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    Home » Recipes » Bread and Yeast Goods

    Cinnamon Babka

    Published: Feb 17, 2022 · Modified: Jan 17, 2024 by Shiran · This post may contain affiliate links · 77 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This cinnamon babka is an indulgent loaf full of sugar and spice — what could be more perfect? A tender dough swirled with cinnamon sugar and a sweet syrup topping, it’s impossible not to love this babka.

    Cinnamon Babka

    I grew up with babka for a decadent weekend brunch or sweet treat. What is babka you might ask? Babka is a traditional Jewish cake made with a rich brioche dough filled with either cinnamon or chocolate. Both cinnamon and chocolate babka are indulgent treats that makes me feel right at home.

    I’ve spent many years perfecting my babka recipe, finding the perfect balance of a tender crumb, plenty of filling, and a crunchy topping. After many practice loafs, I’ve found the best cinnamon babka. It’s tender and soft, full of sweet cinnamon-sugar filling, and slightly crunchy from the sticky, syrup topping. You can try to stop at just one slice, but nobody in my family can resist going back for seconds!

    Cinnamon Babka

    Tips for working with babka dough

    • The dough for this cinnamon babka is something between a challah and a brioche. It gets its richness from the melted butter, plus some sweetness from sugar and honey. The final bread is light and fluffy, which perfectly compliments the denser cinnamon sugar filling.
    • If you’re new to making babka or enriched doughs (a dough made with a higher concentration of fats, sugar and dairy), then I recommend letting your dough chill in the fridge during the first rise. The dough itself is quite sticky, which you want, but that makes it difficult to work with. If you let it chill, the dough is easier to roll out and shape into a babka.
    • I used to always refrigerate my dough, but now that I’m quite familiar with making babka I let it rise at room temperature for about 1.5 hours, until doubled in size. Again, you can do this in the fridge but it will take longer to rise (at least half a day or overnight) and you will need to let it rest at room temperature 30-60 minutes before shaping.
    Cinnamon Babka

    How to make cinnamon babka dough

    1. Using a mixer fitted with the dough hook, mix together the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt until combined.
    2. Add the eggs, water, and melted butter, and mix on low-medium speed for 10-12 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. The dough will look very soft and not pull away from the bottom of the bowl, which is perfectly fine.
    3. Transfer the dough, using floured hands, to a large bowl coated with oil and cover with plastic wrap. You can either leave the dough at room temperature for 1 ½ to 2 hours or in the fridge for at least half a day or overnight. If you go the fridge route, the dough may not look like it has risen much. Also, if the dough is hard to handle, leave it at room temperature to soften for 30-60 minutes before rolling and shaping.
    Cinnamon Babka

    Rolling and shaping babka dough

    1. Once your dough has risen, it’s time to make the cinnamon babka. Start by greasing two loaf pans and lining them with parchment paper.
    2. Next, mix up your cinnamon babka filling. The ingredient amounts are flexible, and you an always add more or less sugar or cinnamon to your liking (1 cup of sugar for extra sweetness; up to 4 tablespoons cinnamon for extra spice).
    3. To get lots of layers of cinnamon babka filling, you’ll need to roll and shape the babka in a certain way. To make things as easy as possible, I’ve created a guide with a video and photos to walk you through each step of the process.
    4. You will need to work with half the dough at a time, since this cinnamon babka recipe makes two loaves. With each half of the dough, roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle measuring roughly 16×12 inches (40×30 cm), with the long side facing you. Using an offset spatula, spread half of the cinnamon filling over the rectangle.
    5. Roll up the rectangle like a roulade, starting with the long side closest to you and ending at the other side. Press slightly to seal the dampened end onto the log. Using both hands, gently roll the dough into a perfect thick cigar shape and rest it on its seam.
    6. Using a serrated knife, gently cut the roll in half lengthwise, essentially dividing the log into two long even halves. Lay each half next to each other, cut side up with the layers of dough and filling visible. Pinch the top ends together, and then carefully lift one side over the other, repeating the process to form a twist or two-pronged plait. Squeeze together the bottom ends so that you are left with two intertwined halves showing the filling on top.

    Optional tip: This cinnamon babka recipe is also great with 2 cups/200 grams of toasted and chopped pecans that you can sprinkle on top of the cinnamon filling.

