Introducing the delectable treat that is lemon cheese babka, a perfect marriage of sweet and tangy flavors in a soft and fluffy bread. This traditional Jewish pastry combines the richness of a babka with the lusciousness of lemon curd, creating a taste sensation that will tantalize your taste buds. Whether you're looking for a delectable breakfast treat, an afternoon snack, or a special dessert, this lemon cheese babka is sure to impress with its distinct flavor and beautiful presentation. So, prepare to embark on a culinary journey as we uncover the secrets of creating the perfect lemon cheese babka, from the careful selection of ingredients to the intricate steps of shaping and baking.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
CHEESE BABKA
Polish cheese babka like my grandmother served every Easter.
Provided by KRISTINALANGER
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Egg
Time 6h40m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Sprinkle the yeast and the pinch of sugar over the warm water; stir to dissolve. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
- Combine the 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, milk, and 3 eggs in a bowl with 1 cup of flour and mix well. Add the yeast mixture and beat for 1 minute. Gradually add the remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding small amounts of flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Shape the dough into a round, and place it in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Beat together the farmers' cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, sour cream, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and dried lemon peel in a bowl until smooth. Set the filling aside. Lightly oil a 10-inch fluted tube pan (such as a Bundt®).
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 10-inch by 12-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Spread the cheese filling evenly over the dough. Roll the dough up like a jelly roll, starting from the long end; twist the dough 6 to 8 times to form a rope. Pinch the seams and ends closed and arrange the rope of dough in the greased pan. Cover loosely and let rise 1 hour.
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bake the babka until deep golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes; invert the babka onto a wire rack and remove the pan. Allow the babka to cool for at least 2 hours before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 512.7 calories, Carbohydrate 44 g, Cholesterol 133.9 mg, Fat 28.2 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 19.1 g, SaturatedFat 19 g, Sodium 768.6 mg, Sugar 10.9 g
LEMON-CHEESE BABKA
Steps:
- 1. Sprinkle yeast and 1/2 tsp of the sugar over very warm water in a 1 cup measure. Stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand until bubbly, about 10 minutes. 2. Combine 2 cups of the flour, salt, lemon rind and the remaining sugar in a large bowl; make a well in the middle. Beat eggs and egg yolks in a small bowl just to mix. Pour eggs, yeast mixture and warm milk into well. Stir liquids into flour until smooth. Beat well. 3. Add softened butter gradually, beating well. Stir in 1 more cup of the flour. Beat until dough leaves the side of the bowl. 4. Knead on a lightly floured surface; until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. 5. Press dough into a buttered large bowl, turn to bring buttered side up; cover. Let rise in a warm place, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until doubled in volume. 6. While the dough is rising, make Cheese Filling: Beat cream cheese and cottage cheese in a small bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; beat in egg yolk and sugar. Stir in lemon rind. 7. Make Crumb Topping: Combine nuts, flour, butter, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Grease two 8 x 1 1/2 inch pans. 8. When dough has doubled, punch down, knead in raisins; divide dough into four equal parts; press two parts into the bottoms and about 1/2 inch up the sides of the prepared pans; spread each with about 1 cup of the cheese filling. 9. Shape remaining dough into 2 8-inch circles; place on top of cheese filling. Press the handle of a spoon into dough around edges to seal. 10. Sprinkle half the crumb topping over each. Let rise in a warm place until dough reaches the top of the pans, about 1 hour. 11. Bake in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 40 minutes; or until the cakes sound hollow when tapped. Cool on a wire rack. (Place foil loosely over the crumb topping; invert onto rack, then turn right side up.) Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 3684 calories, Fat 141.648973999767 g, Carbohydrate 604.022994481857 g, Cholesterol 504.07 mg, Fiber 14.5971452645201 g, Protein 37.262146497544 g, SaturatedFat 73.2564362499631 g, ServingSize 1 1 Serving (1372g), Sodium 1290.44549999953 mg, Sugar 589.425849217337 g, TransFat 10.0142442499227 g
LEMON CHEESE
This is our old family recipe, traditionally used at Christmas to spread on toast or crackers, or put in cooked tart shells. Lemon cheese can be put in sterilized jars and frozen.
Provided by Phoebe
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Dessert Sauce Recipes
Time 15m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Grate the zest of 2 lemons; squeeze juice from 3 lemons.
- Melt butter with sugar over very low heat in a double boiler; slowly pour in beaten eggs and lemon juice. Stir lemon zest into butter mixture; continue to stir constantly until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat to cool completely.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 143.2 calories, Carbohydrate 19.4 g, Cholesterol 62.8 mg, Fat 7.4 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 1.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 61.6 mg, Sugar 17.6 g
BABKA
This delicious recipe for babka comes from "Entertaining," by Martha Stewart. This dough can be used to make cakes of various sizes. Note that baking time will vary depending on the cake size.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Yield Makes three 8-inch cakes
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat the milk; stir in the butter until melted; cool to lukewarm. Proof the yeast in the warm water.
- Beat the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until thick. Add the salt, grated rinds, vanilla, and Grand Marnier. Add the milk-butter mixture to the egg mixture. Stir in the yeast.
- Add the flour, a cupful at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon. The dough should not be dry, but it should not be sticky. Too much flour will make a dry, crumbly cake. Add the almonds and raisins.
