posted by Angel 03-27-99 4:04 PM
Babka
Ingredients:
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup warm water
2 pkg. dry yeast
6 - 7 cups flour - unsifted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 lb. butter
3/4 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 eggs - lightly beaten
Filling:
2 - 3 tsp. melted butter
1 - 1 1/2 cups raisins
2 tsp. cinnamon, mixed with
1/2 cup sugar
Glaze:
1 egg - beaten with water
Method:
Preheat oven to 180*C (350*F)
Dissolve 1 tsp sugar in 1/2 cup warm water.
Sprinkle yeast on water and leave alone for 5 - 10 minutes until mixture becomes frothy.
Place flour, sugar an salt into a large bowl of electric mixer.
Make well in centre of dry ingredients and pour in yeast mixture, covering lightly with flour mixture.
Let stand until cracks appear in flour covering, about 10 minutes.
Melt butter in milk and when warm, add cream.
Add to flour and yeast mixture.
Finally, add eggs and beat until dough is smooth and satiny, about 10 minutes.
If dough is sticky, add a bit more four. Gather dough into a ball and place in large enough bowl to allow for expansion.
Cover with cloth and put in warm place until at least doubled in bulk (3 -4 hours).
Punch down, divide into 2 equal parts and press each into rectangle 1" thick.
Brush with melted butter.
Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar and raisins and roll up as for jelly roll.
Put each roll into a well greased loaf pan and allow to rise again in a warm place, about 1 hour.
Brush tops with egg/water mixture.
Bake about 1/2 hour or until it sounds hollow when tapped.
Variations~
Instead of raisins, can use either nuts or poppy seed.