Babka (Polish)
Author/Submitted by: Servings: 10 Categories:
Cakes
/
Desserts
Ingredients: 3
pk
(1/4 oz) active dry yeast (3
-Tbsp) 3/4
c
Warm water (110F) 1
tb
Plus 1 cup sugar
About 7 3/4 cups all-purpose
-flour 1 1/2
c
Milk 1 1/4
c
Unsalted butter or margarine 6
Eggs 2
Egg yolks 1 1/2
ts
Salt 2
Egg whites
Topping: 1/4
c
Sugar 1/2
c
All-purpose flour 1
t
Ground cinnamon 1/4
c
Unsalted butter or
-margarine, chilled
Directions:
This desert, a cross between cake and sweet bread, is often baked for
Easter. Grease side and bottom of 2 (10 inch) tube pans. Prepare
Topping;set aside. In a shallow, medium bowl, dissolve yeast in warm
water. Add 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 cup flour; stir to combine. Cover;
let stand in a warm place 5 to 10 minutes until foamy. Heat milk and
butter or margarine in a small saucepan until melted. Let stand until
mixture cools to warm. In a large bowl, beat eggs, egg yolks and
remaining 1 cup sugar until pale and frothy. Add cooled milk mixture,
salt and yeast mixture. Beat unil smooth. Gradually beat in 4 1/2
cups flour. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn
out dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead dough into a soft,
smooth dough. Divied dough in 1/2. Arrange 1 part dough in each
greased pan. Cover with a damp cloth; let rise in a warm place, free
from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours. Preheat oven to
350 F. Lightly beat 2 egg whites in a small bosl until foamy. Brush
beaten egg whites on top of dough. Evenly sprinkle Topping over
dough. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserte in centre
comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 3 to 4 minutes on racks. Turn out
of pans; cool completely on racks. Frost with Powdered Sugar Icing if
desired. Makes two (10 inch) cakes. Topping: In a small bowl, combine
sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut
in butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Powdered Sugar Icing: 2 egg whites 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 tsp lemon juice In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until frothy.
Gradually add powdered sugar, beating constantly. Beat 10 minutes or
until glossy. Add lemon juice; beat 2 minutes or until icing stands
up in soft peaks. Makes abou 1 1/4 cup icing.
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