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    Cinnamon Babka

    Cinnamon Babka

    Final rise and bake

    1. Gently transfer the twisted dough into the loaf pan. Don’t worry if it gets messy or if there are gaps in the pan. As the babka rests for its second rise it will fill in all the spaces and bake up beautifully. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and leave to rise on the counter for 1 to 1 ½ hours until almost doubled in size. Repeat this filling and shaping process with the second half of the dough.
    2. Preheat the oven to 350ºF/175ºC, making sure it has plenty of time to heat up before the cakes have finished rising (I like to start this about 30 minutes into the rise). Remove the plastic wrap and place the cakes on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown on top and the internal temperature reads 200ºF/93ºC.

    Making the sugar syrup topping

    Many recipes skip this step, but I find this gives the cinnamon babka a shiny, crunchy top that is irresistible with the tender inside. A bonus is that it keeps the babka fresh for longer!

    1. Bring water and sugar to a boil over medium heat, removing as soon as the sugar dissolves.
    2. Once the cakes are out of the oven brush the syrup gently over them, making sure to use all of the syrup even if it looks like a lot.
    3. Let the babka cool until warm, then remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack before serving. Babka stay fresh for 24 hours, so I like to keep one out on the counter and store the other in the freezer for any future babka cravings.
    Cinnamon Babka

    More amazing enriched dough recipes

    • Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread: Soft and fluffy bread swirled with cinnamon and plump raisins.
    • Jelly Doughnuts (Sufganiyot): Rich and deep fried, these doughnuts are filled with sweet jam and bursting with flavor.
    • Maple Pecan Sticky Buns: The ultimate breakfast treat, these sticky buns are full of maple pecan goodness.
    • Nutella Babka: If you like this cinnamon babka, you will love this indulgent Nutella babka recipe.
    • Chocolate Babka: Another decadent, crowd pleasing babka that everyone is sure to love!
    Cinnamon Babka with swirls of cinnamon.
    4.94 from 33 votes
    Print

    Cinnamon Babka

    This is the ultimate cinnamon babka recipe. Soft, tender, and bursting with cinnamon flavor, it's impossible to have just one slice!

    Prep Time 3 hours
    Cook Time 40 minutes
    Chilling time 12 hours
    Total Time 15 hours 40 minutes
    YIELD 2 loaves

    Ingredients

    • 3 ¾ cups (525g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
    • ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon (75g) granulated sugar (optional – replace 20g of the sugar with honey, I love the texture it gives)
    • 1 tablespoon (10g) instant dry yeast
    • 1 ¼ teaspoons fine sea salt
    • 2 large eggs , plus 1 egg yolk
    • ⅔ cup (160 ml) warm water
    • ¾ stick (85g) unsalted butter, at room temperature or melted
    • Neutral oil (vegetable, canola), for greasing

    Cinnamon Filling:

    • 150 g unsalted butter , softened to room temperature
    • ¾ cup (150g) light brown sugar (granulated sugar is ok, too)
    • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

    Sugar Syrup:

    • ½ cup (120 ml) water
    • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar

    Instructions

    Make the dough:

    1. Place flour, sugar (if using honey add it later along with the eggs), yeast, and salt in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook and mix on until combined. Add eggs, water, and butter, and mix on low-medium speed for 10-12 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. It would look soft and won’t pull away from the bottom of the bowl – that’s ok. During mixing, scrape down the sides of the bowl using a spatula as needed.

    2. With floured hands, transfer dough to a large bowl brushed with oil (the fat will keep the dough from drying out), cover with plastic wrap, and leave in the fridge for at least half a day or overnight (if placed a long time in the fridge the dough can become hard – that’s normal; leave it at room temperature to soften for 30-60 minutes or until it’s easy to work with). Alternately, place at room temperature for 1½-2 hours or until doubled in size.
    3. Grease two loaf pans (I usually use 9×5 inch pans but a bit smaller or larger pans would work too) with oil and line the bottom and sides of each pan with parchment paper for easy release later on. Set aside.

    Make the cinnamon filling:

    1. In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, sugar and cinnamon until well combined. It should be a thick spreadable consistency.

    Rolling and shaping (photos here):

    1. Divide dough in half. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface and shape into a rectangle measuring 16×12 inches (40×30 cm). Position dough so that the long side is closest to you. Using an offset spatula, spread half of the filling over the rectangle.
    2. Use both hands to roll up the rectangle like a roulade, starting from the long side closest to you and ending at the other side. Press to seal the dampened end onto the roulade, then use both hands to even out the roll into a perfect thick cigar. Rest the cigar on its seam.
    3. Using a serrated knife, gently cut the roll in half lengthwise, starting at the top and finishing at the seam. You should have two long, even halves with the layers of dough and filling visible along the length of both. With the cut sides facing up, gently press together one end of each half, then lift the right half over the left half. Repeat the process again, this time lifting the left half over the right to create a simple two-pronged plait. Gently squeeze together the other ends so that you are left with two intertwined halves showing the filling on top.
    4. Carefully lift the cake into a loaf pan. Don’t worry if the cake doesn’t look great or if there are gaps in the pan since the cake will rise and look fine, even if it looks messy at this point. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and leave to rise at room temperature for 1 to 1½ hours until almost doubled in size. Repeat using the remaining dough and filling to create the second cake.

    Bake:

    1. Preheat oven to 350ºF/175ºC, making sure to allow plenty of time for it to heat fully before the cakes have finished rising. Remove plastic wrap and place cakes on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for about 35-40 minutes until golden brown on top. If you have a thermometer, you are looking for an internal temperature of about 200ºF/93ºC degrees.

    Make the syrup:

    1. While the cakes are in the oven, make the syrup. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring water and sugar to a boil. As soon as the sugar dissolves, remove from heat and set aside. Once the cakes are out of the oven, brush the syrup gently over them. Use all of the syrup even if it looks a lot. Let cakes cool until they are warm, then remove from pans and allow to cool completely on a wire rack before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
    2. Babka will stay fresh for 24 hours in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not place it in the fridge. It also freezes well for up to 2 months. To thaw, leave at room temperature for 2 hours, or overnight in the fridge.

    More Bread and Yeast Goods

    • Moist lemon poppy seed scone broken in half to show its texture, topped with icing and styled with fresh citrus.
      Lemon Poppy Seed Cream Scones
    • Orange Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls
      Orange Chocolate Rolls
    • Cheesy garlic pepperoni pizza rolls baked and coated in garlic and herb.
      Soft Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
    • Whole wheat buns with black sesame seeds.
      Whole Wheat Sandwich Buns (fresh and soft for days)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sanna says

      February 26, 2021 at 12:32 pm

      aww thanks for sharing this Shiran…it made me so happy because it was just the thing i wanted to make

      Reply
      • Carissa says

        November 11, 2023 at 1:44 pm

        I’m trying to make this Babka bread recipe but there is so much extra stuff on the page that keeps refreshing I can’t get it to stay on the screen I need to see the instructions. I’m at step 2 only because I finally grabbed a screenshot. Hoping to finish the process tomorrow if I can get to the rest of the instructions.

        Reply
        • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

          November 11, 2023 at 1:52 pm

          Hi Carissa, if you are having loading issues, hit the print recipe button to bring you to a clean recipe-only page!

          Reply
        • Debbie says

          December 11, 2023 at 2:24 pm

          If the page is popping up too much for you to read or go through the recipe, then pressing the print button will help. It will fill your phone with the recipe without the pop ups. And if you are using a PC, then you might want to print it out, especially if you keep a folder of your favorite online recipes. I actually do that once in a while for my favorites. And I believe this will be one of my favorites. I hope my suggestion helps you and others.

          Reply
    2. Eiyyda says

      March 02, 2021 at 4:57 am

      Hi Shiran…
      Can i use this recipe for Chocolate filling? because i prefer recipe that use less eggs.
      Anyway, thanks for the recipe. 😊😊

      Reply
      • Shiran says

        March 03, 2021 at 3:20 am

        Yes, you can 🙂

        Reply
    3. chloe says

      June 11, 2021 at 6:01 am

      This was absolutely divine!! my oven heats perfectly to the set temp but had to bake it for only 25 mins instead of the 35-40 mins. The only issue i had was the spilling out of a lot of cinnamon -butter from the pan when in the oven. I used the exact size pan as mentioned but still had an issue. Next time ill use a larger pan. remember that the bread rises quite a bit in the oven. This is best babka ive ever tried!!! for those of you reading….. please dont skip and look for another recipe. this here is a keeper!

      Reply
    4. StephVH says

      July 25, 2021 at 2:35 pm

      Yum, thank you! I only own 1 loaf pan so I made the 2nd loaf on a sheet pan and connected the ends to make a circle- came out beautifully.

      Reply
    5. Paul Smythe says

      August 05, 2021 at 5:22 pm

      Best Babka. Came out amazing Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    6. Alissa says

      September 01, 2021 at 7:31 am

      Hello, can the butter be exchanged for margarine? Will it also work? And if I use chocolate spread in another babka instead of the cinnamon, does that also turn out well, meaning instead of the cinnamon filling described above, simply chocolate spread with chocolate chips?
      Thank you so much in advance!

      Reply
      • Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

        September 12, 2021 at 4:19 pm

        Hi Alissa, margarine will work as a substitute but it will change the flavor of the final product because the butter lends a really delicious taste to this babka. You could also try a plant-based butter that has more of a butter flavor and it should work as well! And yes you can definitely substitute chocolate for the cinnamon. Check out my favorite chocolate babka recipe if you’re looking for a delicious chocolate filling 🙂

        Reply
    7. Robin says

      September 06, 2021 at 8:05 pm

      Absolutely incredible! I have made the chocolate babka recipe before (which is also delicious), but wanted to make the cinnamon one for a change. It honestly tastes like the best parts of a cinnamon roll and it’s to DIE for!! Excellent all around

      Reply
    8. Samantha Nolan says

      October 08, 2021 at 9:10 am

      Honestly the best recipe ever! I have developed a love affair with Babka and have created a beautiful big version and affectionately call her Lady Babka. I’ve also made single serving ones and they are called Baba Babka. I would love to show you photos!

      Reply
    9. Fiona says

      October 16, 2021 at 5:52 pm

      I love all of your babka recipes Shiran but this one’s my favourite for sure, there’s something so comforting about those amazing cinnamon aromas. I added pecans as suggested and it was perfect!

      Reply
    10. Carla says

      November 02, 2021 at 10:06 am

      Wonderful recipe but what can I do to make the layers stick together better after cutting or to help with the gaps in the layers? Any suggestions? I’ve rolled tight & layers still separate?

      Reply
      • Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

        November 07, 2021 at 10:41 am

        Hi Carla, because there is a filling intertwined with the dough, it’s natural for the layers to slightly come apart when cut 🙂

        Reply
    11. Tonya says

      January 01, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      I had never heard of babka before but I have been wanting a good cinnamon roll like I remember from my childhood. Saw this and decided to give it a try. I changed nothing and allowed it to rise at room temperature both times. Amazing!! Simple and easy to execute and turned out absolutely delicious. Both loaves were devoured at our small family gathering for New Year’s Eve. My husband now wants some for our home so I’m making it again today. The flavor and texture were spot on what I was looking for in a good cinnamon roll.

      Reply
    12. Catherine says

      January 02, 2022 at 1:22 pm

      I’ve never left a recipe review before but I had to give this babka five stars! So much better than the store bought stuff. Tender and delicious! My son has requested that this be in the bread box AT ALL TIMES. And it will be! Thank you so much for the recipe!

      Reply
    13. lana says

      February 14, 2022 at 1:51 pm

      I made this today and it come out sooooo good!!! Absolutely delicious!!

      Reply
    14. Trudi says

      February 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      This is the best babka recipe. I add some walnuts for crunch. Makes amazing french toast.

      Reply
    15. Dave says

      September 20, 2022 at 9:18 pm

      Thanks for sharing this recipe, to address the issues I had with the rise of this dough (4+ hours with the grains of yeast still visible), I’d suggest mixing the yeast with a small amount of warm water to help better distribution throughout the dough (instead of mixing it into the dry ingredients).
      I just continued to proof the loaf until it doubled in size and it turned out great!

      Reply
      • Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

        September 21, 2022 at 3:27 am

        Hi Dave, it depends on what kind of yeast you use. Active dry yeast needs to be combined with warm water before adding it to the dry ingredients, but instant yeast should be combined directly with the flour and then the rest of ingredients added accordingly 🙂

        Reply
    16. Devin says

      November 24, 2022 at 8:08 am

      I made the dough and filling overnight, then I took them out of the fridge an hour before shaping. It worked perfectly. I used 1/3 cup sugar and a tablespoon of honey like the recipe suggested. The babka came out very light. That’s the best way I can describe it. I think it could have risen more, but I don’t think babka is necessarily a high-rise bread. This is a very good recipe.

