Recipe: Grandmother's Sweet Bread (Babka)

Babka
Source: HP Books, Polish Cooking by Marianna Olszewska Heberle
Makes two (10 inch) cakes

This desert, a cross between cake and sweet bread, is often baked for Easter.

3 pkg (1/4 oz) active dry yeast (3 Tbsp)
3/4 cup warm water (110f)
1 Tbsp plus 1 cup sugar
1 about 7 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine
6 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 egg whites

Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine, chill

Grease side and bottom of 2 (10 inch) tube pans.

Prepare topping; set aside:
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.

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 until 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. Divide 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 bowl 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 inserted in center 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.

Powdered Sugar Icing
Makes about 1 1/4 cups icing

2 egg whites (pasteurized or reconstituted dry)
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.

Variation: Add food coloring or flavorings, such as 1 teaspoon sifted unsweetened cocoa powder or vanilla extract. Use a little more sugar if liquids are added.