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Cheese Babka – #TwelveLoaves

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Cheese Babka is a Polish bread traditionally made for Easter. This loaf is filled with cream cheese and brightened with lemon zest.
Cheese Babka is a Polish bread traditionally made for Easter. This loaf is filled with cream cheese and brightened with lemon zest.| HostessAtHeart.com

As many of you know, one of my goals is to learn more about baking and cooking. Bread is one of those things that I wanted to learn more about. I love baking bread, but there are some very technical aspects to baking bread that I have yet to master. I was pretty excited to try this Cheese Babka.

With Easter, I wanted to find a bread that would work on my table. I went online and started investigating “holiday breads”. The recipe that I decided to make was called Cheese Babka and it said that it was a Polish bread traditionally made for Easter.

Cheese Babka is a Polish bread traditionally made for Easter. This loaf is filled with cream cheese and brightened with lemon zest.| HostessAtHeart.comThis recipe exceeded my expectations. It has a sweetened cream cheese filling flavored with lemon zest. The crumb was moist as was the crust. It’s baked in a bundt pan and is so pretty and stands tall when it’s popped from the pan.Cheese Babka is a Polish bread traditionally made for Easter. This loaf is filled with cream cheese and brightened with lemon zest.| HostessAtHeart.com

I learned a few things when I made this bread. After you spread the filling over the dough, the recipe has you roll the bread into a log and then twist it into a rope. I was a bit nervous doing this because I didn’t want all of my filling to squish out. I ended up twisting the bottom a bit tighter than the top. The result was that I didn’t lose the filling but there was a gap where the filling met the dough in the end that was rolled loosely.

Cheese Babka is a Polish bread traditionally made for Easter. This loaf is filled with cream cheese and brightened with lemon zest.| HostessAtHeart.com

I made a few changes to the ingredients. The recipe calls for farmers cheese and I substituted cream cheese. It also called for dried lemon peel. I used fresh, and can’t imagine doing it any other way. I will definitely use this technique again. This bread is delicious!

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Cheese Babka – #TwelveLoaves

Cheese Babka is a Polish bread traditionally made for Easter. This loaf is filled with cream cheese and brightened with lemon zest.
Prep Time 3 hrs 40 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 4 hrs 25 mins
Servings 12
Author Hostess At Heart

Ingredients

Dough

  • 1 .25 ounce package active dry yeast
  • 1 pinch white sugar
  • 1/4 cup warm water 110 degrees F
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted

  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 3/4 cup lukewarm milk

  • 3 eggs

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour divided

Filling

  • 1 1/2 cups farmers cheese or cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup white sugar

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 egg

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried lemon peel I used fresh

  • 2 tablespoons butter melted

Instructions

  • In a small bowl sprinkle the yeast and a pinch of sugar over the warm water and stir to dissolve.  Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
  • Combine the butter, sugar, salt, vanilla, milk,eggs and 1 cup of flour and mix well. Add the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Gradually add remaining flour. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and kneed until smooth and elastic. Shape the dough into a round and place it in a large greased bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with a plastic dough and allow to rise at room temperature until doubled, approximately 1-1/2 hours.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, combine the farmers' cheese, sugar, sour cream, egg, vanilla extract and lemon peel. Beat together until smooth. Set aside. Lightly oil a bundt pan.
  • Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 10-inch by 12-inch rectangle.  Spread the 2 tablespoons over the surface of the dough and then the cheese over the butter.  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 the oven to 350 degrees F.  Bake until deep golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes; invert onto a wire rack and remove the pan.  Allow to cool for at least 2 hours before slicing.

Notes

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com
Prep time includes inactive time.

Nutrition

Serving: 12g | Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 457mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 408IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
Tried this recipe? That's awesome!Mention @hostessatheart or tag #hostessatheart!

#TwelveLoaves is a monthly bread baking party created by Lora from Cake Duchess and runs smoothly with the help of Heather of girlichef, and the rest of our fabulous bakers.

Our host this month is Robin from A Shaggy Dough Story, and our theme is CHEESE. For more bread recipes, visit the #TwelveLoaves Pinterest board, or check out last month’s mouthwatering selection of #TwelveLoaves enter last month’s Italian Breads!

If you’d like to bake along with us this month, share your CHEESE bread using hashtag #TwelveLoaves!

This recipe is also making it’s way to Fiesta Friday now with its own website! We have Angie of The Novice Gardener and her co-hosts Julianna @Foodie On Board and Hilda @Along The Grapevine running the show this week!

Let’s keep in touch! You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google +, and Bloglovin

Comments

  1. Kim says

    Hi there! I have been making this recipe for a couple years now and my family loves it. I have a question though, because the dough is always so sticky and hard to work with for me. I always end up adding more flour than is called for. Is that okay or am I doing something wrong? Also the filling is always overflowing, it gets kind of messy so I don’t know what I’m doing wrong there either. Either way it always is delicious in the end but I just wish I knew if I was doing something wrong or if this is just to be expected. Thank you so much, like I said my husband’s family who are Polish, love it!

    Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      Hi Kim! You aren’t doing anything wrong. This dough is very sticky. Your filling can seep out if you roll you dough tightly. That wouldn’t bother me. I didn’t roll mine very tightly and you can see that I ended up with a gap. I’m going to redo this one and experiment a bit. My new son-in-law is Polish! I’ll have to make this for him. Thank you for stopping by and your lovely comment!

      Reply

  3. kudoskitchen says

    Your babka looks delicious and I love that you chose cream cheese and fresh lemon zest. I love the way you write too. Lovely post, lovely recipe.

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      I apologize for not responding earlier! Your message went to spam for some reason. I appreciate your commenting on the babka! It was delicious and so fun to put together.