      Reply
      • Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

        November 28, 2022 at 3:44 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed the babka, Devin!

        Reply
    17. Boo says

      January 14, 2023 at 4:35 pm

      Fantastic Babka! Made with my grandaughter last week sent one loaf home with her, second loaf was consumed by my husband and i in 2 days! Making another batch today to take to a dinner tonight. The only negative i see is this is irresistible!

      Reply
      • Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

        January 15, 2023 at 2:07 am

        I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    18. Linda says

      April 25, 2023 at 4:22 am

      I made this today and it is divine.
      I will be making this for Mother’s Day.
      Thank you for sharing this receipe.

      Reply
    19. Sandra Champlain says

      May 11, 2023 at 9:50 am

      My mother is a HUGE fan of Babka so I thought I’d surprise her and bake from your recipe as an early Mother’s Day gift. I used 3 whole eggs, a little extra cinnamon, butter and sugar and baked 35 minutes. I wish I could share with you the pictures! She says it’s the best Babka she’s ever had!!!! I would have to agree!! Thank you for posting this recipe. I have a feeling I will be using it often!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        May 21, 2023 at 4:05 pm

        Thank you for your kind words, Sandra!

        Reply
    20. carly says

      June 29, 2023 at 12:41 pm

      does the amount of yeast needed remain the same if you use active dry yeast instead of instant?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        July 05, 2023 at 2:35 pm

        Hi Carly, yes, you should be able to use active with the same 1:1 ratio. I’ve found that active dry yeast is a little bit slower as dough rising goes; but in a long (2- to 3-hour) rise, the active dry yeast catches up.

        Reply
    21. amy says

      December 08, 2023 at 2:14 pm

      incredible. just incredible

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        December 08, 2023 at 2:28 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    22. Sara Goverman says

      December 15, 2023 at 4:49 pm

      Fabulous! Soft, delicious – easy to make. I’m amazed it’s so good without milk or cream.

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        December 16, 2023 at 10:03 am

        So glad you enjoyed this recipe.

        Reply
    23. Kelly Konieczka says

      December 16, 2023 at 8:37 am

      Would maple syrup work for the syrup topping?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        December 16, 2023 at 10:06 am

        Hi Kelly, while I have not used maple syrup for this recipe, I’m sure it could be used as a replacement.

        Reply
    24. Laureen says

      January 09, 2024 at 1:52 pm

      Oh my GOD was this amazing! I just got a new Bosch mixer for larger batches and doughs and this was the second bread i made. It was SO good we ate an entire loaf in five minutes 🤣🤣 Super easy, super pretty and everyone thought it was so difficult! Your chocolate one is next on the list!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        January 09, 2024 at 2:59 pm

        Hi Laureen, this makes me so happy! There’s nothing like the thrill of using new kitchen gadgets, is there?! So glad you enjoyed our babka recipe. Cheers!

        Reply
    25. Magda says

      January 13, 2024 at 2:40 pm

      The preparation of this cake has taken 10 hours!! This is second time I have done it. I feel I must practice until I am able to make it in less time. I am exhausted!

      Thanks for the recipe.
      I hope I can overcome this phase! 😉😅

      Reply
    26. Donna Bauer says

      January 16, 2024 at 3:13 pm

      This recipe is so easy and absolutely delicious!!! Thank you !!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        January 17, 2024 at 1:35 pm

        Thank you, Donna!

        Reply
    27. Sarah says

      January 16, 2024 at 10:50 pm

      So yummy! I have never had babka before so I only made a half recipe just in case we didn’t like it. Turned out great! Kind of like the best part of a cinnamon roll but not as sticky. I added some pecans to mine. Was surprisingly easy to make, the hardest part for me was the bread rising. Its 4 degrees here so my house is pretty cold!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        January 17, 2024 at 1:34 pm

        Hi Sarah! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. It’s so cold here in Minnesota too – it’s been below zero this week. In the winter I cover my dough bowl with plastic wrap and place it on my bathroom counter with the door closed. It’s the smallest room in the house, so it heats up the fastest with our furnace going.

        Reply
    28. Kenzie says

      February 04, 2024 at 3:45 pm

      I made this and it was super easy+tasty! My only issue is that the filling is barely visible, and most of it leaked out into the pan. Is there a way to prevent this next time?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        February 07, 2024 at 12:54 pm

        Hi Kenzie, it sounds like your butter might have melted too quickly or was too soft and melty when you made the filling? Otherwise, did you follow my babka shaping instructions?

