:
Combine nuts, flour, butter, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Sprinkle the crumb topping over both 8 inch dough circles. Let rise in a warm place until dough reaches the top of the pans, about 1 hour.

Bake babka's in prepared pans in preheated 350 degree F oven for 40 minutes; or until the cakes sound hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack.

Place foil loosely over the crumb topping. Invert babka's onto racks, then turn right side up. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Makes two (2) 8-inch Babka's, about 8 servings per babka.

Source: DianasDesserts.com
Date: April 15, 2002

Reviews

Reviewer: Judith Maurer
Rating: 
Review:
I like this recipe, as I am looking for the classic New York Cheese Babka from Brooklyn or Manhattan. I roll the dough into a rectagle and fill it with the cheese mixture. Roll it back into a long roll and put it into an tube pan. The cheese distributes better.

 
Reviewer: C. Keith
Rating: 
Review:
Dough did not quite expand to top of pan during second rise, but otherwise came out great. I think a little more yeast is required next time I bake babka.

 
Reviewer: cornelia
Rating: 
Review:
I also rolled into a rectangle and i put in cheese filling and pistachios, but i missed the egg yolks, ups!!

 
Reviewer: Connie Evereson
Rating: 
Review:
Did not rise very well

 
Reviewer: Cheryl H.
Rating: 
Review:
Great taste but definitely needs a bit more yeast. Came out fairly flat but I will make it again.

 

Add Your Review

  YOUR NAME (required)
  YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (required)
 (Excellent)
 (Very Good)
 (Good)
 (Could be Better)
 (Poor)
  RATING (required)
YOUR REVIEW: