Recipe: Chocolate, Cheese, or Cinnamon Babka (bread machine)

CHOCOLATE, CHEESE, OR CINNAMON BABKA
From: The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook by Tom Lacalamita

2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons milk
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

All ingredients must be at room temperature. Add ingredients in the order specified in your owner's manual.

Set machine to dough/manual setting. At the end of the cycle, press clear/stop.

To punch down dough, press start and let knead for 60 seconds. Press clear/stop again. Remove dough and let rest 5 minutes before hand-shaping.

Cinnamon Sugar Babka Filling (recipe follows)
Chocolate Babka Filling (recipe follows)
Cheese Babka Filling (recipe follows)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

CRUMB TOPPING:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 pinches ground cinnamon

EGG WASH:
1 large egg white, beaten with 1 teaspoon water

HAND SHAPING TECHNIQUE:
While the dough is rising, prepare the filling by blending ingredients together with a fork until crumbly. To make crumb topping, blend ingredients together with a fork until crumbly. Chill both until ready to use.

Lightly grease a 4-1/2x8-1/2 inch loaf pan.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough into a 10x20 inch rectangle. Cover with choice of filling up to 1 inch from the edges. Roll up lengthwise, jelly roll fashion. Pinch seam and ends securely together so that they don't open during baking. Carefully place babka in prepared pan. Fold ends under and shape into an S so that it fits into pan. Cover with a clean kitchen cloth and let rise until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 350F.

Form a crease in the top of the risen babka with the side of your hand. Brush with egg wash and cover with crumb topping.

Bake approximately 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. If babka begins to brown too quickly, cover top with foil. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

CINNAMON SUGAR BABKA FILLING:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

CHOCOLATE BABKA FILLING:
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
1/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Blend together unsweetened cocoa and sugar. Brush surface with melted butter. Sprinkle with cocoa-sugar mixture and pecans.

CHEESE BABKA FILLING:
8 oz. farmer cheese
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1/4 cup raisins

Blend together all the ingredients but raisins. After spreading the cheese filling on the babka, sprinkle with raisins.