        Reply
    29. C C says

      March 26, 2024 at 8:21 pm

      Beautiful and delicious. My only issue was the middle was a tad under done. It was difficult to tell because the top was so fluffy and golden. I baked it for 35 mins but should have gone for 40. We just ate the ends and not the middle. Still amazing but I’ll know better next time.

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        March 27, 2024 at 12:22 pm

        Thank you so much for your kind review! It can be a little difficult to tell. Next time, if the top looks perfect, but you need a few more minutes just cover the top loosely with aluminum foil to prevent further browning.

        Reply
    30. Faye says

      April 06, 2024 at 6:39 pm

      The texture of this babka is great—has a good chew and is sufficiently moist. I’m not much of a baker, but can say that this babka is moister than the only other babka recipe I’ve trid (Ottolenghi’s). I made the honey substitution as recommended above. I also actually replaced the cinnamon filling with cardamom and ricotta. All my friends loved it.

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        April 08, 2024 at 3:37 pm

        Thank you so much for your kind words, Faye. That sounds like a delicious filling!!

        Reply
    31. Nancy says

      April 13, 2024 at 7:22 pm

      Delicious and easy to make. I use it for French toast on the weekends and my family loves it.

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        April 14, 2024 at 12:00 pm

        That sounds amazing, Nancy! So glad you and your family love this recipe.

        Reply
    32. Rachael says

      April 25, 2024 at 5:48 am

      Hi, we love this recipe! Have made it a few times but I’m just wondering does it freeze well? I need one for my husband’s birthday next week but I definitely won’t have time to do it then!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        April 25, 2024 at 9:39 am

        Hi Rachael! You can freeze your babkas. I would only freeze them for up to 1 month after they’re baked for best results. Before freezing, cool them completely. Wrap in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil. You want to make sure they’re well wrapped. To defrost, take them out of the freezer and remove the foil. Let sit for about two hours at room temperature, still covered in plastic wrap. If you want to reheat them in the oven, you could do that on a lower temperature…like 250F-300F. If reheating, you could place it on a sheet pan + cover in aluminum foil so it doesn’t dry out in the oven.

        Reply
    33. Cristiana says

      May 02, 2024 at 1:28 pm

      Most babka recipes have milk in them. Does water work just as well?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        May 07, 2024 at 3:38 pm

        Hi Cristiana, in babka and all breads, milk is essential because of the fat and sugar (lactose). Milk fat and lactose ensure a tender crumb, making it soft and sweet. Sugar from milk helps to caramelize the bread by turning it that beautiful golden brown.

        Reply
        • T R says

          September 09, 2024 at 4:21 pm

          Hi Stephanie! I think Cristiana asked that question because your recipe calls for water, not milk. May I ask if you are suggesting that milk should be used instead of water? Thanks in advance for the clarification!

          Reply
          • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

            September 10, 2024 at 3:19 pm

            Hi T R! Happy to clarify – in this recipe I do prefer water. But milk can easily be used as a 1:1 replacement and has added (delicious) benefits that enrich the dough. Some of our family members prefer babka made with less dairy. You can choose whichever you prefer.

            Reply
    34. Elizabeth says

      June 09, 2024 at 4:35 pm

      Hope you aren’t insulted, but I sort of did my own filling. Rum-pecan filling, and it smells divine. The dough was slippery and buttery, I chilled it overnight and then let it sit for 2 hours while I toasted and ground pecans. Everything went together quickly and they baked beautifully. Can’t wait to hear it in the office tomorrow morning.

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        June 10, 2024 at 12:05 pm

        Yum! Is it bad that this makes me want to be a coworker in your office? I’m drooling…

        Reply
    35. Leslie Norton Bethell says

      August 18, 2024 at 6:50 pm

      East to make; excellent taste and consistency. I rose the dough on the counter, and I did not find it too sticky to handle.

      Reply
    36. Brooke Collie says

      October 06, 2024 at 6:50 pm

      Hello! Every time I make this babka the middle of the loaf deflates after I let it cool. When I take it out of the oven it is nice and risen and full but then it shrinks in the middle every time. What am I doing wrong?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        October 08, 2024 at 11:13 am

        Hi Brooke, the center may not yet be fully baked even if the exterior looks perfect. The best way to check is by using a quick read thermometer to check the internal temp of the babka before removing it from the oven. It is done perfectly between 180 and 190°F (82 and 88°C) – if the inside hasn’t reached these temps, the proteins won’t fully set. This is my best guess.

