Cinnamon Raisin Babka
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This golden babka filled with cinnamon and raisins is sure to impress you and your guests!
Author:
Recipe type: Sweet Bakes and Breads
Serves: 1 loaf
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup warm water (105ºF to 115ºF)
  • 1 envelope active dry yeast (1/4 ounce or 2¼ teaspoons)
  • ¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick, 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup warm milk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar (can go up to ½ cup; can substitute brown sugar)
  • ½ cup raisins
Instructions
  1. Pour ¼ cup of water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over water. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over the yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes or until foamy. Stir if not smooth.
  2. In a large mixing, combine 2½ cups of flour, ¼ cup of sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, 6 tablespoons of the butter, milk, and 2 of the eggs. Stir with your hand until ingredients come together in a soft dough. Add the remaining ½ cup of flour, if the dough is sticky. Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it is no longer sticky and is smooth and elastic. (Instead of using your hands, you can prepare the dough in a food processor with a dough blade, following the same order with the ingredients. Still, hand knead at the end.)
  3. Shape the dough into a ball in your hands. Oil the same bowl, put the dough in the bowl, and turn over to oil all surfaces. Cover with a plastic wrap or kitchen towel and let rise in a warm area 1 hour 15 minutes or until doubled.
  4. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Mix the cinnamon with sugar. Roll out the dough into a 9-by-11-inch rectangle. Brush with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon-sugar mixture, then with raisins. Press so the raisins adhere to the dough. Roll up tightly into a cylinder. Pinch the ends to seal. Put the dough seam side down in the prepared loaf pan. Cover the loaf with a warm, slightly damp kitchen cloth or a plastic wrap and let rise about 1 hour or until doubled.
  5. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
  6. Beat the remaining egg and brush the risen loaf gently with it. Bake about 30 minutes or until the top of the loaf is golden, and both the top and bottom are firm. Run a metal spatula or a thin knife carefully around the loaf. Turn out of the pan and cool on a rack before slicing.
Notes
Adapted from Faye Levy’s 1,000 Jewish Recipes.
Recipe by AZ Cookbook at https://azcookbook.com/2017/02/16/cinnamon-raisin-babka/