- Turn the dough onto a floured board and knead for about 5 minutes, until dough comes away from your hand. Butter a very large bowl and put dough in bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk. Punch down and let rise a second time until almost doubled.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the pans generously. (You can sprinkle pans with a tablespoon of sugar if you wish.) Divide the dough into 3 portions. Arrange evenly on the pans and cover loosely. Let rise to top of pans.
- Bake cakes in oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until golden brown. There should be a hollow sound when you tap the top with your knuckles. Cool for 5 minutes in the pans, then turn out onto racks to cool.
POLISH BABKA WITH OPTIONAL CHEESE FILLING
This recipe can be made with a cheese filling. Which can be made while dough is rising. The rising times are not included. There are 3 rising times be sure to do the rising of the dough in a draft free, warm place. The picture posted is with dried cherries, dried cranberries and the optional saffron. I must say this is one of my favorite home made or store babkas bought to date. The filling was so creamy and rich.
Provided by Rita1652
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 1h
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Add yeast to lukewarm (hot will kill the yeast)water and let stand until softened or dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, add salt to egg yolks and beat until thick; then add to sugar and butter mixture.
- Add yeast and water, lemon rind, cinnamon and cardamom.
- Add flour alternately with milk and beat well to make a smooth batter.
- Add raisins and knead by hand until batter leaves the fingers.
- Let rise in a warm draft free place until double (about 1-1/2 hours). Punch down and let rise again until double.
- Generously butter a fluted tube pan. Sprinkle with fine bread crumbs and fill with dough. Brush with mixture of egg yolk beaten with 2 tablespoons water. Sprinkle with almonds and let rise again. Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven for 45-60 minutes.
- Optional:.
- Mix cheese filling ingredients together.
- Place 1/2 the dough in the prepared pan place the filling mixture on the center of the dough, place the rest of the dough on the mixture. Try to pinch the dough together so filling is encased inside. Or roll out into a log about 20x 10. Then place cheese filling in the center down the long side of the roll, bringing the sides over to encase the filling. Then place into prepared pan and let rise 30 minutes. Brush with eggwash and sprinkle with almonds. Bake 350 for 45-60 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 633.5, Fat 28.6, SaturatedFat 15.5, Cholesterol 171, Sodium 489.9, Carbohydrate 83.4, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 27.2, Protein 12.6
CHEESECAKE BABKA
Not your grandma's babka! This twist on the classic sweet bread boasts a generous swirl of cream-cheese filling in every bite. The recipe comes from Edan Leshnick, the head pastry chef at New York's famed Breads Bakery.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Bread Recipes
Yield Makes 3 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Dough: In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the dough hook, beat together milk, yeast, flours, eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, and butter on low speed until well combined. Transfer dough to work surface and form into a 10-by-8-inch rectangle, about 1 inch thick. Wrap in parchment; refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
- Butter Package: Place butter between two pieces of parchment or plastic wrap. Using a rolling pin, gently beat until butter is slightly softened, then roll into a 9-by-7-inch rectangle. Loosely wrap in plastic; refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an 18-by-9-inch rectangle with a short side parallel to edge of work surface. Place chilled butter package on top half of dough. Fold bottom half of dough over butter to cover completely and firmly press to adhere butter and dough to one another. Pinch edges to seal. Roll out dough once more to a 24-by-7-inch rectangle. Fold top and bottom of dough toward center until they meet. Fold bottom half up to cover top half, rotate dough package 90 degrees, and roll out dough to a 28-by-7 1/2-inch rectangle. Repeat folding process. Wrap dough in plastic; refrigerate 1 hour or freeze for later use.
- Filling: In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on low speed until softened. Beat in ricotta until just combined (do not overbeat). Add half the egg (reserve remaining half for egg wash), vanilla seeds, lemon zest, confectioners' sugar, and cornstarch; beat until combined. Refrigerate 1 hour.
- Streusel: In a medium bowl, stir together butter and sugar. Mix in flour until large clumps form. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour.
- Spray three 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pans with cooking spray. Roll out dough to a 27-by-9-inch rectangle. Divide into six 13 1/2-by-3-inch rectangles. Transfer filling to a pastry bag and pipe one-sixth of filling in a line down the center of each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Pull edges of dough up and pinch to enclose filling. Place two filled portions of dough, seam-side down, on work surface to form an X. Working from center of the X, twist ends. Transfer to prepared pan, seam-side down. Repeat process with remaining dough.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly cover pans with a kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. (Dough should just reach edge of pan.) Gently brush dough with egg wash. Break streusel into pebble-sized pieces and gently sprinkle over loaves, dividing equally. Bake until crust is firm and golden brown, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer pans to a wire rack; let cool 10 minutes. Invert loaves onto racks; let cool completely. Lightly dust with confectioners' sugar.
Tips:
- Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before you start. This will make it easier to mix and will help you avoid lumps.
- If you don't have a stand mixer, you can use a hand mixer or even just a whisk to mix the dough.
- Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can make it tough.
- When you're braiding the dough, try to keep the strands as even as possible.
- Bake the babka until it's golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the babka to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Conclusion:
Lemon Cheese Babka is a delicious and unique twist on the classic babka bread. It's perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. With its tangy lemon filling and sweet cream cheese filling, it's sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you're looking for a special treat, give Lemon Cheese Babka a try.
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