Celebrate spring with the irresistible charm of homemade Easter Babka, a sweet, yeast-risen bread adored for its tender crumb and subtle richness. This traditional holiday treat combines simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour, milk, and eggs with the buttery sweetness of granulated sugar and a fragrant hint of vanilla. For a citrusy twist, optional orange zest infuses the dough with a zesty brightness, while golden raisins provide chewy bursts of natural sweetness. Perfectly baked in a bundt or loaf pan, this babka rises to a golden brown, and a dusting of powdered sugar makes for an elegant finishing touch. Whether it’s the centerpiece of your Easter table or a delightful companion to your morning coffee, this holiday bread is sure to impress with its soft texture and timeless flavor.
Warm the milk slightly; it should be lukewarm, not hot (about 110°F). Dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar into the warm milk. Let sit for 10 minutes, or until frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Mix well.
Add the yeast mixture, softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest to the dry ingredients. Begin mixing, starting slowly, then kneading either by hand or with the dough hook of a stand mixer for about 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
If using golden raisins, fold them into the dough during the last minute of kneading.
Form the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Grease a bundt pan or a loaf pan. Punch down the dough and shape it as desired, either into a long coil for layering into the bundt pan or as a single loaf for the loaf pan.
Cover the shaped dough once again with a towel and allow it to rise until it puffs up, about 30-40 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once fully risen, bake the babka for 40-50 minutes, or until it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Remove the babka from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Dust the cooled babka with powdered sugar before serving. Slice and enjoy!
Serving size | 1202.6 grams (1202.6g) |
---|
Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
---|---|
Calories | 3638 |
Total Fat 120.10g | 154% |
Saturated Fat 68.00g | 340% |
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.30g | |
Cholesterol 835mg | 278% |
Sodium 1522mg | 66% |
Total Carbohydrate 562.50g | 205% |
Dietary Fiber 17.10g | 61% |
Total Sugars 186.90g | |
Protein 81.70g | 163% |
Vitamin D 283IU | 1417% |
Calcium 521mg | 40% |
Iron 27mg | 149% |
Potassium 1894mg | 40% |
Source of Calories