Cinnamon Raisin Babka

We made this for Easter, and WOW was it good. You actually can put anything you want inside such as the raisins, chocolate, jam, etc. So perfect to make for a daytime snack. =]


Ingredients:

-1/2 cup milk

-1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

-1/3 + 1/4 cup sugar

-1 large egg divided (33.3 grams - 2/3 egg, 16.67 grams - 1/3 egg)

-12 grams egg yolk

-2 cups unbleached white flour

-1 teaspoon salt

-8 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons unsalted butter

-2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

-1 teaspoon cream

 

Procedure:

1. Butter a 9" x 5" loaf pan.
2. Heat milk to 100-110 degrees. Pour into a small bowl, and add yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes.

3. in another small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the sugar, 33.3 grams of egg (that's 2/3 of an egg) and the egg yolk. Add egg mixture to yeast mixture, and whisk to combine.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, stir together flour and salt. Add wet ingredients and mix on low until the flour is almost incorporated. Change to dough hook. Add 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter to mixer. Beat on medium until dough is smooth and soft, and slightly sticky. If your dough is too sticky, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until it is the right consistency.

5.Butter a large bowl, form dough into a ball and roll around the bowl to coat it with butter. Cover bowl with plastic and set in a warm place until doubled in size, about and hour.

6. Beat remaining egg (remember, this is 1/3 of an egg) with cream.

7. Turn dough out on a well-floured board. Roll to a square about 16" x 16". Brush edges with the egg-wash, and sprinkle the raisins over the dough, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Roll dough tightly into a log. Pinch seam closed, pinch ends together. Twist 5 or 6 times, and lay twisted log out straight on your board. Brush the left half of log with egg-wash.. Fold the right side over the left, making sure your chocolate stays in place. Fold ends under, and pinch closed. Twist your doubled log two times, and place in prepared pan. Brush the top of log with egg-wash, and sprinkle with streusel (recipe below). Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let it sit in a warm place for 20-30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350.

-Struesel Topping-

1/3 cup + 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons unbleached white flour

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Combine all ingredients. Using your fingers, mix until completely incorporated. Crumble, so that there are chunks ranging greatly in size.

Happy Eating!