      Reply

  4. Nancy says

    Bravo to you, Julie, for your successful Babka! It looks picture perfect and I imagine it tasted fabulous. Love your substitution of cream cheese for the farmer’s cheese!

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you Nancy! I saw where someone else had done that and I also liked that idea. So happy to hear from you!

      Reply

  5. stephysweetbakes says

    Julie bang up job on this and I just KNOW how amazing it was, I can smell it from here. We both share the love of breads and cakes, yummy lol

    Reply

  8. indusinternationalkitchen says

    Julie, this looks like one delicious bread! The cheese and the lemon peel would make it so flavorful too!

    Reply

  9. Lili says

    It’s great to finally see your cheese babka!! Looks delicious Julie!!! Look forward to making it with cheese and ham one day! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Jhuls says

    If I could just grab a slice. I am taking my tea right now and a slice of this would be perfect. This looks really simple and delicious, Julie. Have a great week. xx

    Reply

  13. breakfastdramaqueen says

    Oooh, that looks so good! Given this was your first attempt at making it, I can’t wait to see what you’ll be making by the end of the year!!

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      First for this recipe…I’ve been baking bread for a long time. I had fun doing this braid.

      Reply

  14. Loretta says

    Wow Julie, you’ve become quite daring in the bread-making department. This Cheese Babka looks just gorgeous, and I’m sure with all those yummy ingredients, it went down a treat. How beautiful it looks! This was your first attempt? Bravo to you. Taking those challenges has got to make it pretty motivating for you and definitely more confident in bread baking eh? I still use your English Muffin Bread recipe all the time, it’s so quick and easy to whip up. I hope you are fairing well and that PT is doing it’s thing. I’ve missed this post of yours again, not sure how??

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you Loretta! This is my first attempt at this recipe and it was fun and I learned a few things. I do enjoy baking bread and there is still a lot to learn which is fun. I’m down to one crutch and moving quicker! I do love that English muffin bread recipe too. I’ts great for breakfast with a great texture.

      Reply

  16. illcookyouwash says

    That looks great, Julie! I’ve never had cheese babka before but I have plans to make at some point because I LOVE cheese and will try any and every cheese related thing lol.

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you! It is yummy and this filling made the bread creamy. I saw a chocolate babka that may have my name on it next. Cheese and chocolate…life is good.

      Reply

  18. Ginger says

    This looks amazing! I love the idea of a bread filled with cheese, so I’ll definitely bookmark this. Yummy!

    Reply

  19. chefjulianna says

    Wow, I take my hat off to you, Julie! This looks amazing! I am also trying to learn a bit more about baking and breads, but then I have to find time to do that too! Congrats on your Babka and thanks so much for sharing this with us today at FF! 😀

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you Sarah! It was my first time with this recipe too and it was a lot of fun to put together.

      Reply

  21. Cecilia says

    I started some years ago my own breadmaking adventure. And now I cannot imagine buying any bread anymore – except it’s an emergency. Babka is one of my favorites, the chocolate of course. Now I have your recipe that I want to try, it sounds so great! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you Cecilia! I agree with you on making your own. It just takes abit of planning. Chocolate anything is my favorite! Thanks for stopping!

      Reply

  22. Robin @ A Shaggy Dough Story says

    Mmm, that looks so good. A babka with cream cheese and lemon? I’m so there. I’d say your first effort was a major win!

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you Robin! I had a great time and couldn’t believe all of the delicious submissions this month! I would like to try every single one of them.

      Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      They have some darned good bakery too. I used to get their cinnamon crunch bagels until I saw one was almost a full days calories. Yikes!

      Reply

  25. Amanda says

    What a beautiful bread!! Baking is something I’m trying to master as well, and I must say, bread is one that always makes me nervous. There’s just something about it that can be intimidating. You did GREAT! I love that #TwelveLoaves idea as well 😀

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thanks Amanda! It’s a fun group. I had a lot of fun making this. I do have my kitchen fears too ad these groups are good at pushing me out of the box.

      Reply

  27. Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez | girlichef.com says

    It sounds like this bread belongs at the Easter table! I’d only ever heard of a chocolate babka before seeing yours, and now I’ll be obsessed with trying it until I do. I love that you made it in a bundt pan – so pretty. 🙂

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thanks Heather! I had a lot of fun making this and loved that it was in a bundt pan too. My 90 yr old mother in-law just gave me hers.

      Reply

  31. Selma's Table says

    Julie, this looks amazing – and I absolutely love the combination of cream cheese and lemon zest! Gorgeous – would never think that it was your first go!!

    Reply

  35. tentimestea says

    Oh yum, this sounds delicious, and an interesting filling! It must make a wonderful breakfast 🙂
    12 loaves sounds like an interesting event; I’m interested in forcing myself to bake bread more often so I may take a look!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you! It is a great group. Very easy going and you can choose whether you participate each month. #BreadBakers is another one that I am involved in.

      Reply

  37. culinarycam says

    This looks fantastic! I always had in my head that babka was a pastry. This looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • Julie is Hostess At Heart says

      Thank you! I saw a couple variations on Babka but they were always a slightly sweet bread. There is one stuffed with chocolate that probably made you think it was pastry?

      Reply

  38. simplyvegetarian777 says

    This is just gorgeous Julie! I wish to join this party at sometime too. Sounds like so much fun. I can’t imagine the textures and flavors of it..:must have been awesome! Bookmarking it!

    Reply

  42. thatskinnychickcanbake says

    Julie, your babka looks marvelous! I’d love this for Easter next year—but I may not be able to wait that long!

    Reply

  43. Celebrating Sunshine says

    That looks great and I’m sure it was very tasty. Besides, it was perfect for Easter. 🙂

    Reply

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