Recipe: Babka in the Bread Machine (bread machine dough cycle)

BABKA IN THE BREAD MACHINE

"The dough, once made, will need to rise out of the machine and will have to be shaped by hand."

FOR THE COFFEECAKE:
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup water
2 large eggs
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)

FOR THE TOPPING:
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Grated zest of 1 large orange

Be sure that all ingredients are at room temperature. Place ingredients for the coffeecake in your bread pan in the order listed.

Select the Dough or Manual setting, and press the Start button. While the dough is being made, combine the ingredients for the topping.

Meanwhile, greased and floured 10-inch fluted tube or Bundt pan; set aside.

After the machine has completed the cycle, remove the dough and place it on a lightly floured work surface.

Divide the dough into four equal sections, and then divide each section into four parts. You will end up with 16 pieces.

Roll each piece into a ball. Roll each ball in the cinnamon/orange topping. Place balls in prepared Bundt pan. Cover and let rise until the dough reaches the top rim of the pan and an indentation remains after lightly touching the side of the dough (about 1 to 1 1/2 hours).

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until Babka is golden brown. Cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool on a rack.

Dust the cooled Babka with confectioners' sugar if you like.

Makes 1 large coffeecake or about 20 slices
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 17, 2000