        Also – are you using a scale to measure your ingredients by weight? This is the best practice.

        Reply
      • Stephanie says

        November 26, 2024 at 1:52 pm

        Please help!
        The recipe calls for 3/4 stick of butter (you say 85 grams in parentheses), but 3/4 stick of butter is 168 grams.
        I’m ready to start now, but just noticed the discrepancy (and it matters because the filing calls for 150 grams of butter, but there is no measurement in cups/Tbsp).
        What is it?

        Reply
        • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

          November 27, 2024 at 6:39 pm

          Hi Stephanie, maybe you’re from another country – in USA 1 stick of butter is 113g so 85g is correct. 150g would be about 10.7 tablespoons of butter for the filling.

          Reply
    37. Sara says

      October 23, 2024 at 5:28 pm

      Does it make a difference if you use bread flour vs. all purpose flour?

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        October 24, 2024 at 3:23 pm

        Hi Sara, this recipe is formulated specifically for all purpose flour. Using bread flour will have different results and would likely need a few modifications (increase) to moisture levels.

        Reply
        • Sara says

          October 24, 2024 at 5:52 pm

          Thanks so much! I’ll stick with AP flour!

          Reply
    38. Sara Brown says

      October 26, 2024 at 2:33 pm

      First time making babka – an absolute hit with the whole family! Will definitely be making it again.

      Reply
    39. carrie says

      November 13, 2024 at 9:32 pm

      lovely recipe. this is my first time making babka but i’ve made other similar sweet breads/filled breads before and this was pretty much the same as making cinnamon rolls with a few variations. it was very tasty but my only issues were that a lot of the filling leaked out into the bottom of the pan so it was just slightly cinnamon-y bread, didn’t quite have as much filling as i’d like. also i felt the bread itself wasn’t quite as sweet or rich as i’m used to with babka. i’m thinking of making it again with milk instead of water to increase how rich it would be. overall a great recipe though!

      Reply
    40. Rory says

      December 21, 2024 at 2:23 pm

      I have never left a review for any recipe before, but I felt I needed to as this is THE BEST bread recipe I have ever made. The dough was incredibly “well behaved” and smooth, and was very easy to roll/stretch, and the filling to bread ratio was perfect. As a 16 year old, I found this recipe very beginner friendly, yet impressive. I made this as a gift for a family member, and it was an absolute hit!
      (I should mention that I let the dough rise on the counter for 2 hours instead of in the fridge for 6 in step two, and I skipped the sugar glaze as I needed to transport the loaf in the car for 16 hours. To avoid ripping the dough, I spread the cinnamon-sugar-butter mixture on the dough with clean hands, which proved to be much “safer” than using a spatula/offset spatula.)

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        December 21, 2024 at 4:35 pm

        Thank you so much for your lovely review, Rory! I’m so glad this Cinnamon Babka recipe was a hit for you and your family member!

        Reply
    41. Cindy Jurkiewicz says

      January 23, 2025 at 10:15 pm

      Perfect.

      Reply
    42. Luanna says

      April 04, 2025 at 1:49 pm

      Hi! Made this recipe and it was delicious. Was curious how much it would change if I used a sourdough starter? Thanks in advance!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        April 08, 2025 at 3:40 pm

        Hi Luanna! Glad you loved this recipe. As for your questions, I’m not sure – I haven’t tried that yet.

        Reply
    43. Mary says

      April 15, 2025 at 4:15 am

      Hi! I would like to substitute a cheese filling for the cinnamon one. Can I do this with your babka dough?
      I would like to replicate a cheese filling, comparable to what my grandma used, which was a combination of farmers cheese and cream cheese. Do you have a cheese filling like this for Babka?
      Thank you for any guidance, you can give me!

      Reply
      • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

        April 15, 2025 at 4:06 pm

        Hi Mary, you can do any filling with this babka dough. I haven’t made a sweet cheese filling yet, but it’s certainly on my list of things to try! If you do a web search for “cheese babka” or “babka with farmers cheese” you might find a good filling recipe to start with.

        Reply

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