Whether it’s the holidays, a special event, or just a lazy morning at home, a warm slice of sweet bread will have everyone coming back for more! Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread, Cinnamon Swirl Bread and Amish Friendship Bread are some of my favorite bread recipes to make at home. They’re simple enough that even novice bakers can conquer making bread from scratch.
Cinnamon Babka Bread Recipe
From the soft, buttery bread to the sweet cinnamon filling and sugary topping, Cinnamon Babka is a recipe that always yields delicious flavor with the most beautiful presentation. This sweet bread recipe originated from Eastern Europe and is a Jewish tradition. This bread uses a brioche dough that’s rolled out, layered with a cinnamon filling, rolled, sliced, and then braided and baked in a loaf pan. Chocolate babka is another popular braided loaf that you’ll want to try!
Ingredients in Cinnamon Babka Bread
There are three main components to make this cinnamon babka bread recipe. You start with making the dough, then the filling is mixed together and spread over the dough. Finally, right after the bread comes out of the oven, the top is brushed with a simple syrup. Here are all of the ingredients you will need for making this bread. You can find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
Dough
Flour: I used all-purpose flour in this recipe. Sugar: This sweetens the dough, making this bread perfect for breakfast or even dessert! Instant Yeast: This yeast helps the dough to rise and become soft. Eggs: I always like using large eggs in my recipes. Whole Milk: This helps bind the dough together. Salt: The salt enhances all of the ingredients in the recipe. Butter: I used unsalted butter in this recipe.
Filling
Dark Brown Sugar: This adds a deliciously sweet, caramelized filling perfect for this cinnamon babka bread. Flour: All-purpose flour works great in this part of the recipe too! Salt: The salt brings out the flavors in the filling. Ground Cinnamon: This classic flavor is what makes this bread so delicious! Butter: I use melted, unsalted butter for the filling.
Simple Syrup
Sugar: This adds sweetness to the syrup. Water: When you mix this with the sugar, it makes a syrup for the cinnamon babka bread.
How to Make Cinnamon Babka
Like other homemade bread recipes, cinnamon babka does require some preparation and time. However, this bread is easy to make, and the steps are very straightforward. It’s important to remember that the dough does need to proof overnight, so be sure to plan ahead if you’re making this for a special occasion! Here’s how to make it:
Dough
Filling
Baking
Simple Syrup
Knead: Instead of using a mixer, you can stir the ingredients together and then knead the dough by hand. It will take a bit more effort and a good 10-15 minutes, but the dough will be soft, smooth, and elastic when it is done. Add raisins or pecans: Once you spread the cinnamon filling over the dough, sprinkle some raisins and/or chopped pecans over the dough before rolling it up. Coat With Simple Syrup: Don’t skip the sweet syrup topping! This not only adds sweetness but it helps to maintain the moisture in the bread and gives it a gorgeous, shiny top.
At Room Temperature: You can store any leftover babka in an airtight container for up to 3 days. In the Freezer: Loaves of baked babka can be frozen by being wrapped in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of foil, and into a large ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let it come to room temperature before unwrapping.
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